0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- My name's John Ogwen. I'm an actor.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53- I'm heading to the village - of Trefor in Gwynedd...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- ..for a very special reason.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00- Keep your dirty hands to yourself.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- You have to get up early - to catch me out.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- That's what all you men are like.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- You like - stepping out of your chains.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26- The novel I've chosen is Mis - O Fehefin by Eigra Lewis Roberts.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31- Although it was published in 1980, - it wasn't until 1982 that I read it.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- A television director - called Alan Clayton...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- ..wanted me to star in Minafon...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- ..an adaptation of the novel.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- It was worth my while reading it...
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- ..before learning the scripts.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47- I thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51- Eigra is one of our best - and most prolific authors.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- If anyone understands people, - it's her.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- She captures human nature perfectly.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- This novel is worth reading.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- Once I'd turned the first page, - I couldn't put the book down.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13- The people were so interesting...
0:02:13 > 0:02:16- ..and the characters - were colourful.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21- The relationships were strong, - hard, uncomfortable and good.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- There are many - different aspects to this novel.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27- It's been very well written.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39- I'd previously worked on plays - with director Alan Clayton for HTV.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- When he read the script...
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- ..he had me in mind - to play Dic Pwal.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- I don't know if that was a - compliment, but I relished the role.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50- Do you know what happens to...?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- Do you know what happens to...?- - Get lost!
0:02:52 > 0:02:54- What are you trying to do?
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- What are you trying to do?- - Crikey!
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- Another inch - and you'd have hit my head.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- In terms of - Minafon's viewing figures...
0:03:02 > 0:03:07- ..I think I reached a much wider - audience than I'd reached before.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- "For the first time in weeks...
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- "..five, to be exact, - Richard and Lena Powell...
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- "..were together at night.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27- "Since the house was cold, they were - forced to sit in the same room.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- "They sat - as close as possible to the fire.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37- "Gwen Ellis caught sight of them - as she passed by.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- "'That's bound to cause ructions,' - she thought to herself.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48- "She called at Katie Lloyd's - next door to repeat the words.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- "'What's wrong?,' - asked Katie Lloyd...
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- "..trying to maintain - the composure in her voice.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- "'He's back.'
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- "'Who?' 'Who do you think?'
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- "Without waiting for a reply, - 'Dic Pwal.'
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- "'You don't say?' - 'I saw him with my own eyes.'
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- "'Come with me - if you don't believe me.'
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- "'No, I do believe you, Gwen Ellis.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- "'You'd think - they'd at least draw the curtains.'
0:04:18 > 0:04:20- "'Some people have no shame.'
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- "But Lena Powell - left the curtains open...
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- "..in the hope that Gwen Ellis - came by and saw them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- "When she heard - next door's gate open and close...
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- "..and the sound of footsteps - on the slate...
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- "..the pounding of her heart - began to subside.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45- "She could count on Gwen Ellis to do - the things she wouldn't dare do...
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- "..shamelessly and easily."
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- As the title suggests...
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- ..it follows the lives - of eight households in June...
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- ..in a fictional street - called Minafon...
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- ..in an imaginary town - called Trefeini.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- That's the basis of the book.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- We hear - about people's relationships...
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- ..and their problems.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- We also get beneath the skin - of the characters.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- We know where they live and - whose house is next door to whose.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25- A row of houses - in a fictional town...
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- ..that could be anywhere in Wales.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- That's what makes it interesting.
0:05:34 > 0:05:40- By now, Eigra Lewis Roberts - has written more than 30 novels.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45- Understandably, she's a prominent - figure in the Welsh literary world.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- We're on our way to Dolwyddelan - to catch up with Eigra.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- "Sundays had always been - very lazy in Minafon.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03- "Residents took the - seventh-day commandment to heart.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- "Back in the 1950s - it was rare to see anyone...
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- "..between 10 in the morning - and six in the evening.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- "If you stood on the corner of - Pyrs's shop on Sunday evenings...
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- "..at 5.50pm, just to be safe...
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- "..you'd see them - heading to the high street.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26- "Children in the front, some still - full of beans from the Saturday.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- "The women - would be tight on their heels.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35- "About 50 yards behind the women - came the husbands and fathers.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- "They weren't angels - - not by a long shot.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- "There were several idiots - and more than one shark.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46- "There were - plenty of rascals back then...
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- "..like there are today."
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- When did you begin writing, Eigra?
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- At school?
0:06:55 > 0:07:00- School itself - wasn't much of an influence on me.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06- Home was more of an influence on me - and I began by writing poetry.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- After going to bed at night...
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- ..I'd shout down - for a paper and pencil.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- Mam kept the verses.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- They were written for fun, - but that's where it began.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- What inspired you - to write the book?
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- I had an urge to write a novel.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29- I wanted to write something - that I could get my teeth into.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- I wrote about people.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- I call them - ordinary/extraordinary people.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39- Nobody is ordinary. - Every person has individual traits.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- I wrote about characters - with whom people could empathize.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- People we all know.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Can you picture them?
