''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 (

) 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 (

) 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) -

- Owen's mother, Geraint's wife, Maurice's aunt and Huw and Gorwel's sister-in-law. * Geraint Rhys (Dad) -

- 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 -

- 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

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 {{Christmas-tv-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References