Alys (TV series)
Alys is a Welsh language television series created by BAFTA award-winning scriptwriter Siwan Jones. The series follows single mum, Alys, who moves from Cardiff to a dingy flat in a small West Wales town along with her 10-year-old son, Daniel, while trying to escape her past. Alys is played by actress Sara Lloyd-Gregory, in a part which was specially written for her.[4][5] The show is also her first leading role.[6] Co-stars include William Thomas and Aneirin Hughes, whom Gregory had worked with on Con Passionate, another television drama written by Siwan Jones. The Show is produced by Apollo for S4C. It began on Sunday 23 January 2011 as part of a new year line-up of brand-new television series on S4C. The first season consists of eight episodes. The season finale aired on 13 March 2011.
The first season has done very well and has mostly ranked in the top 10 of the top 20 Welsh programmes on S4C. There are no plans to release the first season of Alys on DVD or Blu-ray. To view repeats of episodes, they are available on S4C online service, S4C Clic for a limited time. After they have finished airing, it is unknown if S4C will re-run the first season again.
Alys has been commissioned for a new season. Siwan Jones is currently writing for the second season of the show and filming is expected to take place sometime in March 2012. The series will return in late 2012, possibly early 2013.
Premise and Development
Alys was created and written by Siwan Jones, whose work as a writer won her numerous BAFTA cymru awards and a Rose d'Or for her acclaimed television series Tair Chwaer and Con Passionate.
The idea for Alys came to Jones while she was shopping in a small West Wales town. She watched as a group of people carried some furniture as she walked from the car park towards the town. Behind them was a dark tunnel which led into the heart of a building; while they were walking, some children followed along and as she watched on, this triggered the image for the series with became Alys. Jones' idea which started there was to create two worlds; one of working class people such as the shop owners in a small town; and the others who were unemployed and struggled to make ends meet, such as Sara Lloyd-Gregory's character, 'Alys'. She aimed to show how different these two worlds are and yet how similar they also are.
The story of the series is centred around the character 'Alys' as she moves to a small town in Wales with her 10-year-old son Daniel after fleeing her troubled life in Cardiff; she plans to start a new life and does anything she can to see that Daniel is looked after.
Production
Most of the series is set in and around Brecon and is entirely written by Jones. It is produced by Paul Jones. The music score is provided and composed by Strange Village. The language in the series is almost entirely spoking in Welsh, with the exception of few scenes in which English is spoken. The aim of the use of Welsh is to help young Welsh learners.
It is shot on high-definition video, adding quality and giving the series a filmic look.
Characters
- Alys, (played by Sara Lloyd-Gregory). Alys is a strong and independent person. Alys is from West Wales, but moved to Cardiff for university where she became pregnant. She is a young mother who has moved to a small town with her son, Daniel to escape her past in Cardiff, she fled Cardiff as the death of her brother and her boyfriend. With no job and no money she is given a dirty rundown flat, there she makes some very good friends with her neighbours across the hall, Ceri, Kevin, Shane and William. She will do just about anything to make sure Daniel eats and has nice things which includes stealing and prostitution. Her first "customer" is her landlord Eirwyn Toms. Alys's plan is to make enough money so that she and Daniel can move to America, so that Daniel can one day fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut. Alys is almost always getting herself into trouble with the rich snobs in the town including clothes shop owner, Debbie, and Daniel's friend Alex's mum, Angie whom Alys seems to be falling for her husband, Chris. Alys is very helpful to her neighbours Ceri and William who have become like her family, she also hates drugs, and it also looks as if her past will sometime come back to haunt her.
- Daniel, (played by Zachary Mutyambizi). Daniel is Alys's young son, he often suffers by the things his mum gets up to, by the things that people say about her, but being young he doesn't really understand. He has a dream of one day becoming an astronaut. He is friends with Alex, Angie and Chris's son.
