A Child's Christmases in Wales
Encyclopedia
A Child's Christmases in Wales was a 2009 one off period comedy written by comedian Mark Watson
, starring Ruth Jones
, Paul Kaye
, and Steve Speirs. It was shown on BBC Four
in December 2009, and repeated on BBC Two
.
), an alcoholic and rather comedic character come to Owen's family house to stay. As we follow the family through the 1980s, the boys grow into men, whilst Owen's dad and his uncles seem to regress into childish behaviour and sibling rivalry. Owen's father Geraint (Mark Lewis Jones
) and his brothers Huw and Gorwell bicker and undermine each other and Owen's mum Brenda tries to stop everything falling to pieces. Despite all the petty rows and rivalries, eventually the members of the family learn to appreciate each other and realise Christmas wouldn't be the same without each other.
The show was directed by Chris Gernon, and produced by Steve Doherty and Juliet Charlesworth
Mark Watson (comedian)
Mark Andrew Watson is an English stand-up comedian and novelist.-Early life:Watson was born in Bristol to Welsh parents and attended Henleaze Junior school and then Bristol Grammar School, where he won the prize of 'Gabbler of the year', before going to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he studied...
, starring Ruth Jones
Ruth Jones
Ruth Jones is a Welsh TV actress and writer. She starred in and co-wrote the multi-award winning TV comedy Gavin & Stacey and has appeared in many other successful comedies over recent years...
, Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye is an English comedian and actor. He achieved notoriety in 1995 portraying the character of Dennis Pennis, a shock interviewer on The Sunday Show...
, and Steve Speirs. It was shown on BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
in December 2009, and repeated on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
.
Plot
An adaption of Dylan Thomas's story, the comedy, set in South Wales, and filmed in the small mining town of Ferndale focuses on the character Owen's reminiscing on three separate Christmases, 1983, 1986 and 1989. Every Christmas Owen's uncle Huw (Steve Speirs), a successful but now divorced man, his son (who he is over protective of) Maurice, and Uncle Gorwell (Paul KayePaul Kaye
Paul Kaye is an English comedian and actor. He achieved notoriety in 1995 portraying the character of Dennis Pennis, a shock interviewer on The Sunday Show...
), an alcoholic and rather comedic character come to Owen's family house to stay. As we follow the family through the 1980s, the boys grow into men, whilst Owen's dad and his uncles seem to regress into childish behaviour and sibling rivalry. Owen's father Geraint (Mark Lewis Jones
Mark Lewis Jones
Mark Lewis Jones is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a police inspector in BBC drama series, 55 Degrees North, a whaler in the movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Tecton, a soldier in Troy....
) and his brothers Huw and Gorwell bicker and undermine each other and Owen's mum Brenda tries to stop everything falling to pieces. Despite all the petty rows and rivalries, eventually the members of the family learn to appreciate each other and realise Christmas wouldn't be the same without each other.
Cast
- Mum - Ruth JonesRuth JonesRuth Jones is a Welsh TV actress and writer. She starred in and co-wrote the multi-award winning TV comedy Gavin & Stacey and has appeared in many other successful comedies over recent years...
- Dad - Mark Lewis JonesMark Lewis JonesMark Lewis Jones is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a police inspector in BBC drama series, 55 Degrees North, a whaler in the movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Tecton, a soldier in Troy....
- Uncle Huw - Steve Speirs
- Uncle Gorwel - Paul KayePaul KayePaul Kaye is an English comedian and actor. He achieved notoriety in 1995 portraying the character of Dennis Pennis, a shock interviewer on The Sunday Show...
- Young Owen - Oliver Bunyan
- Young Maurice - Jamie Burch
- Older Owen - Mark Charles Williams
- Older Maurice - Rhys McLellan
- Carol singer - Alex Beckett
The show was directed by Chris Gernon, and produced by Steve Doherty and Juliet Charlesworth