Wildflame to make 14-Part Flagship Series for S4C

by | Aug 2, 2021 | Newyddion

Wildflame Productions has been commissioned to make the 14-part series Evacuees / Efaciwis for S4C. This landmark series will explore the full breadth of civilian evacuations to Wales during World War Two.

Evacuees / Efaciwis will comprise a 4 x 60-minute factual living history format for the main channel; an 8 x 30-minute children’s series on the S4C kids brand Stwnsh; and two 60-minute documentaries.

A unique language and social experiment; Efaciwis’ four-part living history format, co-hosted by Good Morning Britain’s Sean Fletcher and news broadcaster and presenter Sian Lloyd, will recreate Wartime Britain in the remote rolling hills of North Wales. Taking non-Welsh speaking children from the UK’s largest cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester, this ambitious series will see its contributors living the 1940s evacuee experience in rural Wales.

“None of the cast will speak any Welsh and most have never been to Wales before,” says Llinos Griffin-Williams, Creative Director, Wildflame. “Transported back in time to the 1940s rural North Wales, they will have to face the same social and language challenges that their counterparts faced 80 years ago. We will draw on a range of experts and personal testimonies from real evacuees who lived through the experience to unpack the themes of wartime Britain and give a new context to the experiences young people faced at the time. It will undoubtedly be a very powerful series.

“Wildflame has a proven track record of delivering big ambitious factual series and flagship shows. S4C has given us the opportunity, with this commission, to make a document of the evacuee experience here in Wales that is overarching by its very nature. Commissioned across Factual and Childrens, we are thrilled that S4C have entrusted us with making this comprehensive document of our Nation’s history and one that will aim to inform and entertain across a full spectrum of ages.”

The four-part living history format will be accompanied by a children’s series. Using actuality shot from the main family four hours, as well as vibrant pop art graphic effects packaging, testimonial and historical take-outs, this series will be a fun and informative look at the evacuees’ experience.

Wildflame will also make two additional hour-long documentaries. The first will contextualise the role of Wales in WW2. The second hour-long documentary looks at how Wales still offers

shelter to those in need today, meeting modern-day refugees who have made a home for themselves across Wales and examining the challenges they face, just like their counterparts in the 1940s.

Amanda Rees, S4C Director of Creative Content said: “We are thrilled to commission this ground-breaking and diverse series. Efaciwis is an authentic experiment that combines elements of history and language. Our viewers will be able to follow the fascinating journey of eight children from English cities as they try to cope with Welsh life in pure Welsh communities. This commission will be one of our key upcoming campaigns with a range of specialist formats for children, insightful documentaries and digital supplementary content too. We can’t wait to bring this unique collaboration to the screen this winter.”

The series is made in partnership with the National Library of Wales. Pedr ap Llwyd, Chief Executive and Librarian of the National Library of Wales added: “I’m very much looking forward to seeing the impact of this exciting new series. Empowering learning and research is a key strategic objective of The National Library of Wales and collaborations of this kind enable us to be part of innovative and creative projects that bring Welsh history to life. A new generation of young people will be able to explore first hand the 1940s evacuee experience of many children from the UK’s largest cities and draw new perspectives on the civilian evacuations to rural Wales during World War Two.”

Evacuees / Efaciwis (w/t) was commissioned by Sioned Wyn Roberts and Llinos Wynne for S4C. The Executive Producer for Wildflame Productions is Llinos Griffin-Williams and the series will be produced by Sioned Geraint and directed by Iwan England.

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Tomas Araya-Larrain

Tomas was born in Chile and immigrated to Wales when he was 4. He left his economic academic background to pursue more creative work in TV, where he has now worked on productions from daytime antique programmes, natural history, to crime specialist factual.  He says 'I’m a fat man stuck in a skinny man’s body and love all topics about food, as well as UK socio-cultural issues that affect us all.' 

He has joined Wildflame Productions as a Development Researcher and also dabbles in and out of productions when needed. 

Kate Fletcher

Kate Fletcher has joined Wildflame as a Development Exec as part of the Factual Fast Track Scheme. Kate started her career as a drama script editor, before moving into factual development. Working both in-house at the BBC and as a freelancer in Cardiff and Bristol, her commissions include: The Perfect Pitch (C4), Saving Britain's Pubs with Tom Kerridge (BBC), The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure (BBC) and Samurai (US History).

Outside of work, Kate is also a mum of two and runs her own community choir.