- Wiliam, (played by William Thomas). William was once a Minister, but is now the town drunk, but he is a good friend to Alys and Ceri. His family don't want anything to do with him because of his drinking which is an embarrassment to them, his ex-wife, Lizabeth, and daughter, Catrin never want to see him, but Catrin really misses him. His nephew, Iestyn often comes to visit him at the flat, but with William's behaviour, he doesn't know why he even bothers.
- Eirwyn Toms, (played by Aneirin Hughes). Known as "Toms", he owns a garage and is the landlord of the flats. He is in serious debt and things in his and his wife, Heulwen's home are often repossessed, but he somehow manages to keep things afloat with the help of town mayor, Ron. Toms has gone to Alys for sex in order to pay for it, and afterward regrets it. The people of the town have been on to their secret affair. With the police often on his back he once tried to commit suicide by drowning himself. After the death of their daughter, Toms and Heulwen seem to have grown apart, but he seems to be falling in love with Ron's wife Debbie, who is also have problems with her husband.
- Heulwen, (played by Gillian Elisa). Heulwen is Toms' wife, who is mostly always seen in a depressed mood, after the death of their daughter Sarah and the fact that Toms is in a lot of debt. She is known as "Mrs. T" by the town's people. She went to visit her sister whom she hadn't seen in twenty years, her sister is Alys's mum, but having not seen Alys since she was a little girl she is unaware that it's the same Alys who lives in her town.
- Ron, (played by Ifan Huw Dafydd). Ron is the town mayor, he is married to clothes shop owner, Debbie. He and Debbie often hold dinner party's at their home for Toms, Heulwen, Angie and Chris. Ron and Debbie were having little problems in their marriage for a while, but recently Debbie has discovers that Ron has pictures of young girls on his laptop, which has been stolen which Toms is in on.
- Debbie, (played by Shelley Rees). Debbie is the nosy clothes shop owner who is married to town mayor, Ron. She is often bullied by her husband and is unable to stand up to him. She has a little dog called Toots who is like a child to her. She has spotted Toms entering and leaving the flats while visiting Alys on various occasions but has kept it from Heulwen. The discovery of the pictures on Ron's laptop has put a strain on their marriage and finds herself turning to Toms for comfort. With the theft of Ron's laptop and the murder of Toots, she begins to feel the pressure.
- Angie, (played by Kate Jarman). Angie owns a restaurant in town, in which she and her husband, Chris try to get up and running. Her son, Alex is Daniel's friend from school, which Angie has treated bad at times for Alys's behaviours. Angie has told Alys that it isn't fair on Daniel by the things she gets up to. Angie and Chris has talked about Alys in the past about her being a prostitute. Angie is now beginning to suspect that something is going on between Chris and Alys.
- Chris, (played by Rhys ap William). Chris is Angie's husband, he often doesn't agree with or like the thing his wife comes out with, especially towards Alys. He and Angie have discussed Alys being on the game and Chris has confronted Alys because of this, he has also been worried about Daniel because of the way Alys behaves, like the time he found Daniel home alone while Kevin was supposed to be watching him. Recently he has been falling for Alys, and Daniel has spotted him and his mum kissing, and they have also slept together.
- Kevin, (played by Aled Pugh). Kevin is Ceri's boyfriend, the brother of Shane and the son of Bessie. He has cheated on Ceri with Vicky and has a child with her, but he is still in love with Ceri. He and Shane discovered a headless body at the local Chinese and has become involves in crime related businesses. He and Shane recently stolen a laptop from Ron and is demanding a ransom for giving the laptop to Toms.
- Shane, (played by Carwyn Glyn). Shane is Kevin's younger brother and son of Bessie. He works with his brother, and after the discover of the body in the Chinese he sent the message to Toms and was later arrested. He likes Ceri, so he hated the fact that Kevin cheated on her with Vicky.