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- Do you - visualize scenes and people?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- Sometimes, but not all the time.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00- I tend to hear people's voices - and the things they say.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- I'm led by my ears - rather than my eyes.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- I love writing dialogue.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- Everybody speaks so differently.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- You don't realize it - until you listen intently.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- Each person - has his own rhythm and metre.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24- Some speak in short sentences, - others speak in long sentences.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- We all speak differently.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- When you heard about - the adaptation...
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- ..how did you feel?
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- It came as quite a shock.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- I didn't write the novel with - the intention of it being televised.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46- Things changed after that because - the characters had been established.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48- It was very exciting.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- I said, "Yes, I'm interested."
0:08:52 > 0:08:55- It's the kind of thing - you have to do in Wales...
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- ..otherwise someone else steps in.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- But it was exciting.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- I thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- The bonus - of writing for television...
0:09:06 > 0:09:08- ..is seeing - the characters come to life.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- The one thing - I will always remember...
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- ..are the descriptions - of the characters' inner thoughts.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- That's one of the perks of writing.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- It allows you to convey - their innermost thoughts...
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- ..and peer into - their hearts and minds.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30- .
0:09:34 > 0:09:34- Subtitles
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- Norman Williams of Ffilmiau Eryri...
0:09:43 > 0:09:48- ..was the producer of the second, - third and fourth series of Minafon.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- I remember reading the novel - for the first time...
0:09:52 > 0:09:58- ..and marvelling - at Eigra's linguistic ability.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04- She's in the same league as Kate - Roberts in terms of her writing.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09- Her dialogue is very special. - She never writes the obvious.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15- Her characterisations are based - on people of flesh and bone.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20- I'd say that's the - principal strength of the book...
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- ..and why it appealed to me - as a novel of substance...
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- ..and one which could be adapted.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- As a collective, - the characters are very special.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- If you wrote a list - of S4C's most-loved characters...
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- ..in a television series...
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- ..I'd say some of Minafon's - characters would be at the top.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- Start quaking, you rascals. - Pwal's back.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52- You think mostly of Dic Pwal...
0:10:52 > 0:10:57- ..who was played so convincingly - by John Ogwen himself.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- Another of the characters - who appealed to me...
0:11:01 > 0:11:02- ..was Gwen Ellis.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- ..was Gwen Ellis.- - I saw our new neighbours earlier.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- It's strange reading the novel now.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12- The characters of Minafon - tend to jump out of the screen.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14- It was a wise decision...
0:11:14 > 0:11:19- ..because the novel - is awash with many rich stories.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- That's what I discovered - from working with Eigra.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- When discussing the series - which followed the first...
0:11:27 > 0:11:33- ..I was responsible for producing - the second series onwards...
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- ..when I discussed - the stories with Eigra...
0:11:36 > 0:11:41- ..it's easy for a production team to - impose a storyline on a character.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47- But Eigra would always say, - "Dei Ellis would never do that."
0:11:47 > 0:11:50- "Gwen Ellis would never say that."
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- It was a great learning curve...
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- ..working alongside an author - who knew her characters so well.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16- "An overgrown kid, - relying on his blue eyes...
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- "..to get him out of trouble."
0:12:18 > 0:12:23- That was Richard Powell, according - to Eigra, and she was right.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- He wasn't a bad man - but neither was he a good man.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- He was a mix of both which made him - an interesting character.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- Richard was a hit with the ladies.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- Make a cup of tea, - there's a good girl.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- If I searched, - I'd find goodness in you.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- Search as much as you want.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- I had a fan club, - or at least Richard Powell did...
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- ..at the Aykroyd factory in Bala.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- They sent me pyjamas - with a sewn-up fly.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- They sent me underpants - with odd words sewn onto them.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- I received a sweatshirt - with "Follow me" on the front...
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- ..and "to bed" on the back.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10- When I became a grandfather, - they sent me booties.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- He was a special character - for any actor to play...
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- ..especially one with blue eyes!
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- "15 people - live in the eight houses in Minafon.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36- "It was a troublesome June - for every one of them.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- "Who was sending - the anonymous letters?
0:13:41 > 0:13:46- "What was the strange relationship - between Kate Lloyd and Dic Pwal?
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- "Why didn't anyone - see Mat Parry and Os...
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- "..and see how things - really were between Les and Pat?
0:13:54 > 0:13:58- "And how Mati - was coping after losing Arthur?
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- "What did the storm - on the Sunday night...
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- "..do to their relationships - with one another?
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- "A storm in more than - one sense of the word."
0:14:12 > 0:14:17- "'Goodness me, Minafon has become - a right old common place.'
0:14:18 > 0:14:23- "'Between them two, that bold - Murphy girl and her next door...'
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- "Dei grabbed her from behind.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31- "His hands sunk into her neck - and she tried to wriggle free.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- "But his grip was too tight.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- "'You're hurting me, Dei,' - she groaned.
0:14:37 > 0:14:44- "'You need hurting. You've done your - share of hurting over the years.'
0:14:44 > 0:14:46- "'Who have I hurt, in all honesty?'
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- "'Everybody, in turn.'
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- "'I don't know what you mean.' - 'Don't you?'