Meinir Richards 

Meinir is a Series Producer who also Edit Produces and Directs in both English and Welsh.

She has over 25 years of experience in television and has worked across a range of genres which include, factual entertainment, comedy, live programmes, drama and film. She is an expert at securing exclusives with Talent, and access to high profile worldwide companies, such as NASA and Mensa. She thrives on establishing and maintaining strong relationships with talent and contributors and is known for her way of producing engaging, warm, and sensitive films, with people and story at its heart.

Prior to joining Wildflame, Meinir was Series Producer and Director on segments for BBC1’s The One Show.

 

Jacqueline Lee

Jacqueline is a self-shooting producer-director, working mainly on observational documentaries and lightly formatted factual entertainment.
She thrives on gaining access to difficult and sensitive environments and building and maintaining relationships quickly with contributors, telling compelling and interesting stories.

Jacqueline has previously produced content for BBCThree, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and most recently S4C. Currently, she is producing and directing exciting Wildflame documentaries for S4C.

Cai Glover

Cai first joined Wildflame in the development team where he created ideas and crafted taster tapes. He worked on several productions using his skills as a self-shooter and researcher including S4C's digital series 'Bwrw 'Mlan', BBC Bitesize 'History KS2', S4C's 'Dim i'w Wisgo'. He was a shooting assistant producer on the second series of S4C's 'Nyrsys'. He went on to follow his passion for editing and got his first editor credit on our documentary 'Aled Haydn Jones: You, Me and the Surrogate’.

Cai is now a freelance editor with credits including C5’s ‘Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball, C4’s ‘Perfect Pitch’ and a number of documentaries for the S4C ‘Drych’ strand including ‘Jason Mohammad: Ely, The Riots and Me’.

Lloyd Rees

Lloyd started his career working on Live Studio programmes; The One Show and This Morning before moving on to development roles at RDF and BBC Studios. Believing variety is the spice of life, Lloyd used his interest in consumer issues on a range of programmes such as The Big Con, Shop Well for Less and The Martin Lewis Money Show.

During his career he’s also worked on some of the biggest Factual Entertainment formats, including The Great British Bake Off, Dragons’ Den, First Dates and Race Across the World. Lloyd returned to Wales and joined Wildflame working on international productions and has gone on to work with us on Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball for C5 and a major new living history project for S4C about Evacuees

Adrian Grant

Adrian has worked on primetime shows including Emmy Award-winning ‘The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night’, BAFTA Award-winning ‘First Dates’ and more recently he has been Producing content for Channel 4’s True Stories.

Now a Development Producer at Wildflame, Adrian joins the team with an aim to apply his editorial knowledge and experience in developing new shows and formats for the company.

Sam Lumley

With a background predominantly in Factual Entertainment, Sam has worked as an Assistant Producer in casting, welfare, and forward-planning roles on shows across the UK’s major broadcasters.

Some of his credits include: ‘Little Mix: The Search’ (BBC), ‘The Voice’ (ITV), ‘The Only Way is Essex’ (ITV2), ‘9/11:Diwrnod Wnaeth Newid Fy Mywyd’ (S4C), ‘The Great British Bake Off’ & ‘Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker’ (C4), ‘Stage School’ (E4), and ‘Michael Ball’s Wonderful Wales’ (C5).

As part of our development team, and with a keen interest in History and Adventure, Sam is using his editorial experience and passion for storytelling to create, capture, and produce new ideas and stories.

Carrie Smith

Carrie is an award-winning film-maker. She is a director, series producer and edit producer with experience across a wide range of popular factual content, including observational documentaries, popular factual and digital content. She is an expert access negotiator and has successfully secured access to several police forces across the UK, as well as multiple private businesses such as hotels and veterinary practices.

Carrie filmed, produced and directed The Greatest Gift which won Best Factual Series at the Bafta (Cymru) awards. Carrie has also produced behind-the-scenes content and created high-concept digital features for drama co-pro series for the BBC, Netflix & HBO, winning an International Webby award for her work on 'The Ballad of the Peaky Blinders'. Before joining Wildflame Productions, Carrie was a Senior Producer on a brand-new primetime competition format for Channel 4.

