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0:00:14 > 0:00:16- I'm feeling anxious now.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20- A nervousness - I've never felt before.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- My stomach's in knots.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28- I've never experienced it before. - I can't turn back now.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33- But if someone said - it's on hold until the new year...
0:00:34 > 0:00:35- ..I'd accept that.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39- What have I done?
0:00:39 > 0:00:41- DEWI LAUGHS
0:01:03 > 0:01:04- Action!
0:01:08 > 0:01:11- Dewi Rhys is a well-known actor.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- He's famous as Parri'r Barman, - Duff on Pobol Y Cwm...
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- ..and Wyn Humphries - on Rownd A Rownd.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19- You both go together.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21- OK.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27- He's used to swaggering - on the small screen.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33- I expect I've been cast - because of my looks...
0:01:33 > 0:01:36- ..the angry man.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- They're good parts to play...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- ..the baddie.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- But behind the characters, - who is the real Dewi?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57- He was raised an only child.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- His parents died - when Dewi was a young man.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- He has always known - that he was adopted.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- I remember her telling me - when I was about nine.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15- We were in the living room, - by the fire.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- It was a winter's night. - I remember it was dark.
0:02:20 > 0:02:26- She said I was "chosen" - rather than "adopted".
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- She made a simple story out of it.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34- She said, - "We went to the Liverpool area.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40- "There was a place - where there were babies in cots.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43- "We chose you," she said. - That's how she put it.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55- I had a happy, loving upbringing.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58- It was the 1960s.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04- We were a big family, - everyone did their part.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- Mam was the leader, as it were.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11- Over Christmas, - the whole family came here...
0:03:12 > 0:03:17- ..to eat and to get together.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19- It was very sociable.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- I enjoyed it. It was very close.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- I knew I was cared for.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34- Last year, Dewi decided - to find his blood family.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39- He contacted an adoption agency.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41- It helped him find out more.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- This is - your birth mother's signature.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- She signed to say she was happy - for you to be adopted...
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- ..and for the adoption to proceed.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55- Oh, yes.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- Mmm.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04- It would appear your birth parents - planned to get married...
0:04:05 > 0:04:11- ..before June - discovered she was pregnant.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19- A little later, she realized - your birth father was married.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- He already had two children.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- "He stated that he was single."
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- That must have been - very difficult for her.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40- She felt she couldn't raise you - on her own.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- I think I was about 19. - My parents were still alive.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54- I started to research my background.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- I didn't tell them at the time.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- I don't think they'd have minded.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- I wasn't scared of them knowing, - I was just curious.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- A few years later, - I tracked down my birth certificate.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- I sent away - to Somerset House directly.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- I received it through the post.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- It stayed in a drawer for years.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26- My parents died in 1983. - I didn't follow it up.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- I concentrated on my career - and wasn't home much.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- It was in the back of my mind.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- This year, I made a decision - to look for them next year.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- There's an English saying, - "opening a can of worms."
0:05:42 > 0:05:45- Someone said that to me.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- But it has.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- In the 1960s, the adoption process - was at its height.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- It reached its peak in 1965...
0:06:00 > 0:06:06- ..when 27,000 children - were adopted in England and Wales...
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- ..compared to less than 5,000 today.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15- He was born Kenneth Gregory Thomas - in Lytham St Annes near Blackpool.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20- Dewi Rhys Humphreys Jones was raised - in Caernarfon, where he still lives.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- The club is like a family club.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- After every game, - the children go to the cafe.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- The adults come for a cuppa or pint.
0:06:34 > 0:06:40- It's good here on Saturday - afternoons or any night of the week.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- In the south years ago, - rugby clubs were a focal point.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49- Caernarfon and other clubs - in the north have followed suit.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Two months - after his initial enquiries...
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- ..he made contact - with his mother, June.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- Dewi received unexpected news.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- The agency discovered...
0:07:12 > 0:07:17- ..that my birth mother is alive...
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- ..and where she lives.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26- She has remarried since 1984.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- But also...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- ..when I was adopted...
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- ..her boyfriend, my father...
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- ..went away.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- I think he went back to his wife.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- He left with his work.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- But as these things happen...
