Caerdydd (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series was originally conceived as set in Dublin but was relocated to Cardiff when S4C commissioned it. Criticism of the show has focused on three main points: the original Dublin setting, the significant amount of English spoken (both by non-Welsh-speaking characters and through English words inserted into Welsh dialogue), and explicit sex scenes of both heterosexual and homosexual nature. The third series sparked a controversy known as 'Sex In The Assembly' after a sex scene was filmed on location in a toilet room of the Senedd, the Welsh National Assembly building, without officials being made aware of the scene's content. Both S4C and the National Assembly conducted investigations; S4C concluded that the production company followed correct procedures and that Senedd personnel were not misled, while the Assembly stated that the scene's content was not disclosed during negotiations.

Reader's Guide

Caerdydd represents a notable attempt by S4C to modernise Welsh-language television and reach a younger, bilingual audience. Its production in high-definition format for series 2 and 3, along with the availability of episodes with English subtitles on S4C's website, reflected a push toward broader accessibility. The series garnered multiple Bafta Cymru nominations, including Best Screenwriter, Best Design, Best Director of Photography, Best Drama Series, and Best Actor. The 'Sex In The Assembly' controversy highlighted tensions between creative freedom and institutional oversight, becoming a notable incident in Welsh broadcasting history. The series' focus on urban, bilingual life in Cardiff offered a contemporary portrayal of Welsh-speaking communities, distinct from more traditional rural depictions.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally set in Dublin and only moved to Cardiff when S4C commissioned it.
• A sex scene in series 3 was filmed in a toilet room of the Senedd, the Welsh National Assembly building, without officials being told the scene's nature.
• The second series received three nominations for the 2008 Bafta Cymru awards.
• Episodes were available for streaming on S4C's website for 35 days after broadcast, with English subtitles.

Origins & Creative Vision

Caerdydd was born out of a deliberate strategy by S4C to connect with a younger demographic. Drama editor Angharad Jones commissioned the series in 2005, envisioning a stylish new drama about modern, urban Welsh speakers living in a bilingual city. The show follows a group of urban twenty- and thirtysomethings whose complex friendships and relationships unfold against a backdrop of relentless socialising. Notably, the project was originally set in Dublin before S4C's commissioning redirected it to Cardiff, anchoring the story firmly in the Welsh capital. The third series began its run on 30 March 2008, and a fourth series entered production in the spring of 2008 before starting to broadcast on 14 June 2009. The series is produced by Fiction Factory, a division of Tinopolis, for S4C's public service broadcast.

Awards & Industry Recognition

Caerdydd earned consistent recognition from both Welsh and broader Celtic media circles. The second series attracted three nominations at the 2008 Bafta Cymru ceremony: Ed Talfan for Best Screenwriter, Hayden Pearce for Best Design, and Richard Wyn for Best Director of Photography in the drama category. That same series also received a nomination at the 2008 Celtic Media Festival for best drama series, extending the show's visibility beyond Wales. The third series continued this momentum at the 2009 Bafta Cymru, where it was nominated for Best Drama Series. Individual recognition followed: Roger Williams was nominated for Best Screenwriter, and Ryland Teifi, who plays Peter Marshall, was put forward for Best Actor. The nominations spanned writing, design, cinematography, and performance, reflecting recognition across multiple craft areas of the production.

The Senedd Filming Controversy

One of the most unusual episodes in Caerdydd's history erupted after the broadcast of episode three in the third series. It emerged that a sex scene had been filmed on location inside a toilet room at the Senedd, the Welsh National Assembly building, rather than in a television studio. Assembly officials who had approved filming in the Neuadd area, the building's corridors, and a baby-changing room had not been informed of the scene's explicit nature. The scene, shot on 14 March 2008, depicted Lea Kennedy, played by Alys Thomas, in an intimate encounter with her much older boyfriend Stephen James, portrayed by Dewi Rhys Williams. S4C launched an investigation and contacted the producers, while Conservative AM William Graham publicly called for tighter script vetting. S4C ultimately concluded the production company had followed correct procedures and that Senedd staff had not been misled. The Assembly's own review confirmed the scene's content was never disclosed during negotiations or filming, yet it reaffirmed its commitment to remaining open and accessible to programme makers.

Production Craft & Accessibility

Behind the camera, Caerdydd drew on a team of Welsh directors and writers. Ed Thomas directed the first two series and the first five episodes of the third, while Dave "D.J." Evans handled the second series and the final five episodes of the third. Ed Talfan also directed in the early seasons. The writing bench included Tim Price, Ian Staples, Anwen Huws, Roger Williams, and Catrin Clarke, with Fizzy Oppè, Catrin Rees, and Ed Thomas serving as producers. From the second series onward, the show was produced in high-definition format. S4C ensured broad accessibility: every episode carries full subtitles in both Welsh and English, with the Welsh subtitle files available for download. All third-series episodes also feature audio description. Episodes are streamed on S4C's website for 35 days after their initial broadcast, with the first series going online each Saturday following its TV airing without any restrictions to availability.