Welsh broadcasting legend Dai Jones ‘Llanilar’ has died at the age of 78.
Jones was a TV favourite on S4C and hosted popular farming show Cefn Gwlad for more than 35 years, as well as other Welsh language shows including Noson Lwen, Rasus, and Sion a Sian. He decided to retire in 2020 due to ill health, and is survived by his wife Olwen and his son John.
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Despite being one of the faces of Welsh television for a generation, Jones was actually born in London in 1943. He moved with his family, made up of Welsh farmers, to Ceredigion at the age of three and started working on the family farm as a teenager.
As well as being renowned as a TV presenter, Jones was also an accomplished singer, winning the blue ribband prize at the National Eisteddfod in 1970. He won a BAFTA Cymru award in 2004 for his contribution to Welsh broadcasting, and was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to entertainment in Wales.
“It would be no exaggeration to say we lost a national treasure today,” said BBC Wales director Rhuanedd Richards following news of his death on Friday.
“His contribution to broadcasting in Wales, not only on the radio waves but through his popular programs on S4C, was tremendous. But it's as an integral part of BBC Radio Cymru’s offering over many years he will be remembered most and his companionship on Sunday evenings was a boost and support to many. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this time.”
S4C said that Jones “stands at the top in the pantheon of Welsh broadcasting legends”.
The channel’s content director, Geraint Evans, said: “As we sympathise with his family and friends, we salute one of the most natural broadcasters in Welsh TV history. Whilst born in London, Dai was as closely connected to rural Wales as it is possible to be, but he appealed to everyone, rural and urban.
"From the farm yard to the eisteddfod stage, and from the TV studio to the mart, Dai was comfortable on all of them and with the ability to make everyone in his company feel at ease. Our broadcasting landscape and the countryside will be all the poorer without him.”
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