Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Multi-millionaire wealth-coach Kevin Green is counting riches of a different kind today (Weds, October 5). He’s coping with a ‘gold rush’ of dating opportunities after his appearance on the Channel 5 show How The Other Half Lives. The show explores the lifestyles of the super rich. And the conversation between Kevin and hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford quickly turned to his ‘eligible bachelor’ status. “Things have gone totally bonkers this morning,” Green said from his family home in Burry Port, West Wales. “The email has exploded and my social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook are in overdrive with direct messages. “By 8am this morning, I’d received more than 150 offers of dates. “I don’t know when I’m going to get time to read them all as they are still coming in. “I’ve only had time to skim read a few – some are quirky, some are written in language that you know belongs to a gold-digger, some appear genuine.” Kevin’s single status was highlighted on the show after...

The 25th British Academy Cymru Awards are now open for entry with new eligibility criteria. Today, BAFTA Cymru launches call for entries for the anniversary year of Cymru Awards. Broader criteria ensures all Welsh talent working on UK productions now eligible. The 25th ceremony, which will celebrate Welsh talent across film and television production and craft and performance roles will take place on 2 October at St David’s Hall. Individuals and companies are invited to enter productions that have had their first broadcast transmission or screened at an approved film festival between 1 April, 2015 and 31 March 2016 by the entry deadline of 26 April. Having reviewed the eligibility criteria for last year’s Awards, BAFTA Cymru is now encouraging Welsh individuals who have worked on Welsh or UK productions – rather than solely Welsh productions – to enter into any one of the 16 craft and performance categories. This change will ensure that BAFTA in Wales can recognise the work ...

Conductor John Hywel Williams and the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers are enjoying a stellar Autumn season. In addition to an exciting concert schedule, the Hywel Choir will be seen by millions on national and international television on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, the choir will appear on BBC Breakfast and other domestic and international BBC news programmes during Christmas Eve as part of the remembrance of the famous WW1 Christmas Truce. On Christmas Day, the choir will be seen and heard on “Frozen at Christmas” on UK Channel 4, a documentary about the making of Disney’s Frozen which will also feature the makers and actors behind the Disney phenomenon. The choir will be filming for this during October. In addition to their TV appearances, John Hywel Williams and his choristers will next be heard in concert on 1 November at a sell-out St. David’s Hall at the Wales Festival of Remembrance with international singing star Katherine Jenkins. ...

Pembrey Country Park is becoming a hot spot for film location seekers. In the last two years the park and Cefn Sidan Sands has doubled for Morocco; Florida, Germany, Transylvania and even a Martian landscape for film makers. The latest was a visit from the team behind the historical fantasy Da Vinci’s Demons who have been filming some of their more exciting scenes for its third series at the park. The US and UK blockbuster series that is set in Renaissance Italy, has been filmed in the Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot areas, but the location scouting team found just what they needed in the forested dunescape of the park to recreate some of their chilling battle scenes. The third series which will air in Spring 2015 stars Tom Rileys, Laura Haddock, Elliot Cowan, Gregg Chillin and Blake Ritson with Breaking Bad’s John Shiban joining as executive producer and showrunner. The series follows the 'untold' story of one the world's greatest geniuses, Leonardo da Vinci, during his ...

Actor and Aberystwyth University alumnus Rhodri Meilir has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University. A graduate from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, Rhodri has appeared in a number of popular television shows including playing the role of Alfie Butts in the long running BBC sitcom, My Family, ITV’s Afterlife and Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather on Sky One. He has also featured in a number of films including The Baker, Kevin Allen’s Y Syrcas and appeared in the Doctor Who Christmas Special The Runaway Bride. Later this year, he will appear on cinema screens in Pathé Films’ new film Pride. He is well known on Welsh television for his roles in Y Pris, Caerdydd, Teulu, Tipyn o Stad and as Rapsgaliwn. He received a Best Actor BAFTA Cymru nomination in 2013 for his role as Trefor in Gwlad yr Astra Gwyn. Rhodri was recently part of the National Theatre of Wales’ highly acclaimed Mametz. Rhodri Meilir was presented by Dr Jamie Medhurst, Head of the Department o...

Playwright, director and producer, Ed Thomas, has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University. A founder member and creative director of TV production company Fiction Factory, Ed Thomas has written, directed or produced more than 120 hours of award-winning drama across all genres. His first play, House of America (1988) won numerous awards both nationally and internationally. His other plays include East From the Gantry, Flowers of the Dead Red Sea, Song From a Forgotten City, Gas Station Angel and Stone City Blue. He has also produced a number of drama programmes for S4C including Caerdydd, Y Pris, Pen Talar, Gwaith/Cartref, and most recently Hinterland/Y Gwyll, a detective series produced in Welsh and English for S4C, BBC and distributed internationally by All3Media. Much of Hinterland was filmed in and around the University and Ed was instrumental in establishing a number of placements for University students during its filming. Ed Thomas was presented by Dr Kate Woodward...

