Cowbois ac Injans ''(Cowboys and Engines)'' is a
Welsh language
Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has ...
television drama written by brother and sister
Jon Tregenna and
Catherine Tregenna which was broadcast on
S4C. The series was made by Teledu Opus, which later became Rondo Productions. The title was a pun on the phrase "Cowboys and "Injuns"; "injun", a mis-pronunciation of "Indian" (as in "
American Indian") sounds similar to "injan", Welsh for "engine".
Plot
The
comedy drama is set in a used car showroom, Garej Wheelers, somewhere in the ''Wild West'' of Wales. Things don't always go according to plan. It's a world of love, lies and second-hand cars. The series also deals in the fading dreams of the staff, for as Billy Wheeler said, 'No ever grows up wanting to be a car salesman.' The series had a serial element but also featured a 'story of the week' with guest actors appearing to take the role of customers.
Main characters
*Bili Wheeler: Simon Fisher - patriarchal figure and proprietor of Wheelers
*Balders: Rhodri Evan - hapless clown-like salesman who write romantic fiction in his spare time.
*Jo-Jo: Catherine Ayers - Billy's daughter - former carnival queen who has a crush on Manny.
*Manny:
Geraint Todd - new salesman just back from London where he was in a band.
*Cez: Mared Swain - Jo-Jo's best friend and Manny's loving wife.
*Del: Janet Aethwy - 40-something and fiery - a woman whose husband left her for a younger model.
*Jimmy: Neil Williams - Del's ex - an underwear salesman.
*Carwyn: John Rowley - Balders' mute cousin.
*Arwyn:
Rhys ap William - Balders' bullying cousin.
*Val: Sara Harris-Davies - Billy's wife.
*Russ: Gareth Morris - Cez's Dad - he's dying of cancer which is the reason Cez and Manny came home.
*Vince:
Huw Ceredig
Huw Ceredig Jones (22 June 1942 – 16 August 2011) was a Welsh actor, best known for portraying Reg Harries in the Welsh-language soap opera ''Pobol y Cwm''.
Early life
Huw Ceredig was born in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, in 1942, the son of ...
- barfly at the local pub.
Location
The main location - the showroom - was in The Herberts, a small village outside
Cowbridge
Cowbridge ( cy, Y Bont-faen) is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, approximately west of the centre of Cardiff.
The Cowbridge with Llanblethian community and civil parish elect a town council.
A Cowbridge electoral ward exists for ...
in the Vale Of Glamorgan. It was formerly a
Rover
Rover may refer to:
People
* Constance Rover (1910–2005), English historian
* Jolanda de Rover (born 1963), Dutch swimmer
* Rover Thomas (c. 1920–1998), Indigenous Australian artist
Places
* Rover, Arkansas, US
* Rover, Missouri, US
...
dealership. The building has since been demolished. Other locations included
Pontarddulais
Pontarddulais (), also known as Pontardulais (), is both a community and a town in Swansea, Wales. It is northwest of the city centre. The Pontarddulais ward is part of the City and County of Swansea. Pontarddulais adjoins the village of Hendy ...
,
Llanelli
Llanelli (" St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarth ...
,
Llantrisant and various other locations throughout the Vale.
History
The series was commissioned by Angharad Jones for
S4C. The first series of 8 episodes aired during Autumn 2006. The series returned for a second series which began transmission on 4 February 2007.
Awards
In April 2007, ''Cowbois ac Injans'' was awarded the prize for Best Drama Series at the
Celtic Media Festival in Scotlan
At the 2007
BAFTA Cymru Awards, Gareth Bryn Evans won the prize for Best Newcomer after directing episode six of ''Cowbois ac Injans'' Series 1.
At the 2008
BAFTA Cymru Awards, Rhodri Evan won Best Actor for his role as 'Balders'. The prize was presented by
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 ...
from
Gavin & Stacey
''Gavin & Stacey'' is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, South Wales. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the titular characters Gavin and Stacey and the writers ...
.
References
External links
''Cowbois ac Injans'' Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowbois Ac Injans
2006 British television series debuts
2007 British television series endings
S4C original programming
British drama television series
2000s British drama television series
2000s Welsh television series