For the second successive year, S4C’s innovative nursery service, Cyw, takes on some of the biggest names in UK television at this year’s BAFTA UK Children’s Awards.
Cyw was first recognised by the television industry in 2009, a year after the service was launched in 2008. But this time, Cyw will compete against CBBC, CBeebies and Channel 5’s children’s output, Mikshake! in the Channel of the Year competition.
One of Cyw’s most popular programmes, Tŷ Cyw, has also been nominated in the Pre-School Live Action category. This series was produced by Boomerang. Tŷ Cyw – a mixture of CGI animation and live action – will go head to head with productions Grandpa in my Pocket, Big and Small and Something Special, all three broadcast on CBeebies.
The good news comes during the same week as the on-screen debut of Clwb Cyw – the new weekend provision for pre-school and nursery children between 07:00 and 09:00. This is the first time that Cyw has been broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays. Cyw is also broadcast every weekday from 07:00 until 13:25.
Original programming made in Wales by Welsh production companies and in partnership with international broadcasters will lie at the heart of the ambitious service. Among those programmes are Cei Bach, Twm Tisian, animations Holi Hana, Sali Mali and Sam Tân, and new series including Rapsgaliwn.
The on-screen output is accompanied by a bilingual 3D website – s4c.co.uk/cyw – full of games and activities, as well as information for parents.
Siân Eirian, S4C’s Head of Children’s Services, says: “To have Cyw nominated on a British scale – alongside other popular programmes and channels – proves that S4C’s plans to invest strongly in children’s programming has been a great success. It has contributed significantly to the future of the Welsh language and enriches the lives and education of children in Wales and beyond.”
Cyw and its programmes have been recognised in the UK and beyond on many occasions. In 2009, ABC (Boomerang) won an RTS award and Y Diwrnod Mawr (Ceidiog Productions) was recently nominated for a Rose d’Or award. Animation series Holi Hana (Calon) has seen success at the Broadcast Awards, Celtic Media Festival and BAFTA Cymru.
The BAFTA UK Children’s Awards are on 28 November.