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- ..they came back together.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- They needed the emotional support.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- They had another son.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- He was born in 1963.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- I've got a brother.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27- I've found this out.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- But he doesn't know - about my existence.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- It makes things interesting...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- ..frustrating...
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- ..and a little difficult.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45- But it's a new challenge.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- From what I understand, - reading between the lines...
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- ..I think my birth mother...
0:08:54 > 0:08:59- ..is quite keen - to know who I am too.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- So, who knows?
0:09:08 > 0:09:13- In part two, Dewi's journey - takes him to the north of England...
0:09:13 > 0:09:18- ..to meet his mother and Gary, - his brother, for the first time.
0:09:18 > 0:09:18- .
0:09:21 > 0:09:21- Subtitles
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- The actor Dewi Rhys - was adopted in 1960.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- He has since - found his blood family.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44- As well as finding out - about his mother...
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- ..he has discovered - that he has a brother.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- Today, he's going to Garstang - in the north of England...
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- ..to meet them for the first time.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- I'm looking forward now, - but I had a restless night.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- I woke up several times...
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- ..as if I was embarking - on an illegal activity.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13- I am looking forward now.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- To be honest, I'm looking forward - to meeting my mother.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23- I'm also hoping to create - an impression on my brother.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- That shouldn't be a priority, - but there's no turning back.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- I looked at the clock - and it was two minutes to one.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- At one o'clock, a woman walked in.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- She was rotund and blonde.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- Before we were both - overcome by emotion...
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- ..the big antidote - was the bald head behind her.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35- The brother, Gary, - looked everywhere but at us.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- I reached out and said, - "How are you, Gary?"
0:11:47 > 0:11:52- It's remarkable how many - on her side of the family...
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- ..have been film actors, - dancers and public speakers.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Her father was an actor in rep.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06- Her sister Stella - acted in films in London.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- She was also - in The Fiddler On The Roof.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15- Her son, my cousin, went to RADA - to train to become an actor.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- He then became a stuntman.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- He appeared in many films, - including The Italian Job.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29- There's an emotional connection.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- I kept checking myself.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- "This is Mam, this is my brother."
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- That went round in my head.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- I tried to be objective...
0:12:46 > 0:12:51- ..and think of them as two visitors, - it's not like that.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- It isn't now, almost 24 hours later.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- I feel they're by my side now.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Adopted children - can have difficult experiences...
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- ..when contacting - their blood family.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21- To Dewi, the support of the family - that raised him is all-important.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28- I'm going to Rhiwlas - to see my cousin, Annes.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33- I'll tell her about my research - and the latest developments.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- Families can be odd - and fickle about things.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- There are doubts about everything.
0:13:43 > 0:13:49- There was a touch of "What for?" - "Do you have to?" or "Why?"
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- Rhiwlas, here I am.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- I remember that morning clearly.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09- I ran upstairs and saw you - in the cot that was once my cot.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- You were fast asleep.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19- Most of all, I remember - a shock of red hair sticking up!
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- You were like a little punk!
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- June showed me pictures - of Gary as a baby.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- He was like me.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- His ginger hair - turned blonde in the sun.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- You were almost white!
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- He was the same. - That was fascinating.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- Did you find out what happened - to her after the adoption?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- Yes, and more about the background.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54- I found out about my grandfather - and these bohemian actors.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- Now you know where the interest - in acting came from.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- It's obviously in the genes, - the interest in acting.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09- I'd like to think - that in the future...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- ..and this is how June feels...
0:15:13 > 0:15:14- ..they could meet the family.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- ..they could meet the family.- - I'd love that.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21- I'm sure she would too.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- Step by step, as you say.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- It's wise not to rush things.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- It'll be very interesting.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33- It'll be very interesting.- - Yes.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40- Bye.
0:15:40 > 0:15:41- Bye.- - Ta-ra.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47- It's interesting that he found out - that acting is in his blood.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- That was not a part of our family.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- From finding - this piece of the jigsaw...
0:15:56 > 0:16:01- ..Dewi will become - a complete person.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- That's how I see it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05- I hope it'll help him.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- Annes is very wise.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- I feel she's shown me the way.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- Speaking with Annes - makes me very emotional.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46- Three months have passed since Dewi - first met his mother and brother.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51- Since then, he has visited Garstang, - near Preston, several times.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Each meeting brings them closer.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- That's how I used to run - all the time, in small steps.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21- My first reaction as I walked in - with the other fella behind me...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- ..my second son, - ready to catch me!
