Hywel Gwynfryn
Hywel Gwynfryn (born 13 July 1942) is a Welsh television and radio personality and lyricist.[1][self-published source][2] He started working for the BBC in 1964 and joined BBC Radio Cymru at its inception, being the first voice heard on the new station.
Career
Gwynfryn was born at Llangefni, Anglesey. He joined the BBC as a presenter in 1964 and in October 1968, he fronted Helo Sut Dach Chi?, the first dedicated Welsh language pop programme on the radio. It was a daring innovation because there was little vocal pop music in Welsh at the time and the show sometimes needed to be padded out with Anglo-American instrumentals. Soon however, Gwynfryn was receiving demo tapes from across Wales, and introduced a "patter" of Welsh language pop slang in the show which appealed to younger listeners.[3] In 1970 he joined Children's Programming and worked on documentaries from different parts of the world.[2]
Gwynfryn has been with the Welsh-language radio station
Gwynfryn has also written pantomimes, including Jiw Jiw Jeifin Jenkins, as well as a film for the Welsh-language television station S4C.[4]
Honours and awards
In the 1980s, Gwynfryn refused appointment as a
In September 2023 it was announced that Gwynfryn would receive the Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2023 BAFTA Cymru Awards the following month.[6]
Personal life
Gwynfryn was born in Llangefni, Anglesey. He was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.[7] As a student he was a roommate of Lynn Davies. [8]
Gwynfryn and his wife Anja had five children, one of whom is musician and broadcaster H. Hawkline; Anja died on 6 October 2018 from cancer.[9][10] He also has two children from his first marriage.[11]
References
- ISBN 978-1-900203-60-9.
- ^ a b c "Hywel Gwynfryn". Welsh Stars. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7546-5898-6.
- ^ a b "Hywel Gwynfryn". BBC Radio Cymru. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ "Anrhydeddau'r Frenhines: Diolch, ond dim diolch (The Queen's Honours: Thanks, but no thanks)". BBC News (in Welsh). 31 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- BAFTA. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ISBN 978-0860742050.
- ISBN 978-0860742050.
- ^ "Announcing the passing of Anja Gwynfryn EVANS". Funeral Notices. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Hywel Gwynfryn: Actio yn therapi ar ôl colli fy ngwraig". BBC Cymru Fyw. 18 December 2018.
- ^ "Yr ifanc a ŵyr? Hywel Gwynfryn a Huw Evans". BBC Cymru Fyw. 3 March 2016.
External links
- BBC Radio Cymru - Hywel Gwynfryn
- Noson Lawen - Hywel Gwynfryn 2022 on the S4C website