Cewri Cwmderi Pobol y Cwm

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-Wales, land of song and legends.

-Land of heroes and villains,

-of dragons and giants.

-Of rich tales

-and mythological stories.

-Bendigeidfran and King Arthur,

-Blodeuwedd and Branwen...

-..Matholwch and...

-Dic Deryn and Magi Post?

-Welcome to Cwmderi, where Wales's

-most legendary characters...

-..now live.

-We've asked you, the viewers,

-to find out which residents...

-..deserve to be named the series'

-most iconic characters.

-We've been up and down the country,

-from one festival to another...

-..asking who the biggest ledge is.

-Garry.

-Garry.

-

-Mr Tushingham.

-Harri Parri.

-Harri Parri.

-

-Dai Sgaffalde.

-Magi Post.

-I'm showing my age.

-And we've finally created

-a top ten list.

-And the best is yet to come.

-Hey, this is interesting.

-Hey, this is interesting.

-

-Shush, shush.

-And as a fan of the series, I,

-Huw Stephens, have the honour...

-..of leading you through the list.

-So, here we go...

-..let's find out who has made

-the top ten of Cwmderi's greats.

-And Number 10 is a couple.

-Reg and Megan.

-Reg was a ledge.

-Reg was a ledge.

-

-Reg the ledge!

-The important thing is that we get

-through it and Gareth Wyn is fine.

-'We were both there at

-the very start, weren't we?'

-We were friends, although we didn't

-know each other at the start.

-Reg was Megan's second husband.

-'She thought the world of him

-but she teased him too.

-'Two children.

-'Gareth Wyn was adopted.

-'From his early teens

-until his A-levels, I think...'

-..was Ioan... Ioan Gruffudd.

-'He was a very sweet boy.

-'I think he learned quite a lot

-from Huw and I.

-'Where is he today?'

-I've got one mother and one father

-and they both live in Cwmderi.

-If you say so.

-Megan, are you there?

-Yes. Yes, Reg.

-'So many important people

-have acted in Pobol y Cwm...'

-..and so many friends have

-left us, unfortunately...

-..but I have to talk about

-Huw Ceredig - Reg.

-He was very professional and I

-enjoyed coming in every day...

-..knowing I was doing a scene

-with him.

-We didn't have much hope

-from the start, did we?

-'There was a strength

-to his character...'

-..and that made a big

-impression on people.

-Everyone respected his character.

-I don't think they've found

-a character like him yet.

-I'm a big fan of Megan.

-This was a big moment in my life.

-Meeting Megan.

-But after a divorce and working

-too many shifts in the Deri...

-..Reg died in 2003.

-They had separated...

-..unfortunately.

-But there we are,

-he is sorely missed.

-Reg, because he came back,

-didn't he?

-He walked down the street as

-a ghost during his funeral.

-So there we are,

-Megan and Reg Harries...

-..the unforgettable characters

-at Number 10.

-Next, Number 9 on the list.

-Dic Deryn.

-He was excellent. A real character

-who got up to all sorts.

-You have to calm down.

-Yeah, but I wouldn't be

-Dic Deryn then.

-I can't be anyone else.

-'I think Dic was very lucky...'

-..in terms of the people who

-came up with his stories...

-..and the writers.

-I think the things Dic did

-embodied the fantasies...

-..of an awful lot of authors...

-..and script writers.

-'He just deceived everyone

-and he was a bit of a ladies man.'

-You weren't woman enough to hold

-on to him. You know that's true!

-Years ago, when Dic Deryn

-came back from the Falklands...

-..he went to the post office,

-and twirled Magi Post around.

-Well, you look well!

-'After becoming familiar with the

-system of making Pobol y Cwm...

-'..I think Dic Deryn

-may have been...

-'..one of the easiest characters

-I've ever played.'

-Number 8 next, and a fairly

-recent character.

-Sioned from the shop because

-she brings so much excitement.

-I like Sioned because she's pretty.

-She's sassy.

-Everyone hates her but you need

-someone everyone hates - a villain.

-I need to teach you a lesson.

-I don't want that slimeball...

-..anywhere near my mother,

-do you understand?

-I can't hear you!

-'Sioned is a handful.'

-And she always gets her way,

-fair play.

-I think people love to hate

-somebody.

-You need someone to hate

-every night.

-Wherever she goes,

-trouble usually follows.

-'We've had the domestic abuse story

-recently.'

-Sioned!

-'I do like Sioned as a character.'

-She has done some bad things

-in the past...

-..but I feel sorry for her now

-with Garry.

-Say something, please.

-I'm sorry but there's no heartbeat.

-No.

-Try again.