0:17:24 > 0:17:30- I thought, "Oh! I recognize - this person. I know you."
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- He came towards me - ready to shake hands.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- But I wasn't having any of that. - I just put my arms around him.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- And that was it.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45- And that was it!
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- Look at that blonde hair there.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- Gary was blonde there.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54- That was his first car.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- That was his first car.- - Look at him. As proud as Punch.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- An old banger.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- But the memories aren't all sweet.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08- Remembering the adoption - is still painful for June.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- I've always tried to block that...
0:18:14 > 0:18:17- ..because it was - such a traumatic time.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19- Just basically...
0:18:20 > 0:18:24- ..Kenneth, the father, - Dewi's father...
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- ..he courted me - for months and months.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- And unfortunately...
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- ..I was stupid enough - to become pregnant.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- I found out that he was married - with two children.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48- Of course, I was absolutely - hit from one side to the other.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- What did I do now? - Do I have the baby adopted?
0:18:51 > 0:18:56- Do I go to one of these - women's homes that you could go to?
0:18:57 > 0:19:02- Did I stay at home with my parents, - who weren't in good health?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05- So I thought my best bet - would be to cut it all off...
0:19:06 > 0:19:09- ..and get out of Blackpool.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- That was just a panic decision, - you know, at the time.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- Because I couldn't see - the way forward on my own.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25- So that's what I decided to do, - was to have the baby adopted.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- But as it so happens...
0:19:30 > 0:19:35- ..the baby's father - wouldn't be shaken off.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- A couple of years later, - we did get back together.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42- Then Gary came along.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- It was then - that you begin to think...
0:19:46 > 0:19:51- .."Oh, my goodness me. What would it - be like, the two of them?"
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- And the regrets start.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- But you can't live your life - with regrets all the time.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- You have to then build - on what you've got.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- June isn't the only one - who's there today.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- His brother Gary is also present.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- Every time I see them together, - I'm just mesmerized.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24- I keep comparing.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- One day, I think, - "They've got this mouth."
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- The next day, I think, - no, I'm sure about the noses.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- But I'm not sure about the eyes, - whose eyes.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- They're definitely both mine, - let's put it that way.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46- Mum wanted to know if I approved, - so I said, "Well, yeah, of course."
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- But a couple of days afterwards, - I was asking questions to myself.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- "Why him, not me?" - and such and so forth.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- You've got some questions to answer.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- I mean, - you could have told me years ago.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- If Dewi hadn't tracked you down...
0:21:05 > 0:21:06- If Dewi hadn't tracked you down...- - Dewi what?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- If Dewi hadn't tracked you down...
0:21:08 > 0:21:09- If Dewi hadn't tracked you down...- - Yeah?
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- Would you have ever told me?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- Probably not.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14- I didn't think so.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- I didn't think so.- - But there wasn't any reason.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- I'll take that as a no, then.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26- I've been stood around people - thinking I'm the only child.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- They've knocked about - with their brothers.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- They've played golf - and drank with their brothers.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- "Our kid's coming down. - Get us a pint."
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- I wished I could say "our kid."
0:21:39 > 0:21:40- I can now.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42- Yes, same here.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53- I should have got the cushion out - for you two.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58- She looked very proud...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- ..looking at us two.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- I said, - "The boys are here for you now."
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- She replied, - "Yes. The boys, my boys."
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- I'm sure that lifted her spirit - immensely.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15- I hope so.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- I realize how lucky I've been...
0:22:24 > 0:22:29- ..to have had the home - and upbringing I had over the years.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- I feel more complete, yes.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- The circle - involves someone else now.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- It's a warm feeling.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- I haven't missed out or anything.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- This is just a bonus, - another layer of whatever it is.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- Dewi has now discovered he has - a half-brother and a half-sister...
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- ..and that his birth father - is still alive.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- His journey continues.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13- I don't like having my photo taken.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15- I don't like having my photo taken.- - They're both a miserable lot!
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- S4C Subtitles by Gwead
0:23:33 > 0:23:33- .