''A Child's Christmases in Wales'' was a 2009 one-off period comedy written by comedian
Mark Watson
Mark Andrew Watson (born 13 February 1980) is a British comedian and novelist.
Early life
Watson was born in Bristol to a Welsh mother and English father. He has younger twin sisters and a brother, Paul. He attended Bristol Grammar School, ...
, starring
Ruth Jones
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the award-winning BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey'' (2007–2010, 2019).
Jones has also appeared in various ...
,
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye (born 15 December 1964) is an English comedian and actor. He is known for his portrayals of shock interviewer Dennis Pennis on '' The Sunday Show'', New York lawyer Mike Strutter on MTV's '' Strutter'', Thoros of Myr in HBO's ''Game ...
, and
Steve Speirs. It was shown on
BBC Four in December 2009, and repeated on
BBC Two.
Since November 2017, it is available to watch on
BritBox
BritBox is an online digital video subscription service, founded by BBC Studios and ITV plc, operating in nine countries across North America, Europe, Australia and South Africa. .
Plot
An adaption of the
Dylan Thomas classic, ''
A Child's Christmas in Wales
''A Child's Christmas in Wales'' is a piece of prose by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas recorded by Thomas in 1952. Emerging from an earlier piece he wrote for BBC Radio, the work is an anecdotal reminiscence of a Christmas from the viewpoint of a ...
'', and filmed in the small mining town of
Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, has Owen Rhys reminiscing on Christmas-past (1983, 1986 and 1989). Every Christmas, Owen's uncle Huw (
Steve Speirs), a successful and divorced man, his son, Maurice, and Uncle Gorwell (
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye (born 15 December 1964) is an English comedian and actor. He is known for his portrayals of shock interviewer Dennis Pennis on '' The Sunday Show'', New York lawyer Mike Strutter on MTV's '' Strutter'', Thoros of Myr in HBO's ''Game ...
) come to Owen's family house to stay. As we follow the family through the 1980s, the boys grow into teenagers, whilst Owen's father Geraint (
Mark Lewis Jones
Mark Lewis Jones (born 31 August, 1964) is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a First Order Captain Moden Canady in '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'', a police inspector in BBC drama series ''55 Degrees North'', a whaler in the film '' Mast ...
) and his uncles seem to regress into childish behaviour and sibling rivalry. Geraint and his brothers bicker and undermine each other and Owen's mother Brenda (
Ruth Jones
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the award-winning BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey'' (2007–2010, 2019).
Jones has also appeared in various ...
) 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
* Brenda Rhys (Mum) -
Ruth Jones
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the award-winning BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey'' (2007–2010, 2019).
Jones has also appeared in various ...
- Owen's mother, Geraint's wife, Maurice's aunt and Huw and Gorwel's sister-in-law.
* Geraint Rhys (Dad) -
Mark Lewis Jones
Mark Lewis Jones (born 31 August, 1964) is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a First Order Captain Moden Canady in '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'', a police inspector in BBC drama series ''55 Degrees North'', a whaler in the film '' Mast ...
- Owen's father, Brenda's husband, Maurice's uncle and Huw and Gorwel's brother.
* Huw Rhys -
Steve Speirs - Owen's uncle, Geraint and Gorwel's brother and Maurice's father.
* Gorwel Rhys -
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye (born 15 December 1964) is an English comedian and actor. He is known for his portrayals of shock interviewer Dennis Pennis on '' The Sunday Show'', New York lawyer Mike Strutter on MTV's '' Strutter'', Thoros of Myr in HBO's ''Game ...
- Owen and Maurice's uncle and Geraint and Huw's brother.
* Owen Rhys (aged 9 and 12) - Oliver Bunyan - Brenda and Geraint's son, Maurice's cousin and Huw and Gorwel's nephew
**Mark Charles Williams portrays a 15-year-old Owen
* Maurice Rhys (aged 9 and 12) - Jamie Burch - Huw's son, Owen's cousin and Brenda, Geraint and Gorwel's nephew.
** Rhys McLellan portrays a 15-year-old Maurice
* Carol singer -
Alex Beckett
Alexander Michael Beckett (born 19 February 1954) is a former Scottish footballer who played as a defender.
Beckett is best known for his time with St. Mirren where he made 195 league appearances with the Paisley side, he also played for Fal ...
* Narrator (Adult Owen) -
Michael Sheen
Michael Christopher Sheen OBE (born 5 February 1969) is a Welsh actor, television producer and political activist. After training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s with stage rol ...
The show was directed by Chris Gernon, and produced by Steve Doherty and Juliet Charlesworth
See also
*
List of Christmas films
References
2009 television specials
Television shows set in Wales
British television films
British Christmas films
Films based on works by Dylan Thomas
Christmas television films
Films set in 1983
Films set in 1986
Films set in 1989
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