Cara Fi
Welsh romantic comedy-drama about a milk-carton matchmaking scheme.
Cara Fi (Love Me) is an eight-part Welsh romantic comedy-drama that premiered on S4C on 1 September 2014 and later appeared on BBC iPlayer. Created by Fflur Dafydd, the series earned BAFTA Cymru nominations in 2015 for costume design and original music.
In the fictional Pembrokeshire village of Tretarw, a shortage of women prompts locals to advertise their single men on milk cartons leaving the local dairy. Each episode follows a new woman arriving to meet one of the village’s bachelors. The scheme is devised by pub landlady Nancy Hopkins (Christine Pritchard), who hopes to find a wife for her son, Will (Iwan John), so he won’t leave. Unbeknownst to Nancy, Will is gay. The story begins when Nancy’s newly-single daughter, Nina (Rhian Jones), returns to Tretarw with her own daughter, Lili (Saran Morgan). Nancy tries to reunite Nina with her high-school sweetheart, pub chef Vic Reed (Steffan Rhodri), but Nina instead connects with the earnest local doctor, Brian (Gareth Pierce).
The series was produced by Fiction Factory for S4C and filmed near Cardiff in March 2014, with location shooting moving to Little Haven, Pembrokeshire, in April. The shoot centered on The Swan Inn, renamed Yr Angor for the show. Owner Paul Morris noted that the cast and crew were welcome visitors who boosted the local economy. Series producer Laura Cotton, who grew up in the area, said the show’s subject—the real problem of holiday homes and youth exodus in rural Wales—was close to her heart. Steffan Rhodri, known for *Gavin & Stacey* and *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1*, said the script’s genuine wit attracted him to the role. The Welsh-language series aired with English subtitles on S4C from 1 September 2014 and later became available on BBC iPlayer.
- First broadcast
- 1 September 2014
- Creator
- Fflur Dafydd
- Production company
- Fiction Factory for S4C
Lore & Background
The series is set in the fictional Pembrokeshire village of Tretarw, where a sleepy seaside village runs out of women. The locals try to turn things around by advertising their single men on the side of milk cartons leaving the dairy. Each episode focuses on a new woman arriving in the village to be set up with a local man. The milk scheme is the brainchild of pub landlady Nancy Hopkins (Christine Pritchard), whose chief goal is to find a wife for her son, Will (Iwan John), so he won't move away from Tretarw. Unbeknownst to Nancy, Will is gay. The series kicks off as Nancy's daughter, newly-single Nina (Rhian Jones), moves back to the village with her own daughter Lili (Saran Morgan). Nancy is determined to reunite Nina with her high-school sweetheart, pub chef Vic Reed (Steffan Rhodri). Much to Nancy's irritation, Nina instead hits it off with the nerdy, earnest local doctor, Brian (Gareth Pierce).
Reader's Guide
Cara Fi is significant for addressing the real problem faced by villages in rural Wales: an increase in holiday homes and an exodus of young people. Series producer Laura Cotton, who grew up in the area, said the subject matter was very close to her heart. Filming began near Cardiff in March 2014, with the location shoot moving to Little Haven in Pembrokeshire in April. The shoot took place in and around The Swan Inn, renamed Yr Angor for the show. The owner of The Swan Inn, Paul Morris, said that the Cara Fi cast and crew had been welcome visitors to Little Haven, bringing a boost to the local economy. Steffan Rhodri, best known for roles in Gavin & Stacey and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, said the quality of the show's script is what attracted him to the part: 'What's so often missing from Welsh comedy is a genuine wit, and this has it.' The series was nominated for BAFTA Cymru awards for costume design and for original music in 2015.
Did You Know?
- The series was nominated for BAFTA Cymru awards for costume design and for original music in 2015.
- The fictional village of Tretarw is based on real issues of holiday homes and youth exodus in rural Wales.
- Filming took place at The Swan Inn in Little Haven, renamed Yr Angor for the show.
- Steffan Rhodri, who played Vic Reed, is known for roles in Gavin & Stacey and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cara Fi?
Cara Fi (English title: Love Me) is an eight-episode Welsh-language romantic comedy-drama written by Fflur Dafydd and produced by Fiction Factory for S4C. It first aired in September 2014 and was later made available on BBC iPlayer.
What is the main premise of the show?
The story takes place in the fictional Pembrokeshire village of Tretarw, where a local shortage of women leads villagers to post ads for their unmarried men on milk cartons at the dairy. Each episode introduces a new woman who arrives to meet a different bachelor from those listings.
Who devises the milk-carton matchmaking scheme?
The idea is hatched by Nancy Hopkins, the village pub landlady portrayed by Christine Pritchard, who is trying to find a wife for her son. Her grassroots matchmaking plan becomes the connective thread that launches each episode's romantic storyline.
Did Cara Fi receive any award recognition?
The series earned two BAFTA Cymru nominations in 2015, one for costume design and another for original music. It did not take home the awards but the nods highlighted its production craft.
Where and when did Cara Fi first broadcast?
The eight-part series premiered on S4C on 1 September 2014. Following its initial run, it became available to stream on BBC iPlayer, extending its reach beyond the S4C audience.
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