-'In the back of my mind, I thought,

-someone's going to watch this...'

-..who has probably or might have

-had these experiences.

-I just wanted to get it right.

-I didn't want to come across

-as a panto villain...

-..I wanted to show

-the psychological side too.

-It'll be like it never existed.

-That's not true.

-We'll always remember.

-And to prove that legends run

-in the family, here's Number 7.

-Denzil, the poor guy.

-Yes, that's where I'm going now -

-to have some lunch up at the house.

-'Denzil was one of my favourite

-characters...

-'..because he was full of energy.'

-People just liked him.

-You're asking for trouble.

-You're asking for trouble.

-

-Asking for trouble?!

-Maybe not everyone.

-Do you know how I sort things out?

-When I joined the series...

-..it was an exciting time for me,

-in 1984.

-'My first scene in the studio

-was in the Deri...

-'..and I remember Denzil,

-when I look at the scene now...

-'..he looks so young,

-ordering orange juice.'

-It shows how seriously people take

-the series, people told my Mam...

-..they were proud that "Gwyn"

-had ordered an orange juice.

-Gwyn hadn't ordered anything!

-'And then the septic tank truck.

-That was a great time.

-'Denzil and Dic Deryn

-had a lot of fun.

-'When I arrived at the farm

-in Lisvane...

-'..and lifted up the cover

-of this cesspit...

-'..the real truck hadn't turned up

-and it was full to the brim.'

-I've never smelled

-anything like it!

-A couple of episodes could

-follow a specific storyline...

-..and that meant a trip somewhere.

-'The story this time was

-the boys from Cwmderi...

-'..going down to Cardiff

-to watch an international game.'

-Denzil was dressed up

-as Boris the Romanian.

-And, of course, the script

-took it for granted...

-..that Wales would win.

-We lost.

-Na Zdorovie!

-Cheers, Denz. Life's far too short.

-As I've said, I don't want

-any more to...

-'It was a bit like...'

-That's quite iconic.

-Dad!

-Dad!

-'I was worried Denz was gone,

-having had a serious heart attack.'

-It's possible Sioned

-played a part in that...

-..and that plays on her conscience.

-Almost half way, Number 6 is next.

-Oh, Meic Pierce. Meic Pierce

-was a legend, wasn't he?

-What's wrong with these scales?

-They've finally met Two Ton Tessie.

-You're very lucky they're not

-talking scales...

-..or they would have told

-both of you to get off!

-'When I appeared in

-the first series in '75...'

-..he did a lot of silly and

-foolish things, to be honest.

-They have better ones at

-Carmarthen Market. And stronger!

-'When he came back,

-he was a lot more serious.'

-He was one of the pillars

-of the community.

-He's been comical

-and he's had some sad stories too.

-Yes, especially in 2005...

-..when Meic and Anita

-lost their baby - Eira.

-I'm going to carry her.

-Thanks.

-'It was pretty difficult

-because it was so harrowing.

-'It wasn't a nice thing to do

-at all...

-'..but it was a good story.'

-But leaving on the last day

-of filming...

-..was extremely difficult.

-I didn't require any make-up

-because I really was crying.

-It meant so much to me.

-'Not only was I never going to

-act with them again...

-'..but that was the last scene

-I ever recorded with Nia...'

-'..who played Anita.'

-Quite traumatic.

-But we'll always remember Meic

-as one of the funniest characters.

-Do you remember the burger van?

-Are they going to play

-hoola-hoops?

-'Y Mynach Mwyn, if I remember.'

-That was a lot of fun.

-Gareth Lewis and I

-were best friends...

-..and our characters

-had a lot of fun together.

-Are these all the rolls

-you brought?

-That's nowhere near enough!

-I'll have to go all the way back

-to the cafe. You're a real clown.

-Forget it. No-one's going to

-come out in this.

-Oh, crikey!

-There was variety to Meic.

-He could do all kinds of things.

-I think that contributed to

-his longevity.

-We're halfway through the list and

-half the legends have been named.

-But a member of which family was

-waiting for Stan and Doreen?

-Come back after the break

-to find out...

-..and to find out who tops

-the list of Cewri Cwmderi.

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Welcome back to Cwmderi.

-We're halfway through the list but

-which legendary family's next?

-Which member of that family gave

-Stan and Doreen a fright...

-..at the bottom of the stairs?

-Stay where you are you!

-'It wasn't our Mark! Who else?'

-No, Stan!

-The Joneses are next.

-Kath Jones.

-Kath Jones.

-

-Mark Jones's my favourite.

-Well, Mark. He's a bad boy.

-I liked the bad characters

-in a way.

-Look at you, you're like pigs.