Children at Bronglais Hospital now have a bright and colourful setting to be treated in thanks to Welsh TV channel S4C. S4C launched a national campaign to inject some of Cyw’s colourful world into children’s wards in hospitals across Wales. The scheme has already visited Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital and has now brightened up the children’s ward at Bronglais with pictures of Cyw and friends. Other wards in hospitals across Wales will be decorated in a similar way over the coming months. Director of Communications, Marketing and Partnerships at S4C, Garffild Lloyd Lewis hopes that the campaign will help lift children’s spirits when receiving treatment in Wales’s hospitals. “We hope that this new campaign will be a small contribution to the efforts made to ensure that time spent in hospitals isn’t too uncomfortable for children in Wales. We know that staff in wards across the country are working tirelessly to lift the children’s spirits everyday as they receive their treatme...

Christmas has come early for pupils at the Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. Some have just finished watching themselves taking part in the hit Sky1 TV series Stella. Some have been working on filming for the Christmas special for the popular comic tale of Valleys life. “It’s been a wonderful time for many of our students, being able to see themselves on national TV alongside such wonderful people such as Ruth Jones,” said Stagecoach school Principal Liane Davies. “And the fun just keeps on coming for the pupils as some of them are busy working on the Christmas special. “It seems very strange for them to be working on a Christmas show before we get to Easter, but such is the magic of television.” Liane added: “We are very lucky with our Stagecoach schools in that we have access to the national Stagecoach Agency, which is able to secure work and opportunities for our talented youngsters.” One pupil to benefit from working on the Stella show is Ffion G...

They are already loved by countless families across Carmarthenshire and this week the rest of Wales will meet Nan Duncan, Caren Thomas, Sian Maynard, Anwen Evans and Lyn Smith-Hurley, the stars of BBC One Wales’ brand new programme The Country Midwives. The series of four programmes, filmed throughout 2013 and early 2014, follows the lives of five of our community midwives in rural Carmarthenshire as they visit new mums-to-be and follow them through to delivery. It gives an insight into the varied work they do, from teaching expectant mothers how to express milk and breastfeed through to labour itself and everything in between. Home births remain a popular choice within Hywel Dda, particularly within farming communities and Carmarthenshire has one of the highest home birth rates with around 1 in 25 births in the family home. Caroline Oakley, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Our community midwives do a fantastic job providing expectant wom...

Tenants at Dafen’s Clos Llanfihangel Sheltered Scheme have been enjoying their Christmas present from the council – a brand new flat-screen TV for their communal lounge. The TV was delivered just before the festivities, meaning that tenants were able to enjoy all the Christmas specials. They are now planning to build film nights and sports specials in to their events programme. Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “I was delighted to arrange for a television to be installed at Clos Llanfihangel. I know how much the tenants enjoy getting together, and this is another excuse to gather in the communal lounge and socialise.” Carmarthenshire County Council operates 21 Sheltered Schemes across the county. Whilst offering older people the independence they desire, with every self-contained flat having its own front door – they also benefit from 24-hour emergency cover via Careline and secure door entry systems for extra peace of mind. Communal facilities, such...

Ammanford's Alexandra Roach and Swansea’s Cerys Matthews (educated in Llanelli) and will be among the stars taking part in S4C's New Year's Eve show. Matthew Rhys and Bryn Terfel will also feature in the show which looks back at 2013. The Heno and Prynhawn Da presentation team, led by Angharad Mair, will look back at the major events of the year, chronicling both the successes and heartbreaks of a memorable year. See link for Carmarthen Journal story.

The popular Cwmcerrig Farmshop and Grill in Gorslas, Carmarthenshire, will be back in the TV spotlight this week. BBC2 Wales is starting a repeat run of the fly-on-the-wall documentary called 'Meet The Watkins'. The series starts at 7pm on Thursday (May 23). Cwmcerrig partner Roland Watkins said: "The series tells the story of how the family pulled together to create and maintain the Cwmcerrig business. By all accounts, it is being repeated by popular demand." The series was produced by independent TV company Telesgop. Weblinks - http://www.telesgop.co.uk/tv-production/meet-the-watkins-3/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m9f16 http://www.cwmcerrigfarmshop.co.uk/news/

