Welsh broadcaster S4C’s schedule to celebrate Wales reaching World Cup

Chatshow host Owain Tudor Jones

Welsh-language pubcaster S4C has announced a slate of content to celebrate the country’s appearance at the upcoming Fifa World Cup tournament.

It is the first time since 1958 that the Welsh national team has qualified for the finals and S4C has lined up a range of programming on its linear and digital platforms to celebrate.

“The slate will take viewers on an international journey through our history and heritage, with plenty of celebration and entertainment along the way,” said Llinos Griffin-Williams, S4C’s chief content officer.

The schedule kicks off tonight with Cewri Cwpan y Byd (World Cup Giants), a film made by Docshed charting the rise of The Dragons and featuring interviews with star player Gareth Bale and head coach Rob Page.

Y Gem gyda is a chatshow series produced by UK-based Tinopolis starting on November 3, in which host Owain Tudor Jones talks to guests from the world of sports. Another Tinopolis production, Heno: Tim Qatar 2022, will see the announcement of the Wales World Cup squad on November 9.

Current affairs series Y Byd ar Bedwar: Cost Cwpan y Byd Qatar will take a detailed look at the host country of the World Cup on December 7. Made by ITV Cymru, it examines issues such as Qatar’s human rights record and alleged poor conditions for workers building the tournament’s stadiums.

On November 13, Bois 58 is a Docshed film that remembers the Welsh squad that qualified for the World Cup 64 years ago, while on the same day, Yma o Hyd is an Afanti Media show about the current team’s unofficial anthem.

Also from Afanti Media, Wal Goch: Cwpan y Byd 2022 (Red Wall: 2022 World Cup) is an entertainment series starting on November 18 that features football chat and live music.

On November 20, Cyngerrd Cymru i’r Byd (Wales to the World Concert) is an Orchard production that pays musical tribute to Welsh culture, staged in New York. After the concert, Y Tim Ol i’r Tim (The Team Behind The Team) is a behind-the-scenes programme from Rondo Media about Rob Page’s coaching squad.