-I'm starving.

-I'm not myself

-until I've had breakfast.

-It's an honour to be included

-on this list.

-It's nice that we're all

-back together too.

-Hoi! We need that door to last

-until tomorrow.

-We were on top of each other here.

-Doors were slammed,

-voices were raised.

-It was like the Jeremy Kyle show.

-Everyone was arguing.

-Everyone was arguing.

-

-Only in Welsh.

-I've never made any friends.

-Who'd want to be friends with you?

-You think you're better

-than everyone.

-'We'd argue with each other

-but as a unit...

-'..nobody was allowed to say

-or do anything.'

-If anyone said anything about

-Stacey it would be, look out.

-This mouth could say things

-about you.

-It isn't your mouth that needs

-locking up.

-If I'm locked up,

-you'll be next door to me.

-Control him, Dyff.

-She started a relationship

-with her teacher.

-She was different to the Joneses.

-She wanted better things.

-She wanted better things.

-

-Stacey was ambitious, wasn't she.

-Mark had no ambition.

-He wanted to be like his father!

-You swine!

-You'd break into my house?

-Damn you!

-Usually, when there's

-a death in a soap...

-..there are cars, or someone gets

-shot and this and the other.

-Dyff's death was a bit

-of a damp squib.

-I was in Treforest Industrial

-Estate with Graham Land...

-..and he kicked my leg,

-punched me in the face...

-..and Dyff had a blood clot

-in the Deri Arms.

-And that was it.

-'The three of us, by then,

-were in the corridor...

-'..and we were aware as actors

-that it was an end of an era.

-'As a character...'

-..Kath had never loved anyone else

-apart from Dyff since she was 16.

-So, for her it was

-an enormous blow.

-I don't think anyone's

-filled Dyff's shoes.

-Some have tried but the shoes have

-never been big enough I'm afraid.

-Poor Kath. On now to Number 4.

-My favourite is Dai Sgaffalde.

-Diane.

-Diane.

-

-Dai Sgaffalde.

-I think we're quite similar

-sometimes!

-Give me another kiss.

-Yes, Dai and Diane the

-Culhwch and Olwen of Cwmderi.

-I'm the luckiest man in the world.

-I know.

-We're in people's front rooms

-every day of the week by now.

-I think people get to know us and

-our popularity grows from there.

-Sandra, you've had a nice meal...

-..you've had a sauna

-and everything...

-..but it's time for you

-to keep me company.

-'Dai came into the series

-at the end of the 1970s.

-'But he left for a while.'

-He came back at the end

-of the last century...

-..and has been back for 18 years.

-The truth is we're going to lose

-the championship...

-..because you Dennis the Menace

-has been talking in his beer!

-I don't think he's changed

-that much.

-He's got older,

-he's matured a bit...

-..but he's still as wild as he was

-back in the days...

-..of Dai and Dic Deryn.

-Sandra.

-Dai Sgaffalde!

-Sh!

-What's wrong?

-Dai!

-Come on, boys. Never say Dai.

-Diane has changed a lot

-over the years.

-She used to be a loud woman...

-..and she was nasty.

-She hasn't changed that much!

-She hasn't changed that much!

-

-Get away!

-You're too cowardly to say it

-to my face.

-You had to go through

-your solicitor.

-'Husband number one had left

-her in a bit of a mess.'

-That's how she came into

-the series.

-Then she married Reg Harries.

-He was husband number two.

-'I think rugby brought us together.

-'Yes. We'd gone on a rugby trip

-and Diane invited Dai upstairs.'

-He doesn't have to be by your side.

-I've got a big bed all to myself.

-And if he's down here...

-..he won't be any the wiser,

-will he?

-'We're good friends off-screen and

-I hope the viewers see that...'

-..as we change costumes from Emyr

-and Victoria into Dai and Diane.

-Get away.

-Ah, cute. Here's Number 3.

-Mrs McGurk.

-She was very good.

-And the gin? Bring me a gin

-and make it a large one.

-Nice? And not too strong.

-Perfect.

-Quick, pour me another

-and make it a large one.

-Jean and Cassie were great friends.

-Their husbands were cousins.

-Teg and Glan were very similar

-to each other.

-Maybe they were old fashioned

-and narrow minded.

-But when they met,

-Cassie and Mrs Mac...

-..they instantly became friends...

-..because they weren't old

-fashioned nor narrow minded.

-I've heard it all now.

-I've heard it all now.

-

-Jean!

-You're a right one.

-I've changed.

-And martians have landed

-in Llanarthur.

-I don't care what you say,

-I've matured.

-But Mrs Mac would never grow up

-or change...