- Ceri, (played by Catrin Mai Huw). Ceri is a depressed young woman, she lives across the hall from Alys, who has become her best friend. She is living with her boyfriend Kevin who has been cheating on her with another woman, Vicky whom he has a child with, but Ceri already knows this and hasn't said anything, until one night she snaps and smashes a chair over Kevin. On a night out with Alys, Ceri recognises that their taxi driver is the same man who had raped her in the past and as a result gave birth to a baby boy, so she slits her wrist. Alys helps Ceri get revenge by finding the man and making him pay for what he done, but he attacks Alys, so she, Ceri and William find him and William smashes his car windows.[7]
- Bessie, (played by Delyth Wyn). Bessie is the mother of Kevin and Shane. Her family is always involved in criminal activity, one of her other sons is in prison and when Shane is arrested she is worries the same thing will happen to him. She likes Ceri, and hates that her son, Kevin has cheated on her with Vicky, who has moves across the street from her.
- Iestyn, (played by Gareth Nash). Iestyn is William's nephew, he works in the local library. He often goes to visit William but hates the way William behaves, he has warned Alys to stay away from his uncle because he doesn't want someone like her near him.
Broadcast
Alys was broadcast on Welsh-language channel S4C since 23 January 2011 with the first of eight episodes. It is available with English subtitles. It is aired Sundays at 9.00pm with the episodes repeated Thursdays at 10.00pm. The show is also broadcast in high-definition on Welsh freeview channel S4C Clirlun.[8] Episodes are available for up to 35 days after they air on S4C at the online service S4C Clic.[9][10]
Television drama fans were given the chance to preview the first episode days before it was aired on TV. The previews took place in Llandeilo's Civic Hall on Monday 17 January at 7.30pm, Bangor University's JP Hall on Tuesday 18 January, and Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon on Friday 21 January. Following the screening, the audience discussed the show and asked questions to the panel connected with the series, including Siwan Jones, Sara Lloyd-Gregory and producer Paul Jones.[11][12]
It has been advised that anyone under 16 should not watch due to strong language.[13] Apart from the language, the show has also contained scenes of sex and sexual violence.
Episodes
Season 1
| # |
Title |
Written by |
Directed by |
Original airdate |
| 1 |
"Pennod 1" |
Siwan Jones |
Gareth Byrn |
23 January 2011 (2011-01-23) |
| "goroesiad y cymhwysaf" ("survival of the fittest"): Alys and her son Daniel move to a small West Wales town to make a fresh start and to escape their past from Cardiff. |
| 2 |
"Pennod 2[14]" |
Siwan Jones |
Gareth Byrn |
30 January 2011 (2011-01-30) |
| "mae cachu nhw'n drewi fel pawb arall" ("their shit stinks like everyone else's"): Alys steals from the clothes shop below her flat, Daniel gets into a fight on his first day of school. Alys begins to have nightmares about her past in Cardiff. |
| 3 |
"Pennod 3[15][16]" |
Siwan Jones |
Lee Haven-Jones |
6 February 2011 (2011-02-06) |
"'na beth sy ar goll yn ein cymdeithas ni heddi... pobal sy'n fadlon stico'u penne lan dros y parapet!"
