Rownd a Rownd (English: "Round and Round") is a soap opera broadcast on the Welsh language television channel S4C, first broadcast in 1995. It was claimed to be the first Celtic-related language soap specifically directed at a youth audience.
Rownd a Rownd was first broadcast in September 1995 and originally based on young people who did a paper round (hence the programme's title, based on the wheels of a bicycle). It has since grown to include both their daily school and family life. Phil Redmond, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, acted as a consultant to the series on its launch in 1995, and again on its tenth anniversary. In 2016, it celebrated its 21st birthday, with S4C broadcasting an anniversary special hosted by Tudur Owen.
Production
The series is filmed in Menai Bridge, Anglesey and Caernarfon, North Wales, produced by Rondo Media (previously known as Nant Films). When it began the production company converted a disused garage in Dale Street (Welsh name: "Lon Cilbedlam") into a fake row of shops, which include a café, a hairdresser, a newsagent and a taxi firm. There is a sign outside this set informing the public that the shops are not real. School scenes are filmed in the town's two schools, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and Ysgol David Hughes. Hospital scenes are often filmed in nearby Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, usually in one of the staff hostels.
Shopkeeper & Family
Philip Parry - Owner of the shop.
Alwena Parry - Philip's ex-wife. Now lives in Spain.
Mathew Parry - The oldest son. He is the deputy head teacher at the local school. Sophie's partner.
Sion Parry - Son who takes care of his uncle Wyn's affairs in Spain.
Dewi Parry - Son who is currently away at University.
Iolo - Philip's nephew. Part-time outdoors instructor and barman at Copa.
Wyn Humphreys - Alwena's brother. Local business tycoon. Owns many of the town's buildings.
Salon Dani
Dani Keegan - The manager of the salon. Michelle and Wyn's daughter, half-sister to Britney and Siwan. David's girlfriend.
Lowri - Married to Kelvin. Mother to Robbie and Mia. Good friend of Dani's and agony aunt.
Jac - Tattooed young man from South Wales. Little is known about his past.
Caffi Sgram
Glenda Phillips - Local gossip. She is married to Terry and is Sophie's mother.
Iris Hardy - The Hardy boys' mother. Arthur's long-suffering partner.
Richards Family
John Richards - Local business man who owns the garage. Father to Rhys, Wil and Erin. Sian's partner.
Rhys Richards - Glanrafon's mechanic.
Erin - Wil's mischievous twin.
Wil - Tries his best to keep his sister out of trouble.
Walsh Family
Ken Walsh - Owner of the local Taxi firm K-Kabs with his wife Kay.
Kay Walsh - Ken's sharp-tongued wife. Meical's sister.
Kelvin Walsh - Young builder, married to Lowri. Works with Terry.
Kylie Walsh - Ken and Kay's teenage daughter.
Sglein
Michelle Keegan-Williams - Runs cleaning business with husband Meical. Mother to Britney and Dani.
Meical Williams - Michelle's husband and Kay's brother.
Britney - Michelle's daughter, Meical's step-daughter. Kylie's best friend.
Others
Mr Lloyd - Resident of Glanrafon for many years. Respectable chapel oraganist.
Terry - Owner of construction company. Glenda's husband.
Barry Hardy - Known as a former criminal though looks after his brothers and mother well. Runs Ty Pizza. Has one child, Tom, with girlfriend Carys.
Jason Hardy - Currently lives with his father Ben in Hollyhead.
Arthur - Iris' train-obsessed old bus driver partner. A delivery driver and conman.
D.I. Sian Hughes - Policewoman and John's girlfriend.
Sophie - Glenda's daughter. Bitchy character who often quarrels with others. Mother to Owain and Mair. Mathew's partner.
Cathryn - Runs the local bar Copa. She has a daughter, Siwan, with Wyn. She is Vince's partner.
Vince - The local postman. Ken and Meical's friend.
Llio James- Young teacher from South Wales. She is Carys' sister.
Carys - Llio's arty sister. She has a child, Tom, with Barry and runs her own tailoring business.
David - Hard working financial advisor. Half-brother to Kay and Meical. He is Dani's boyfriend.
