Welsh TV over the years has seen some massive smashes such as Gavin & Stacey and Torchwood. But for every hit show, there were dozens of others that fell by the wayside and, sadly, have been forgotten by most.
But just because they didn't get millions of people watching them, doesn't mean that they weren't any good. In fact, there's a whole smorgasbord of cult classics that weren't just ace telly but they also were aa springboard for some of today's Welsh TV glitterati - such as Ruth Jones and Eve Myles - as well the best of Welsh talent such as late Brian Hibbard and Griff Rhys Jones.
If you've not heard of these shows before, them you're in for a treat. And if you were lucky to catch them first time around then this here list will bound to bring back some fond memories. Either way, brace yourself to risk falling down a YouTube hole after reading this.
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Taff Arce
The questionably named Taff Acre was filmed in Llantrisant in the '80s and it was billed as the "Welsh Coronation Street" by HTV at the time. It sadly only lasted for 26 episodes between September and December 1981. It featured the likes of Zulu actor, Richard Davies and Life of Brian star Sue Jones-Davies. Also on the cast list were High Hopes' Robert Blythe, Emrys James and Stan Stennett.
Pam Fi, Duw?
If you grew up in the valleys during the late '90s then chances are you watched S4C's Welsh language coming of age show Pam Fi, Duw? (the English translation being Why Me, God?). The show was all about the trials and tribulations of teenage life and starred the late Brian Hibbard as Deryck, father to the main character Rhys Davies (Hefin Rees). The series was filmed mostly around the Rhondda Valley and at Ysgol Gyfun Cymer near Porth. It ran from 1997 until 2002 and many will remember the antics of the teenagers at Fern Glyn School - which to the show's credit was an accurate depiction of how life in the valleys really was. And like Porc Peis Bach and C'mon Midffîld!, Pam Fi, Duw was one of those TV shows that also had crossover appeal for non Welsh speakers.
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts was an award-winning, but short-lived, drama that was an instant success upon its debut in 1999. For reasons that seemed to defy logic, it was cancelled just a few years later in 2002. Renowned for portraying valleys life as accurately as possible, the show saw the likes of Eve Myles, Jonathan Owen and future Broadchurch star Matthew Gravelle gain national exposure. Set in the fictional valleys town of Ystrad, much of the show was shot on location in Merthyr Tydfil. Some still say that Nuts and Bolts was HTV Wales' finest soap opera. They wouldn't be wrong.
Belonging
At the turn of the century, Welsh TV was going through something of a golden era. BBC Wales' Belonging centred on the lives of the Lewis family around the town of Bryncoed. Again, this drama was another one that became something of a launchpad for Welsh talent. It starred Eve Myles, this time alongside Charles Dale, Di Botcher and "Dave Coaches" himself Steffan Rhodri. It won plenty of glowing reviews from critics at the time - and is still highly regarded by many (IMDB gives it very praiseworthy 8.2).
Barry Welsh Is Coming
One of the funniest shows on TV in the 1990s. Barry Welsh Is Coming was a hilarious sketch show by actor and future Peppa Pig narrator John Sparkes. As well as the show's eponymous character, Sparkes also played the roles of Fishguard news journalist Huw Pugh and the hysterically offensive Mr Ffff. However, the show's highlight was Barry Welsh's regular interview with coracle enthusiast Geraint Pillock - whose mantra of "mainly because it's a challenge" become the stuff of legend. ITV only decided to show Barry Welsh in Wales, which was a missed opportunity as Sparkes' characters could have easily got audiences across the UK in fits of laughter. Despite ending in 2004, there have since been many one-off specials aired to the great delight of the show's fans. Fingers crossed there's some more on the horizon.
Presenters
Presenters was HTV Wales' foray into the talent shows that dominated the TV schedules at the turn of the century. With audition rounds held at Aberystwyth, Llandudno and Swansea, four judges - including former WalesOnline journalist Rachel Wainwaring and Welsh writer/broadcaster Jaci Stephen - sat through hundreds of wannabes all dreaming of becoming a presenter. It wasn't exactly the X Factor.
Crash
Back in 2009, BBC Wales thought that they would cash in on the doctors/hospital drama with Crash, which was filmed in Cardiff and its surrounding areas and followed the lives of four newly-qualified junior doctors. Set at the fictional Cardiff City Hospital, while not a medical drama, the storylines revolved around the doctors and their personal lives, with many likening the show to an updated version of the '90s classic This Life but with doctors rather than lawyers. The show was initially a ratings success, which is no surprise as it was created by award-winning writer Tony Jordan, creator of Hustle and co-creator of cult hit Life On Mars.
Mine All Mine
Coming from the pen of none other than Russell T Davies, Mine All Mine had all the hallmarks of being a great show, and that it was. The show was about a Swansea taxi driver, played by Griff Rhys Jones who believes that the land on which Swansea was built, belonged to one of his ancestors and therefore Swansea is his. Despite running for only six episodes the show is highly regarded, and as usual was something of a springboard for emerging talent with the like of Joanna Page, of Gavin & Stacey fame, and it also saw Gareth David-Lloyd play another Yanto Jones - note the spelling, so a different character to his most famous role as Ianto Jones in Russell T Davies' Torchwood.
The District Nurse
The District Nurse was a period drama set in the late 1920s and its titular nurse, Megan Roberts, was played by Nerys Hughes. Running from 1984 until 1987, the show was created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, who you may or may not know also created BBC's mega-hit soap EastEnders. The show saw the district nurse trying her best to improve life in and around the mining town of Pecwm. The show also starred the late Margaret John, who most will remember as Doris from Gavin & Stacey.
Tales From Pleasure Beach
This gritty classic was first shown on BBC Two in August 2001 and consisted of three self-contained episodes which starred the likes of the late Brian Hibbard, Ruth Jones, Eve Myles, Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri. Each story focused on three people working in a Welsh seaside town's funfair. The show showed a dark humorous side of Welsh life at the time.
Of course, there are bound to be some favourites that we've not included in our list - let us know the ones you remember in the comments below!
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