("that's what's missing from today's society... people willing to poke their heads up above the parapet!"): Alys steals books from the library and is spotted by William's nephew, Iestyn. Kevin and Shane find the Chinese empty and a decapitated body in the room upstairs. Debbie becomes suspicious of Alys and Toms. Alys and Ceri go out for the night while Kevin is supposed to be watching Daniel, and Ceri begins to act strangely when she recoginises their taxi driver. Ceri self harms herself. |
| 4 |
"Pennod 4" |
Siwan Jones |
Lee Haven-Jones |
13 February 2011 (2011-02-13) |
| "pwy ma'n meddwl yw hi?" ("who does she think she is?"): Alys realises that Ceri knew all along about Kevin and Vicky and their child. Angie and Chris discuss Alys' private life, and Chris confronts Alys about being on the game. Alys finds the taxi driver looking around outside the flats. Ceri attacks Kevin. Alys is caught stealing from a hotel. |
| 5 |
"Pennod 5[17][18][19]" |
Siwan Jones |
Lee Haven-Jones |
20 February 2011 (2011-02-20) |
| "pwy sy'n twyllo pwy" ("who's deceiving who?"): Ron offers Alys a job as a cleaner at his house, and Debbie warns Alys to stay away for her own good. To avoid his and Ron's secret being discovered, Toms tells Kevin and Shane to break into Ron's house and steal his laptop. Debbie and Ron return to find the their home has been broken into and Debbie finds her dog, Toots dead. She tells Ron not to report it as she know what's on the laptop. Alys begins to search for the taxi driver, as it turns out that he raped Ceri. The taxi driver later turns up at the flats and attacks Alys. |
| 6 |
"Pennod 6 [20][21][22]" |
Siwan Jones |
Rhys Powys |
27 February 2011 (2011-02-27) |
| "ma' 'na shwd beth â thrais cyfiawn" ("there is such a thing as jusitiable violence"): Alys, William and Ceri find the taxi driver and take revenge. The search is on for the stolen laptop, while Debbie tells Ron that she knows there are pictures of young girls on it, Toms searches the flats and threatens Kevin who wants money for returning the laptop to him. Heulwen visits her sister who she hasn't seen in twenty years, her sister turns out to be Alys' mum, but Heulwen doesn't know that it's the same Alys who lives close to her. William is told that he is invited to his daughters wedding. Shane is arrested in connection with the body found at the Chinese. Alys lends the laptop from Kevin's flat and she and William discover what's on it, Toms shows up at Alys' flat. |
| 7 |
"Pennod 7[23][24][25]" |
Siwan Jones |
Rhys Powys |
6 March 2011 (2011-03-06) |
| "ma'n rhan o'r natur ddynol ...edrych ar ôl dy hunan gyntaf" ("it's part of human nature ...look at yourself first"): The laptop is still missing, Alys is demanding money from Debbie and Ron for the laptop or she'll go to the police, Kevin is demanding Toms give him the money but wants Alys to stay out of it, but Alys needs the money because she thinks it's time she and Daniel moved to America, Bessie then threatens Alys to stay away. William goes to his daughter, Catrin's wedding reception where she and her new husband are happy to see him, but he gets drunk and leaves early. Rons pays two men to go the flats to shut Alys up, but when they find she isn't there, the attack William, Alys turns up and tries to save him. |
| 8 |
"Pennod 8[26][27][28]" |
Siwan Jones |
Rhys Powys |
13 March 2011 (2011-03-13) |
| "...ti sy'n gyfrif am bopeth ti'n neud..." ("...you're responsible for everything you do..."): Alys goes to see William in hospital after the attack, there she reveals to him that she killed her boyfriend, Mike, by causing the car crash. She returns to the hospital later to discover he is gone and goes to his flat where Iestyn tells her she has nothing to do with him. Debbie plans to give Alys the money in exchange for the laptop, but Ron has a heart attack while trying to talk her out of it. Alys can't find the laptop as the council have taken everything from the yard, and tells Debbie. Alys discovers that Heulwen is her aunt. Ceri decides to go to the funeral of the 17-year-old girl that the taxi driver has raped and murdered, but when she goes to the house of the girls family, she find it empty with only the taxi driver inside, will she survive? Toms tells Shane to set fire to the garage, but Kevin tries to stop him. Daniel tells Alys that he has the laptop hidden, and while in the William's empty flat they hear an explosion, they look to see from a distance that the garage in on fire, what has happened to Kevin and Shane? |
Ratings
| Episode |
Airdates |
Total Viewers
|
Rank
|
| First |
Repeats |
|
1.1
|
23 January 2011
|
27 January 2011
|
61,000[29]
|
7
|
|
1.2
|
30 January 2011
|
3 February 2011
|
53,000[30]
|
9
|
|
1.3
|
6 February 2011
|
10 February 2011
|
71,000[31]
|
6
|
|
1.4
|
13 February 2011
|
17 February 2011
|
65,000[32]
|
6
|
|
1.5
|
20 February 2011
|
24 February 2011
|
49,000[33]
|
11
|
|
1.6
|
27 February 2011
|
3 March 2011
|
42,000[34]
|
14
|
|
1.7
|
6 March 2011
|
10 March 2011
|
49,000[35]
|
10
|
|
1.8
|
13 March 2011
|
17 March 2011
|
42,000[36]
|
10
|
References
- ^ "Boomerang - Apollo". boomerang.co.uk. http://www.boomerang.co.uk/boom/en/businesses/apollo/. Retrieved 28 March, 2011.
