Annual report and accounts
Last year, we committed to offering lively and exciting content to entertain our loyal viewers in 2023–24, as well as to engage with a new audience by providing a Welsh perspective on the world. This was achieved through offering a diverse slate of content, balancing the staple programmes which remain popular with new, bold content.
In early September 2023, we broadcast the first episode of Anfamol (BBC studios) on our linear service, with the full box set released at the same time on Clic and iPlayer. Anfamol was a TV adaptation of Rhiannon Boyle’s stage play, with the box set release proving particularly popular with audiences.
Pren ar y Bryn (Fiction Factory) was another key drama series during the year. Written and created by Ed Thomas, the six part series was filmed on location in Ystradgynlais, and featured a stellar Welsh cast including Rhodri Meilir and Nia Roberts. It was commissioned in collaboration with BBC Cymru Wales, in association with All3Media International and supported by investment from Creative Wales.
A highlight of our programming over Christmas 2023 and the New Year was Siân Phillips yn 90 (Rondo) – a star-studded documentary film to mark Siân’s 90th birthday. From Hollywood films to theatre, television and radio, Siân Phillips has done it all. The star of I, Claudius and ex-wife of Peter O’Toole spoke candidly like never before about her life and career so far. Siân Phillips yn 90 proved popular both amongst audiences in Wales, as well as further beyond following the publication of stories in the UK national media during December 2023 to coincide with the broadcast on S4C.
However, it’s important to remember that S4C has been responsible for producing bold content since 1982. The Post Office Horizon scandal during 2023–24 provided an opportunity for S4C to re-broadcast a 2009 episode of Taro Naw (BBC Cymru Wales) which was the first current affairs programme to look into the concerns being raised by sub-postmasters. Indeed, a clip of Alan Bates from that Taro Naw episode has been watched over 349,000 times over recent months via S4C’s presence on the X platform.
S4C content continued to win key industry awards during 2023–24. A full list of nominations and the awards won appears elsewhere in this Annual Report. However, we are particularly proud that Y Sŵn (Joio) – a film portraying how S4C was established, and released to coincide with S4C’s 40th birthday – was nominated in the best single drama category at the Broadcast Awards in February 2024.
Another Welsh film by the same producers – Gwledd (Joio) – received its first TV broadcast on Hallowe’en 2023, providing S4C audiences an opportunity to enjoy a film which had already garnered significant public acclaim and international awards since its initial cinematic release.
These two films underline the importance of the film industry in Wales, and the need to produce more films in the Welsh language. For that reason, S4C is proud to be a key partner of the Sinema Cymru fund to support Welsh language feature films with international, big screen potential. In collaboration with Creative Wales, and delivered by Ffilm Cymru, the fund is aimed at developing a minimum of three feature films a year, with a view to progressing one for production funding.
Over time, we hope to broadcast these films on S4C, for the benefit of audiences in Wales and beyond.