Côr Meibion Llanelli are gearing up to take part in the first ever TV recording at the new Y Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli. The choir will be joining celebrated Welsh tenor Wynne Evans on stage for a show which is likely to be broadcast on St David's Day. Further details of the TV programme will be released later. But guest stars will include top Welsh comedian Owen Money and West End singing sensation Sophie Evans. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: "It is a great honour to be taking part in such a prestigious show at the new Y Ffwrnes theatre. "The choristers are looking forward to teaming up with an old friend of the choir in Wynne Evans. "We will be joining Wynne on stage for a special rendition of Myfanwy, arranged by John Quirk. "Together with other officials of the choir, I have been for a tour around the new theatre and it looks magnificent. "Let's hope the TV recording adds to the lustre of the new theatre and helps to furt...

Côr Meibion Llanelli are gearing up to take part in the first ever TV recording at the new Y Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli. The choir will be joining celebrated Welsh tenor Wynne Evans on stage for a show which is likely to be broadcast on St David's Day. Further details of the TV programme will be released later. But guest stars will include top Welsh comedian Owen Money and West End singing sensation Sophie Evans. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: "It is a great honour to be taking part in such a prestigious show at the new Y Ffwrnes theatre. "The choristers are looking forward to teaming up with an old friend of the choir in Wynne Evans. "We will be joining Wynne on stage for a special rendition of Myfanwy, arranged by John Quirk. "Together with other officials of the choir, I have been for a tour around the new theatre and it looks magnificent. "Let's hope the TV recording adds to the lustre of the new theatre ...

There were bound to be plenty of twists to millionaire Kevin Green’s latest TV programme, the Secret Interview.  The Channel 5 programme shadowed two estate agents for a ‘documentary’. The first surprise was that the estate agents didn’t realise their moves were being filmed for a ‘Secret Interview’. Up for grabs was the chance to join Kevin Green’s team and become a millionaire property dealer. After the big ‘reveal’ at the end of the show, Kevin was left with the big decision of picking between 20-year-old Dave Holdway from Sidcup and 26-year-old Jamie Burke from Salford. “It was a massive decision and very difficult to make,” Kevin said today. “The two lads performed really well with the different challenges they faced on the show and it was a very close-run thing. “Perhaps some of the TV audience were a little surprised, but I made my choice and went for Dave from Sidcup.” There was, however, one final twist in store. After Kevin put his ‘I’ll make you a millionaire offer’ on...

Watch out for South Wales entrepreneur Kevin Green @kevingreenwales on TV tonight - http://t.co/nTNMw8Ae

Details of ‘Secret Millionaire’ Kevin Green’s new Channel 5 programme have been revealed today. “It’s all been very hush-hush and I couldn’t even tell my closest friends what it is all about,” Green said today. “But Channel 5 took the wraps off the pre-publicity campaign today and I can now reveal the show is going to be called ‘Secret Interview’. “Filming was carried out earlier this year we have been busy shooting at different locations in West Wales and beyond.” Green has plenty of TV experience, having been featured on Channel Four’s Secret Millionaire and Sky’s The Devil’s Dinner Party. He added: “The Secret Interview will be unlike anything I have done previously.” The show will put eight unknowing people through an interview process they will never forget. The unwitting candidates believe they are filming a documentary about their workplace. In fact they are about to have an interview for the job of a lifetime without even knowing it’s happening. Each of them will be tested ...

South Wales entrepreneur and millionaire Kevin Green is scheduled to appear live on the 'Heno' Welsh language TV magazine show on S4C (the Welsh fourth channel) tonight. He will be talking about his new wealth app for mobile phones and about building wealth. The show goes on air from the Tinopolis Studios in Llanelli town centre. The show does carry sub-titles for those who don't speak Welsh. Weblink - http://www.heno.tv/en.aspx

Scott scores role in ad | This is South Wales A Llanelli actor has taken over the small screen as the star of a new Playstation 3 advert. Scott Arthur, 22, of Maes Ty Gwyn in Llangennech, features in the advert for popular football game FIFA 12.

BBC News - Emyr Daniel, TV broadcaster, producer and director, dies aged 63 The broadcaster and TV producer Emyr Daniel has died at the age of 63. Born in Maenclochog, Oxford-educated Mr Daniel was a journalist with BBC Wales before joining HTV Wales, becoming managing director in the 1980s. He was a former chairman of Bafta Cymru and in later years made programmes for S4C as an independent producer. Rhodri Talfan Davies, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said Mr Daniel "brought rigour, humour and warmth to every team he worked with". Mr Daniel, who lived in Cardiff, was a pupil at Queen Elizabeth Boys' Grammar School in Carmarthen before attending Jesus College, Oxford.