- ^ "Boomerang+". boomerang.co.uk. http://www.boomerang.co.uk/boom/en/. Retrieved 28 March, 2011.
- ^ "S4/Croeso". s4c.co.uk. http://s4c.co.uk/e_index.shtml. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "The making of Alys - Siwan Jones". walesonline.co.uk. 22 January 2011. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/television-in-wales/2011/01/22/the-making-of-alys-siwan-jones-91466-28023001. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ Jones, Rhiannon (15 January 2011)"Screen role is tailor-made for rising star". thisissouthwales.co.uk. http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Screen-role-tailor-rising-star/article-3104033-detail/article.html. Retrieved 1 February, 2011.
- ^ Price, Karen (15 January 2011)"'I like characters who are dark' - Sarah Lloyd-Gregory". walesonline.co.uk. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/01/15/i-like-characters-who-are-dark-sara-lloyd-gregory-91466-27989251. Retrieved 31 January, 2011.
- ^ "S4C's Alys is a dark drama". dailypost.co.uk. 5 February 2011. http://www.dailypost.co.uk/leisure/tv-wales/programme-news/2011/02/05/s4c-s-alys-is-a-dark-drama-55578-28114475. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ "Clirlun". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/clirlun. Retrieved 4 February, 2011.
- ^ "S4/Clic Alys". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?series_id=377088083. Retrieved 4 February, 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to Clic". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_index.shtml. Retrieved 4 February, 2011.
- ^ "Special previews of S4C drama". welshicons.org.uk. 14 January 2011. http://www.welshicons.org.uk/news/drama/special-previews-of-s4c-drama. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Drama fans get sneak preview". thisissouthwales.co.uk. 13 January 2011. http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Drama-fans-sneak-preview/article-3095400-detail/article.html. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Alys". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "Alys - Pennod 2 (S4C)". youtube.com. 30 January, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGjitiPADMI&feature=related. Retrieved 1 February, 2011.
- ^ "Alys - Pennod 3 (S4C)". youtube.com. 31 January 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnUJpBi3To&feature=related. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 3 (06/02/2011) - Clip & Script (Welsh)". s4c.co.uk. http://s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-3/8654. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Episode 5 Slideshow". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/archif/8772. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 5 (20/02/2011) - Clip & Script (Welsh)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-5/8819. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 5 (20/02/2011) - Clip & Script (English)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-5/8820. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Episode 6 Slideshow". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/archif/8886. Retrieved 26 March, 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 6 (27/02/2011) - Clip & Script (Welsh)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-6/8903. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 6 (27/02/2011) - Clip & Script (English)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-6/8904. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Episode 7 Sioe Sleidiau". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/archif/8987. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 7 (06/03/2011) - Clip & Script (Welsh)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-7/9031. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 7 (06/03/2011) - Clip & Script (English)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-7/9032. Retrieved 27 March, 2011.
- ^ "Episode 8 Slideshow". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/archif/9089. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 8 (13/03/2011) - Clip & Script (Welsh)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-8/9127. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Alys - 8 (13/03/2011) - Clip & Script (English)". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/dysgwyr/rhaglen/Alys/pennod-8/9126. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 23/01/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/673/language/eng/. Retrieved 8 March, 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 30/01/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/676/language/eng/. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 06/02/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/677/language/eng/. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 13/02/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/678/language/eng/. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 20/02/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/679/language/eng/. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 27/02/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/680/language/eng/. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 06/03/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/681/language/eng/. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 13/03/2011". s4c.co.uk. http://www.s4c.co.uk/top20/rm/view_top20_welsh_progs/uploadid/682/language/eng/. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
External links
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