S4C series is a fixed point in a time of huge change

S4C’S countryside and farming TV series Ffermio celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017 and a special programme at the beginning of the year looks back over a period of great change in rural life and the agricultural industry.

The programme next Monday will feature reports and interviews from the series’ rich archive over the past two decades.

It will start from the earliest broadcasts in 1997 – at a time when John Major was Prime Minister and agriculture was still the responsibility of the UK Government – to the current period, with agriculture now one of the remits of the Welsh Assembly and the UK set to leave the European Union.

But one part of rural life stands firm on the ground – the S4C farming series remains at prime time on Monday evenings, with agriculture and rural affairs its focal point.

The series began in 1997 when production company Telesgop was based in Llandeilo, and the television series was presented by Sulwyn Thomas, Rachael Garside and Gerallt Pennant.

It is now being produced in the SA1 development in Swansea, where Telesgop produces a wide variety of programmes for the television market worldwide.

The current series’ presenters are Meinir Howells, Alun Elidyr and Daloni Metcalfe, all reporting on locations throughout Wales and beyond.

Elin Rhys, managing director of production company Telesgop, said: “it is a great privilege and responsibility to produce the Ffermio programme, given the importance of the agriculture industry to Wales.

“We are grateful to S4C for their support in producing a programme that is full of items and issues that are not only relevant to Welsh rural communities, but to audiences across Wales and beyond.”

The first series producer, Richard Rees, was called back to produce the hour-long anniversary programme, but struggled to fit in all the interesting interviews and excellent contributions in this slot.

Elin Rhys added: “Over the years, the programne has been a breeding ground for new talent in television production and presentation in West Wales, and a new generation is coming through learning the essential skills needed to produce quality television programmes.

“Much of this is down to the series’ executive producer Dyfrig Davies and the company’s other senior producers, who have been key in generating a generation of talent.

“We are deeply grateful to the staff here at Telesgop, who are not only committed to working on Ffermio, but whose roots are deep in the Welsh countryside.”