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Business & Culture
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Welsh Language Soap Wins Radio Times Award

Pobol y Cwm has won the Radio Times Soap of the Year Award in a victory for Welsh language television

The award winning soap is set in the real-life valley of Cwmderi
The award winning soap is set in the real-life valley of Cwmderi (Photographer: Ian Ashton)

A Welsh language television soap has won the Radio Times Soap of the Year award, seeing off competition from television giants including EastEnders and Coronation Street.

Pobol y Cwm is the longest running British soap, celebrating it’s on air 40th birthday last year. Over 30,000 voted in the competition, with the programme winning 67% of the vote.

“The Radio Times award is a confirmation of Pobol y Cwm’s enduring appeal to viewers in Wales and beyond. For over forty years, the village of Cwmderi has been a home from home for millions of viewers, and this award reflects the continuing strength of the Welsh language and its people,” said Lowri Cooke, author of ‘Pobol y Cwm – Happy Birthday 40’.

Set in the Cwmderi valley, the soap is broadcast on welsh language channel S4C and produced by BBC Wales in Cardiff. Notable alumni include the Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffud and Charles Williams MBE.

With Cardiff University recently receiving a £1.8 million grant to help preserve the Welsh language and the Welsh Language and Culture Centre opening in Cardiff in the New Year, the protection and promotion of the Welsh language remains a priority.