Jabas Lle Aeth Pawb?

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-Twenty years ago, Welsh girls

-went mad about one man.

-He was every girl's first crush.

-He was gorgeous!

-Silly young girls

-were bound to like him!

-As they approach 40, the Jabas gang

-are back to take the photo.

-Where did they all go?

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-The Lleyn Peninsula, summer 1987.

-A great place for young actors

-to make a new TV series.

-In no time, viewers adored it.

-They became stars overnight.

-At the time, Kylie, Jason

-and Neighbours were huge.

-We had Welsh heroes

-to identify with.

-That was the most important thing

-about Jabas.

-In no time, fans all over Wales

-were besotted with Jabas.

-This is my first scrap book.

-We copied their hairstyles,

-earrings and clothes.

-"Jabas, here today, 2pm"

-I had T-shirts, badges,

-anything about Jabas.

-I'd go wherever Jabas appeared,

-after checking the times and places.

-I was a member of the Owain Gwilym

-Fan Club. I never missed an episode.

-I liked the stories and finding out

-what trouble he got into next.

-Do you see that bloke on the shore?

-It's Clint!

-Jabas was a teenager

-who was quite a hit with the girls.

-You couldn't help liking him

-because of his nature.

-He was mischievous, not a bad boy.

-It helped that he was handsome!

-Today, the hero who made girls'

-hearts flutter is under a sink.

-He's a plumber

-and a radio presenter.

-He's Jabas Jones, or Owain Gwilym.

-When I heard they were looking

-for someone to play Jabas...

-..I didn't think of it as a career.

-It was a summer holiday job,

-six weeks on the Lleyn Peninsula.

-A chance to do some fishing.

-That's what appealed to me.

-# Venus #

-Bananarama

-Owain lives on the Lleyn Peninsula

-with his wife and three sons.

-Today, he's back

-at his grandmother's house...

-..where he stayed while filming.

-We lived, or just slept,

-in the outside bedroom.

-If you needed the toilet

-in the night...

-..you could use the outside loo

-or the chamberpot under the bed!

-It wasn't showbiz!

-We didn't stay in a posh hotel!

-But I wouldn't

-have changed anything.

-The gang's romantic entanglements

-kept viewers hooked.

-Jabas was joined

-in every scrape by Gwil.

-Jabas was my favourite,

-but Gwil was a close second.

-Wali Welsh is a real sneak.

-Guto Gwyn Jones played Gwil.

-Although he was Owain's best man,

-they haven't met for ten years.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-I'm fine.

-It's been years.

-It's been years.

-

-I heard you were here.

-It's been a long time.

-It's been a long time.

-

-How are you?

-And the family?

-Fine. Everyone OK with you?

-Fine. Everyone OK with you?

-

-They're fine.

-Remember the last time you visited?

-You were in your mother's car

-and did a handbrake turn here!

-Come off it!

-Come off it!

-

-And hooting your horn!

-If your mother's watching,

-Guto smashed your car!

-A proper Lleyn farmer. Sorry!

-Nothing much disturbed him.

-Gwil would probably be a farmer now.

-Guto is usually found

-on a farm now too.

-He lives in Cerrigydrudion

-with his wife and three children.

-He travels around North Wales

-advising farmers on animal feed.

-We became very close.

-We had fun while we worked...

-..and spent a lot of time together

-off camera too.

-What's the Welsh word for lesbian?

-There isn't one.

-They must be rare in Wales.

-The young cast spent their days

-on local beaches.

-Owain and Guto sail back

-to the past again today.

-They've had a "brain wave"

-and go to Pwllheli Marina.

-Good grief!

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-It's been ages.

-A very long time.

-An old friend waits for them.

-You might as well give up, Picsi.

-I'll catch one before nightfall!

-This is Picsi.

-Yesterday and today.

-Hello, how are you?

-Come on board!

-How are you after so long?

-Guto, Owain, how are you?

-Picsi was my favourite.

-He was very funny and daft.

-He had the craziest "brain waves".