0:14:53 > 0:14:58- "Gwen remembered the stormy look on - his face when he left Katie Lloyd.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- "She should've realized before now.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- "That witch - had poisoned Dei's mind about her.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10- "What on earth had she been saying? - 'Well, what did she say about me?'
0:15:10 > 0:15:14- "'Who?' 'That Katie Lloyd.'
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- "She's the one - who's been sullying my name.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- "'You've sullied yourself, Gwen.'
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- "He loosened his grip.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- "She turned to face him - and gave him a gormless look.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- "For a second, she thought - he was about to strike her.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- "'I've a right to know - what she said about me.'
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- "'She didn't say a word about you.'
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- "'Nobody would ever dare.'
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- "'And do you know why?'
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- "'Because they're afraid of you.'"
0:16:02 > 0:16:07- I'm looking forward to meeting - members of Caernarfon book club...
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- ..to see what they made - of Mis O Fehefin.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- Dic Pwal would be in his element!
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- The ladies of - Cylch Darllen Y Cofi join me...
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- ..for the second time in the series, - though Mis O Fehefin...
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- ..differs greatly from Cyw Haul.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- What did you think of it?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- I enjoyed it.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- I read it years ago - and had forgotten about it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- I'd forgotten the story.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46- I like the way Eigra writes. - She uses vivid language.
0:16:46 > 0:16:52- She portrays characters who - we're all familiar within society.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- The nosy lady...
0:16:54 > 0:17:00- ..the spinster, Dic Pwal, - the widow - they're all there.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05- You've made a few notes. Things - have obviously caught your eye.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09- I'd forgotten - how good the book was, to be honest.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- The language is rich - and she says profound things...
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- ..during ordinary conversations.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- I've written one of them down.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- I think - it's Mati Hughes who says this.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- "Nobody had - ever mustered enough strength...
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- "..to avoid the bruises - which harden a person."
0:17:29 > 0:17:34- I thought that was fantastic. I'd - love to be able to write like that.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- There's also a line here where - she describes Emma Harries's legs.
0:17:39 > 0:17:45- She says, "Her legs never had the - kind of shape you'd want to keep."
0:17:45 > 0:17:49- You suddenly realize - what kind of legs she had.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- Completely shapeless!
0:17:51 > 0:17:56- I can understand how it was - so easily adapted for television....
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- ..because the character profiles...
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- ..had already been - adeptly thought out in the novel.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08- It lent itself perfectly - for a dramatisation.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13- It's interesting finding out - what happens behind closed doors.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- It made me think of Under Milk Wood.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21- All these things - are going on behind closed doors.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- It was a claustrophobic community...
0:18:24 > 0:18:28- ..and the same thing - is true of this novel.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- The characters are being stifled.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- It's very interesting.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- What didn't you enjoy - about the novel?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- I was shocked how dark it was.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- The title - is Mis O Fehefin (Month Of June)...
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- ..but it was more like - a month of November for me!
0:18:45 > 0:18:47- It's not at all light hearted.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- There was - an uncomfortable portrayal...
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- ..of how women were treated - during that period.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58- Thank goodness things have moved on.
0:18:58 > 0:19:04- She's brave in the way - she deals with certain topics.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- Although it was written - in the 1980s...
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- ..it's more adventurous - than other novels of the time.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- What was your favourite part?
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- My favourite part - is the succinct portrayal...
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- ..of when Dic Pwal went up - to the mountain with Kate...
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- ..and ate those Welsh cakes.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- I could taste them!
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- There was something - about the way he ate those cakes.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- I remember - the first time I read it...
0:19:39 > 0:19:43- ..I found it strange that - a woman as old as Katie Lloyd...
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- ..fancied an attractive man.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51- I thought, 'Eurgh, yuck, an old - woman fancying a younger man!'
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- But this time round, - I thought, 'Oh, yes!'
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- The test of a good novel...
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- ..is that you enjoy it even more - on the second reading...
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- ..or the third or fourth reading.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- A sentence - instantly grabs your attention.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- A certain adjective...
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- ..or a very observant description.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35- Mis O Fehefin is a special novel.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42- Minafon is Wales to me
0:20:46 > 0:20:52- People are the same everywhere
0:20:54 > 0:20:56- "It's easy to blame the elements...
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- "..and say it was because - it was too hot or too cold...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- "..or raining too heavily.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- "Who can prove there - isn't a wider purpose to a shower...
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- "..which enables things to grow?
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- "No storm, - in all its primitive force...
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- "..fails to affect us - as it passes by.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- "Hearing it roar and threaten...
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- "..is bound to play havoc - with our feelings.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- "Though there are - different severities...
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- "..the storm - which passed by on Sunday 4 June...
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- "..had a power of its own.
0:21:31 > 0:21:37- "Afterwards, in a few weeks' time, - some thought that the storm...
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- "..had something to do - with the commotion....
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- "..that occurred - in Minafon that June.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48- "Having thought about it, it seemed - a good idea to blame the storm.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53- "After all, it was - always necessary to apportion blame.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- "And for those - who couldn't blame the storm...
0:21:57 > 0:22:02- "..there was nothing for it but - to blame someone else, as usual."
0:22:28 > 0:22:30- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:22:30 > 0:22:30- .