The Welsh programmes from TWW

The cultural pattern of Wales, which has emerged over the centuries, now has added expression through the modern medium of television.

This website illustrates some aspects of the Welsh programmes produced by TWW at their Pontcanna Studios, Cardiff, for viewers served by the St. Hilary transmitter of the Independent Television Authority.

Music and song from Wales

Each month the Welsh programme Land of Song is seen throughout Great Britain by some ten million viewers — the largest audience ever obtained by a Welsh programme series. It is the most consistently successful musical programme ever presented on television.

Ivor Emmanuel
The groups of singers who appear in the programme were formed and trained by TWW musical director Norman Whitehead and, with the programme centred on the imaginary village of Llantelly, director Christopher Mercer places the show in a different setting each month.

Other musical programmes presented by TWW have included Trysor o Gân, an intimate programme featuring leading Welsh instrumentalists and singers and Hoff Alawon, in which distinguished guests selected their favourite music.

Musical Director Norman Whitehead discusses an item with lvor Emmanuel
A part of the TWW No. 1 studio during a Land of Song transmission

An ambassador of song

After varied experience in the London theatre, Ivor Emmanuel gained a significant personal success in TWW programmes. On independent television he has become an ambassador of song for the land of his birth.

Following the particular success of his work with the Pontcanna Children’s Choir, he and the children were selected to appear in the 1960 Royal Variety Performance in an excerpt from Land of Song.

Amser Te with Myfanwy Howell

Each week since TWW went on the air, Myfanwy Howell has, with only rare breaks, introduced the miscellany programme Amser Te. More than 130 editions have been presented.

It is a programme with a very definite feminine appeal and the large post bag includes many letters from people outside Wales.

Apart from gardening, handicrafts, musical items and interviews with well known and interesting personalities, the programme has become especially well known for the recipes which end each edition. These have been published.

Born in Anglesey, Mrs. Howell is a magistrate and well known throughout Wales for her public work.

TWW pioneer “Teaching Welsh”

A pioneer Welsh programme by TWW was the series Camau Cyntaf presented by Miss Cassie Davies as an experiment in using television for teaching a language.

This was the first time, anywhere, that a TV company had made this particular use of its resources. Many different modern teaching techniques were used during this series by Miss Davies, who was formerly H.M. Inspector of Schools. A further series is in course of preparation.

Miss Cassie Davies says:

“The aim of this first series was to give non-Welsh speaking people some knowledge of the language, to help those who have a little knowledge to brush up their vocabulary and to help maintain the interest of those who speak the language fluently.”

For the Youth of Wales

Many of the Welsh programmes series have been designed specially for the younger generation by the TWW Welsh Department.

A well illustrated series on careers, Dewis Gyrfa, open to school leavers of all ages, was conducted by Mr. Jenkin Jones and featured acknowledged experts in many fields.

Colegau Cerdd has currently featured Welsh students at present studying in music colleges. Many other programmes compered by Hywel D. Roberts have been popular, especially the inter-county quiz Am y Gorau. The series Ar Brawf awarded prizes to those students who passed a cross examination designed to test personality.

As the young electronic medium of communication, independent television looks to the future.

Problems and opinions in Wales to-day

There is no more immediate way of communicating information and opinion than by television, and TWW have become well known for the vigour and style of their informative programmes. Among the Welsh series presented have been Pawb â’i Farn when each week three prominent Welshmen, under the chairmanship of John Eilian, discussed topics of special interest. In another series, Gŵr Gwadd, a panel of three women interviewed each week a leading figure in Welsh life.

Mr. Raymond Edwards is another fluent and assured chairman of TWW programmes.

The Royal National Eisteddfod 1960

A special series of Friday programmes, Tua’r Ŵyl, has prepared the way for the TWW coverage of the i960 Royal National Eisteddfod being held in Cardiff. During the week of the Eisteddfod, the new £100,000 TWW ‘studio on wheels’ will be near to the main pavilion recording the highlights of the events each day and servicing the TWW marquee studio.

Special evening programmes will also be seen on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday of Eisteddfod Week as well as broadcasts around the visit of H.M. The Queen.

To the millions served by independent television, TWW will present an unrivalled coverage of this important week in the life of Wales.

What the papers say

“Careful film editing … by Dave Powell meant that the viewer at home had all the enjoyment of the Eisteddfod.”

Y Cymro

 

“I must pay tribute to the high standard they (Pawb â’i Farn) set for such a long period.”

Gwilym Roberts, Liverpool Daily Post

 

“The Land of Song series have set a new standard in television musicals.”

Liverpool Daily Post

 

Land of Song becomes more and more polished without losing any of its charm.”

John Whitehead, Bristol Evening World

 

Amser Te (TWW) maintains undiminished its popularity with a wide audience.”

Perspex, Caernarvon Of Denbighshire Herald

 

“Smoothness and charm of production one has almost come to take for granted from Pontcanna.”

Holyhead Mail

 

“Of the two channel offerings, I am a little more impressed by that of TWW.”

Western Mail
(on St. David’s Day programmes)

TWW Welsh programmes – Autumn 1960

TUESDAYS
AMSER TE
Compere Myfanwy Howell
Now in its 3rd year

WEDNESDAYS (commencing 31st August.)
HER YR IFANC
Young people challenge the institutions

THURSDAYS (commencing 1st September)
PWY FASE’N MEDDWL?
A new quiz
Something out of the ordinary

FRIDAYS (commencing 2nd September)
LLAIS Y LLENOR
Literary discussion

Published by TWW Publicity Department