-I've had a brain wave.

-Brain wave.

-My brain wave is the only way!

-Poor Picsi was always in trouble,

-one sandwich short of a picnic!

-Picsi has more sandwiches

-in his picnic now.

-He's a GP on Anglesey.

-This is Dr Harri Pritchard.

-I remember the headmaster saying,

-"You've been offered the role.

-"We want you to be a doctor, not

-an actor. Don't change your mind."

-I'm glad to say I didn't.

-We're all in the same boat.

-The same boat!

-Do you remember

-filming off Llanbedrog?

-I had conjunctivitis

-and had to wear sunglasses.

-My eyes were bloodshot!

-You don't need sunglasses today.

-You don't need sunglasses today.

-

-I'd look silly!

-Do you remember the horse?

-Yes, just that it wasn't a horse.

-You won't see me on that, mate!

-You won't see me on that, mate!

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-HORSE NEIGHS

-One scene made me

-roll with laughter.

-Picsi has a brain wave and jumps

-on a horse. It was hilarious.

-Oh!

-It's a secret,

-but it wasn't me on the horse.

-It was filmed on a Land Rover!

-This kind of thing

-always happens to me!

-Don't worry, it's a lucky horse!

-Aargh!

-All I did was walk

-a little with the horse.

-Mam will be furious!

-Stop moaning!

-We'll think of something.

-Ruth and Picsi.

-They were the oddest couple ever!

-What happened to Ruth,

-Picsi's girlfriend?

-In the Amlwch Copperfest...

-..Harri enjoys listening

-to Eleri Fon.

-She sings with the band Celt now.

-With her is another familiar face.

-This is Lowri Mererid, or Glenda.

-Eleri, Lowri, how are you?

-Harri, what a surprise!

-How are you?

-I haven't seen you for ages.

-I haven't seen you for ages.

-

-It's been years.

-Time flies.

-How many children have you got?

-How many children have you got?

-

-One.

-I've got three.

-I've got three.

-

-Goodness!

-They're nine, eight and four.

-I've got two,

-they're thirteen and three.

-The world has changed, Harri.

-Picsi doesn't mind.

-Picsi doesn't mind.

-

-A girlfriend who stinks of fags?

-He says I look sexy when I smoke.

-We never felt we were acting.

-We just had to be natural

-and say what was in the script.

-Shall we phone for a taxi?

-Shall we phone for a taxi?

-

-We'll hitch a lift.

-We'll soon get a lift,

-with me looking so fab!

-# Ooh, know yourself #

-We went on to sing.

-It has shaped our lives.

-I met my partner in a band.

-That happened because of Jabas.

-Our lives

-would have been totally different.

-We had three fantastic summers.

-# Aah aah aah

-# Like a swallow in flight #

-But nothing could have prepared

-the cast for what happened next.

-Are you a member of the Jabas Club?

-Yes.

-Have you paid 2?

-Have you paid 2?

-

-Yes.

-The fans were amazing.

-I'll never forget

-the first Urdd Eisteddfod.

-We were at S4C's marquee.

-We were at S4C's marquee.

-

-I remember being mobbed.

-Bouncers had to escort us

-from the marquee.

-Hundreds of children

-screaming "Jabas! Jabas!"

-For about six years,

-the Eisteddfod wasn't the same.

-It was too much sometimes.

-We weren't prepared for it at all.

-Do you like Owain Gwilym?

-Do you like Owain Gwilym?

-

-Yes.

-Why?

-Why?

-

-He's handsome!

-Obsessed!

-I'd go to see him

-when he sang in gigs...

-..or played football

-in a charity match.

-I even went to his wedding!

-Not the actual wedding!

-I stood outside taking photos.

-It's time to reunite the gang.

-Before that, we go back to school.

-We go on a trip to London.

-And hear more about sex, drugs

-and rock 'n' roll!

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-Isn't Jabas a hunk?

-A chapel jumble sale outfit?

-In the late 1980s, the TV series

-Jabas drew this young gang together.

