Welsh-language soap Rownd a Rownd has just celebrated its 30th anniversary which is an impressive milestone that places it alongside long-running giants like Hollyoaks. But despite its legacy and passionate fanbase, it often slips under the radar compared to its English-language counterparts.
Eastieoaks.com sat down for a chat with actor Gethin Bickerton aka Rownd a Rownd‘s Trystan to chat about all the drama that goes into putting this soap on our screens each week.
A Soap set in reality
While English soaps often lean into extreme storylines, Gethin believes Rownd a Rownd thrives on authenticity. “Other soaps can take the dramatic elements and play with that a bit more showing serial killers and the darker side of reality. I think Rownd a Rownd’s strength is honing in on reality, normal life, representing a normal community.” That sense of realism is amplified by the setting. Unlike studio-built streets, the show films openly on a real road in Menai Bridge. “The set and the location is kind of like a character in itself,” he explains. “Members of the public have walked into shot asking for a coffee because it looks so realistic!”
Celebrating Welsh Identity
As an English viewer of Rownd a Rownd an Pobol y Cwm that watches with subtitles, a recurring debate in Welsh television is how much English-language dialogue should appear. Gethin, who plays a character that occasionally slips into “Wenglish,” understands both sides. “I have received some backlash for my Wenglishness,” he admits. “But I feel it’s an important representation of a large number of people in Wales those learning Welsh, or not fully confident yet.” He believes bilingual characters can actually help Welsh learners engage with the show and the language. “Friends in London watch it to learn Welsh. They say the stories are realistic, and the odd English word helps them follow along.”
So what is the secret to the show’s longevity?
“There’s nothing else quite like it,” Gethin says simply. “It’s rooted in North Wales, it tells real stories, and it’s incredibly relatable.” Music also plays a key role. “All the background music is Welsh. It supports Welsh artists and adds so much to the atmosphere of the scenes.”
Looking Ahead: Big Stories and Bigger Dreams
As a gay actor playing a gay character, Gethin is proud of the representation the show offers, such as Trystan’s wedding, the show’s first same-sex marriage.
One storyline he’d love to tackle? “I’d love to explore Trystan and Rhys having children. I have friends who’ve gone through adoption and I think it would be a fantastic, powerful story.”
And like any soap star, he wouldn’t say no to a massive stunt. “I just want to do a really big stunt,” he admits. “Something with water… or blow something up!”
If he had to describe Rownd a Rownd for someone who has never seen it, Bickerton already has the answer.
“Small community, big drama.”
Rownd a Rownd airs Tuesday and Thursday on S4C at 8.25pm with catchup on Clic and Iplayer and as Gethin said head to https://www.youtube.com/@RowndaRownd to enjoy Classic Rownd a Rownd from the very start.