Megan Roberts

With a background in Archaeology and Anthropology, Megan's passions lie with telling people's stories both past and present with real empathy and understanding. Having filmed in various locations all over the world, her previous work has included both award winning international productions such as The Wall and more recently delicate observational storytelling in Bois y Rhondda. 
Megan has joined the team on the international Vikings series and will be working across all Wildflame’s specialist factual programming

Manon Alice-Thomas

After graduating with a BA (Hons) from York St. John’s University Business School, Manon gained her first professional experience working in events management. She then completed an internship with Kate Borde at Cardiff based talent agency KBPM, and has recently undertaken a contract as Junior Assistant at the ‘InterTalent Group’, London, supporting the Chairman and Founder, Prof. Jonathan Shalit, OBE.  As a Television Production Coordinator for Wildflame, Manon supports the team across the slate of UK and international productions

Mike Davies

Mike has accrued over a dozen years of experience in company and programme finance.  His expertise encompasses day-to-day financial transactions, managing company-wide spending against fiscal targets, preparation of monthly management accounts and forecasting. He is also responsible for day to day scheduling and running of Wildflame’s editing facilities.

Llinos Griffin-Williams

As a Bafta Cymru Winning Executive Producer, Llinos is our Creative Director following her many successes as Executive Producer, Factual and International Co-productions at Wildflame Productions. She leads on international content development, production and delivery of Factual Programming to Domestic and International Broadcasters and is part of the Wildflame Senior Management Board. Llinos is Vice Chair of RTS Cymru Wales and a member of Welsh Indies Council TAC. 

Leona Cowley

Leona has been with Wildflame since its inception and has a wealth of experience in a senior production management role working on regional and high-profile documentaries being filmed in various exotic and remote locations across the globe. Her extensive experience spans some 25 years working across most programme genres.

Gareth Fisher

Gareth has extensive knowledge of the business of production across all genres. He has an outstanding track-record in controlling large production teams and multi-million-pound projects. Gareth has worked with all of the main UK Broadcasters as well as forging strong relationships with International Broadcasters and Co - Production partners.

Alexia Barrett

Alexia graduated in 2020 with a BA (Hons) in Journalism Communications and Politics from Cardiff University, and is now kickstarting her career in TV Production. She started working with Wildflame as a Researcher on their Adventure Living History Series, Ultimate Viking.  Alexia achieved her first Network Researcher Credit on the Wildflame series, Michael Ball's Wonderful Wales. 

She will be working across our full range of factual output for UK and international broadcasters.

Esme Horne

The last 10 years of Esme’s career has been dedicated to understanding the production process and supporting a creative vision from development to transmission. Since joining Wildflame in 2017, Esme has worked across the Wildflame slate: reinforcing the production management team and helping to assure all projects are run smoothly and efficiently.

Connie Fisher

Connie moved into the world of television after a career as a West End leading lady playing Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Sound of Music.

With a passion for TV and entertainment, Connie leads the development of formats & features projects for Wildflame and works closely with broadcasters creating projects for both high-profile and emerging talent across the full range of factual programming.

Celyn Williams

With a passion for history, Celyn has spent her time collecting and telling stories of extraordinary individuals from across Wales.

Her previous work includes a number of high-profile history productions including Time Team, and The Aberfan Wives Club (ITV).

For S4C, Celyn worked on the double Welsh BAFTA winning Adam Price a Streic y Glowyr and more recently, a living history series The 1900 Island (BBC).

Catrin Jones-Shawe

Catrin’s career began in children’s television where she produced content for both S4C and CBBC.

Catrin has a passion for health-based documentaries and in 2019 won a BAFTA Cymru Award for best factual series for Velindre: Hospital of Hope (ITV Wales). Her most recent series, Nyrsys (S4C) is an observational documentary format highlighting the incredible work performed by nurses across Wales.

Abbie Bolitho

With a background in current affairs and factual programmes, Abbie has been able to apply her research and organisational skills to a wide variety of projects in both English and Welsh. These include S4C's Nyrsys, Dim Byd i Wisgo and more recently Beasts - a series on the 'top 10' animals for children which is being sold internationally.

Paul Islwyn Thomas

Paul is founder and CEO of Wildflame Productions and is responsible for the creative and business management of the company. With over 35 years’ experience in the industry, Paul has built an enviable reputation as one of the leading factual Executive Producers and TV Executives working in Wales. Throughout a distinguished career Paul has delivered hundreds of hours of programming for both UK and international broadcasters. He is currently Chair of the highly acclaimed ‘It’s My Shout’ Training Scheme which offers exciting pathways into the industry for all championing diversity and social inclusion.

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