-What has happened to them

-since this photo was taken in 1987?

-# Yes, I'm JJ

-# Not the wally on TV

-# It's havoc in our house

-# My name is Jabas Jones #

-One tried his luck on the rock scene,

-much to his fans' delight.

-I taped him when he was on TV.

-I followed Owain Gwilym everywhere.

-In truth, I was obsessed.

-RAPS

-After Jabas, I was offered jobs

-and I just did them.

-People offered me work.

-I thought, why not?

-# Remember Llywarch without pants

-# And remember the Jabas Jones rap #

-Good afternoon. I'm Owain

-and I'm with you for three hours.

-After Jabas, Owain became

-a presenter on Radio Cymru.

-They're getting Sesiwn Fawr

-Dolgellau back on its feet.

-With the radio work,

-you can hide, in a way.

-No-one sees you.

-Even now, the attention

-he received makes him uneasy.

-You go from nothing to having people

-saying all sorts of things.

-It feels uncomfortable even now.

-I see myself as an ordinary bloke.

-I don't see myself

-as an actor on a popular series.

-As well as popular characters...

-..controversial issues

-were part of its appeal.

-It was quite daring. You wonder

-if some scenes would be shot now.

-I've got new stuff you can try.

-Thanks, Clint.

-It was a big thing at the time,

-but it sent out a good message.

-Howard changed

-from being a clever boy...

-..to losing almost everything

-because of drugs.

-Howard became a heroin addict.

-It was a challenging role

-for Dafydd Williams.

-I remember acting being ill,

-getting the fix...

-..then feeling much better.

-It was certainly innovative

-at the time.

-But acting wasn't for Dafydd.

-He's a Maths teacher

-at Ysgol Glan y Mor, Pwllheli.

-Does anyone know

-where Jabas Jones is?

-He's probably got the runs, sir.

-He said he had a stomach ache.

-The correct term is diarrhoea.

-Today, Dafydd is back

-at the school in Pwllheli...

-..where Jabas was filmed.

-Waiting for him is Owain.

-This is like Wuthering Heights

-and I'm Heathcliff!

-Dafydd.

-Dafydd.

-

-Hi.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Not bad. You?

-It's been a long time.

-It's been a long time.

-

-Yes.

-A fortnight!

-A fortnight!

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-LAUGHTER

-# Sosej, Bins A Chips #

-Rocyn

-# Oh, it's hard to stick to the diet

-# Everyone says it's easy

-but it's hard for me #

-I felt lucky to get a good job

-over the summer.

-It must have made an impression

-in Ireland. It was banned there!

-Was it?

-Was it?

-

-Yes, because of the drugs storyline.

-Jabas caused quite a stir

-in Ireland.

-Back in Wales...

-..everyone talked about the love

-triangle - Pegi, Jabas and Lois.

-# So off to the cafe I went #

-The boys have arranged a date

-for me with that tall, blond boy.

-Lois moved from Cardiff

-to North Wales...

-..and made a big impression

-on one young man...

-..on one occasion in particular.

-I didn't realize

-how many love scenes there were!

-It was quite racy, looking back.

-Maybe... we should

-have a drink first.

-For the first time since filming

-the scene, she's back in the area.

-And seven months pregnant.

-Here's the sofa...

-..where Lois seduced Jabas.

-This is Lowri Glain.

-I remember watching the sofa scene

-with Nain and Mam.

-It was the worst idea I've ever had.

-I think Nain was 80.

-She said, "I didn't know you knew

-about that kind of thing, Lowri."

-The director's assistant

-gave me a tube of toothpaste.

-He told me to put some

-in my mouth and I'd be OK.

-He was fantastic!

-Lowri now lives

-in Notting Hill in London.

-She's expecting her second child...

-..and enjoys a busy life with

-her barrister husband and her son.

-I couldn't get tired of London.

-There's so much to do here.

-But when my batteries are low...

-..I go home to Cardiff

-for some fresh air.

-Ysgytlaeth mefus.

-Strawberry milkshake to you.