-..despite Glan trying to help

-her stop smoking several times.

-What are you doing home? I haven't

-started making lunch yet.

-You won't have to,

-I bought this.

-What is it?

-What is it?

-

-Can't you smell it? Fish and chips.

-The relationship between Mrs Mac

-and Glan was brilliant and special.

-There was a lot of love there.

-That came through...

-..and I think

-that's why people remember them.

-Stop lying. I know exactly

-what you've been doing.

-You've had a fag on the sly.

-What do you mean?

-I've done no such thing.

-Haven't you?

-What's this?

-Come on then, I'm waiting.

-Around the time she left

-the series I wrote a couplet...

-..for Mrs Mac.

-A wild and harsh looking woman.

-Usually hidden in a cloud of smoke.

-She smoked all the time.

-Lovely. On we go now to Number 2.

-Garry, I think.

-Garry, I think.

-

-He can be loving but very bad too.

-You've always given the impression

-that you're the big brother.

-Haven't you, Brand?

-The hard brother.

-I think one of the main reasons

-Garry's a Cwmderi great...

-..is the fact that everyone,

-viewers and people...

-..like a villain.

-Everyone's laughing at you.

-Oi! That's enough.

-He's feisty, he's the boss and

-people are scared of him.

-My kind of man!

-Women sometimes like the idea...

-..of going out

-with a dangerous man...

-..and they don't quite know

-what's going to happen next.

-That can be quite exciting.

-If they're with someone

-who's safe and stable...

-..and they know what to expect,

-that's one thing...

-..but going out with someone

-unpredictable, that can be sexy.

-He's got this idea that family

-is the most important thing...

-..as a result of his background

-and that he didn't have...

-..a stable family

-when he was a child.

-You're a father.

-He's so small.

-'I can see that he wants Gwern

-to have what he didn't get.'

-I'm sure he'd do anything to make

-sure that happened.

-Britt?

-'The stories that have stuck

-in my mind...'

-..are the ones that deal with

-family rather than dodgy dealings.

-When he lost his brother,

-he lost that family...

-..because family was

-so important to him.

-In a way, that's what

-propels him forward.

-There are complex layers

-to his character.

-And that's what Garry is.

-He's a complex and multi-layered

-character.

-At the top of the list

-of Cewri Cwmderi...

-Magi Post.

-Always full of gossip

-and knew everything about everyone.

-She was a natural character

-you'd see in rural shops.

-How's your Wayne?

-How's Wayne settling

-in his new job?

-'You can never forget Magi Post

-to start with.'

-She was such a huge character.

-The thing about Magi Post was...

-..she wasn't that different

-from Harriet Lewis.

-Harriet would tell us stories

-about everyone...

-..just like Magi Post told them.

-All men are like that.

-They all get their moods.

-She was lively. You heard her voice

-and you had to look at the telly.

-Come on now, Sabrina,

-it's time we left.

-I don't know how I'm going

-to do my part tonight.

-You'll be excellent as usual.

-Come on now.

-'She performed all the time.'

-You knew you were going to have fun

-in the scene...

-..if Magi Post

-was in the scene.

-Harriet would learn her script

-before rehearsal.

-Everyone else went to rehearsal,

-made changes...

-..and then learned their lines.

-I remember one scene

-between Magi Post and Reg...

-..where Reg used the changed script

-while Magi used the old script.

-The lines just didn't follow.

-But Harriet told Huw, "You do

-your lines, and I'll do mine."

-And that was the end of the matter.

-There was a gentleness there

-and she was incredibly funny.

-People sometimes used to say

-it was a bit over the top.

-But characters like that

-really exist.

-You can't be smoking

-in front of the child?

-No, only when she turns her back.

-That's just as bad than if the

-child was smoking herself.

-You were scared of her.

-You were scared of her.

-

-Yes.

-As young actors

-we had this respectful fear...

-..of these iconic characters.

-She scared you

-and you were unnerved by her...

-..and you'd think she was similar

-to someone in your family.

-I think it would be nice to have

-someone like that back...

-..because they do exist.

-I was relatively young at the time

-and I looked up to her.

-I didn't look up to her literally

-but rather looked down.

-She was only about four foot two!

-But she was a big character.

-It's been nice to look back

-over the years.

-I totally agree.

-Congratulations for getting

-to the top of the list.

-But the story doesn't end there.

-Like every good legend,

-Cwmderi's mythology will continue...

-..and Cwmderi will create

-even more legends.

-Who knows who will be

-the future Cwmderi greats?

-But for now,

-congratulations Magi Post...

-..Cwmderi's Greatest.

-S4C subtitles by Ericsson

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