John Ogwen joins Pobol y Cwm

English Language Version

John will play a colourful and likeable character called Josh on the BBC’s longest-running TV soap, and will be seen on screen for the first time on S4C on Friday, April 7.

John has been a familiar face on many Welsh language drama series in a career spanning nearly 50 years, but this will be the first time for him to appear on the drama series, even though he was one of the authors for a time during the drama’s early years.

John Ogwen says: “I’ve never actually been to Cwmderi before, but I wrote quite a few episodes in the early days, tens of them, so that was my connection with Pobol before this.”

John, who’s 72, says he has enjoyed every minute on the busy soap opera since he started rehearsing and filming a few weeks ago: “Everyone’s saying I’ve had a bit of a baptism of fire,” he says. “They didn’t let me slip in quietly, it was more like being thrown in at the deep end!

“I’m enjoying it immensely, I have to say. I like Josh’s character - he’s multi-faceted. The environment on set is lovely, considering how much work there is to do every day. And I’ve had a really warm welcome.”

Series Producer Llyr Morus says: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome John Ogwen to the series - having an actor of John’s experience and quality joining the immensely strong cast we already have in place is very exciting for us.

“Josh is a colourful character who’s had all sorts of experiences in his life - and that makes him a warm and likeable character around the village. He’s like a favourite uncle or granddad to everyone, and even though you know all his tall stories have grown taller and taller over the years, nobody really minds because he’s such good company to be with!”

MCR

Welsh language version

John Ogwen yn ymuno hefo Pobol y Cwm

Bydd John Ogwen, un o actorion enwocaf Cymru, yn ymuno hefo Pobol y Cwm fis nesaf.

Bydd yn chwarae cymeriad lliwgar a hoffus o’r enw Josh, fydd i’w weld ar y sgrîn am y tro cyntaf ar S4C nos Wener, Ebrill 7.

Er bod John yn wyneb cyfarwydd mewn nifer fawr o gyfresi drama yn y Gymraeg yn ystod gyrfa sydd wedi para bron i hanner can mlynedd, hwn fydd y tro cyntaf iddo ymddangos yn opera sebon deledu hynaf y BBC, er iddo dreulio cyfnod fel awdur ar y gyfres yn ystod y blynyddoedd cynnar.

“Dwi erioed wedi bod yng Nghwmderi o’r blaen,” meddai John Ogwen, “ond mi wnes i sgwennu nifer fawr o benodau Pobol y Cwm yn y dyddiau cynnar - degau ohonyn nhw mae’n siŵr, flynyddoedd yn ôl, felly dyna oedd fy nghysylltiad i â Chwmderi cyn hyn.”

Dywed John, sy’n 72, ei fod wrth ei fodd yn portreadu cymeriad yn yr opera sebon brysur ers cychwyn ar y gwaith ymarfer a ffilmio rai wythnosau yn ôl.

“Dwi wedi cael rhyw fath o fedydd tân, mae pawb yn dweud,” meddai. “Ches i ddim llithro i mewn yn dawel, ond cael fy nhaflyd i mewn i’r ochr ddwfn!

“Dwi’n mwynhau yn arw, mae’n rhaid i mi ddweud. Dwi’n reit hoff o’r cymeriad Josh - mae o’n amlochrog. Mae’r awyrgylch i weithio yn braf, a chysidro bod cymaint o waith i’w wneud bob dydd. A dwi wedi cael croeso mawr.”

Meddai Cynhyrchydd y Gyfres, Llyr Morus: “Mae’n bleser cael croesawu John Ogwen i’r gyfres - mae cael actor o safon a phrofiad John yn ymuno â’r cast anhygoel o gryf sydd gennym eisoes yn gyffrous iawn i ni.

“Mae Josh yn gymeriad lliwgar sydd wedi profi pob math o bethau yn ystod ei fywyd - a dyna sydd yn ei wneud yn gymeriad cynnes a hoffus o amgylch y pentref. Mae fel hoff daid neu ewythr i bawb, ac er eich bod yn gwybod bod pob stori wedi tyfu a thyfu dros y blynyddoedd, does neb yn poeni gan fod bod yn ei gwmni yn bleser pur!”

MCR