-Since Jabas, Lowri has become

-a successful drama producer...

-..on series like Casualty

-and Mistresses.

-Working on Jabas helped me grasp

-what that kind of work entailed.

-It helped me a lot as a producer.

-However, Lois wouldn't keep Jabas

-for long.

-Pegi was his true love.

-Everyone was jealous of Pegi.

-She was very pretty.

-We weren't too keen on her!

-Some fans were jealous

-of this girl too.

-There was a competition

-to win a date with Jabas.

-I entered the competition,

-but I didn't win.

-I scribbled on the girl's face.

-Sorry, whoever she is.

-That girl was Heledd.

-One of the most difficult things...

-..was trying to hold a conversation

-because of the age difference.

-I remember rabbiting on.

-I still blush when I recall

-some of the stupid things I said.

-But only one romance

-kept the fans watching...

-..in the summer of 1987.

-Would Pegi get her man at last?

-There are a lot of things

-I want to say to you, like thanks.

-Oh?

-Come to the harbour at seven...

-Come to the harbour at seven...

-

-Come on, Jabas, don't waste time.

-OK, I'm coming.

-SIGHS

-This is Buddug Povey.

-I enjoyed every moment of filming,

-from start to finish.

-It helped me to settle on a career.

-Actress Buddug has played Kay

-in Rownd A Rownd for ten years.

-You're well enough

-to go bowling with Kelvin?

-Yes.

-One scene in Jabas

-has stuck in her memory.

-SCREAMS

-Filming that was very exciting.

-They put a belt

-with lead weights on me...

-..so that I went down in the water.

-The diver lifted me up.

-Filming the drowning scene

-was very realistic.

-SCREAMS

-Jabas!

-For years after that,

-I was scared in swimming pools...

-..unless my feet touched the bottom.

-After loving him

-from a distance for so long...

-..would Pegi win Jabas's heart?

-I think Pegi caught his eye first.

-There was something between them.

-But she was very shy

-and didn't know what to say.

-Pegi got him in the end.

-Am I still pathetic?

-Am I still pathetic?

-

-No.

-You never were pathetic.

-Hey, Jab!

-Hey, Jab!

-

-LAUGHTER

-That was the last scene

-in the first series of Jabas.

-After 20 years, the gang meets

-to take another photo.

-The boys are first

-to arrive at Llanbedrog beach...

-..where the 1987 photo was taken.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-I'm fine.

-Among the girls

-is another star of the series.

-Non played the role of Gilly.

-Gilly was a privileged girl

-whose family had moved from England.

-She was a very different person...

-..to the rather naive

-local youngster.

-Non still lives

-on the Lleyn Peninsula.

-Her children have found

-their mother's old Jabas videos.

-They've watched them a lot.

-It's embarrassing!

-But they really enjoyed the series.

-The stories clearly captured

-their imagination, even now.

-Perhaps it hasn't dated too much.

-BANGING

-Aargh!

-With Non, the photo is complete.

-Some of the gang

-haven't met since Jabas was filmed.

-We haven't worn the same clothes!

-Twenty years have passed

-since the gang came to the beach.

-They never imagined

-how popular the series would be.

-There, Owain, on the big rock.

-Here?

-Here?

-

-Lower down.

-As they get on the rock,

-some need to be extra careful.

-Owain, you sit there.

-Put your feet up, almost

-as if you're giving birth.

-Only one will give birth

-here today!

-LAUGHTER

-I'll put my feet on Harri's head.

-Since Jabas was filmed,

-everyone's lives have changed.

-The Southwalian

-is going be a mother again.

-The funny lad is a doctor.

-The pin-up is a plumber.

-He's got no prop for his feet.

-But for a moment, the Jabas gang

-are back together again.

-Everyone!

-When you grow up,

-everyone has a crush on a TV hero.

-It was nice for my generation

-to have a Welsh hero.

-Having something like that

-in Wales in the 1980s was important.

-It was cool.

-It's over 20 years now...

-..but the characters are still

-so vivid in my memory.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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