BYW CELWYDD Head and heart at war in the dirty world of politics
S4C, Sunday, 9pm
DYLAN Williams, Assembly Member for the Democrats, is in a dilemma in this week’s episode of the political drama. Married to the party’s leader Catrin, Dylan doesn’t agree with her policies and refuses to follow her leadership in government.
Torn between his conscience and his duty towards his wife, Dylan also struggles between the pull he feels towards the Nationalist ideology and his obligation to his own party.
Is Catrin (Eiry Thomas) in danger of losing her husband as well as her Cabinet colleague? Will Dylan decide to get into bed with the Nationalists, leaving his Democrat wife?
It certainly feels like that for Catrin, who’s fed up with seeing her husband flirting more and more with the Nationalists’ line and feels helpless as she sees him getting closer to her rival Rhiannon Roberts (Ffion Dafis), leader of the Nationalists.
“There are several personal as well as political upheavals during this series!” says Mark Lewis Jones, who portrays the confused politician.
Mark, originally from Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham, has made a name for himself as a versatile actor appearing in well-known TV drama series including Game of Thrones, Stella and recently in Channel 4’s National Treasure.
“There is a lot of strain on Dylan and Catrin’s relationship, and as an actor it’s been very interesting for me to portray that tension,” says the 53-year-old, who currently lives in Cardiff.
“Catrin and Dylan are ambitious politicians, and that ambition comes between them,” says Mark.
“In the first series, after the death of the Democrats’ leader, Dylan took for granted he would be the natural heir to the position. But to Dylan’s surprise, Catrin was appointed leader. Their relationship is complex, and on the whole they have an understanding, and I think there is love there too.”
Although Byw Celwydd focuses on political machinations in the Senedd, it’s fair to say there has been plenty of real-life drama in Welsh and British politics over the past year. From Brexit to Trump’s victory in America, 2016 was full of unexpected political events, resulting in fierce debates and divided opinions.
“I’ve acted in two series of Byw Celwydd – and I now certainly look at politics in a different way,” says Mark.
“What’s happened in politics in the past year has been spectacular! Brexit, then David Cameron’s departure, resulting in Theresa May becoming Prime Minister – you could never have predicted it!”
But will Catrin be able to predict her husband’s decision? Mark is careful not to give the game away: “Dylan is quite principled. He has his faults, but he’s an honest politician... I think that’s his Achilles’ heel, to be honest!”