The Wales Thread

I listened to you a couple of times back last summer, but you were on the wrong time of day, early evening wasn't it? Bad time of day for me that. I remember thinking though that your voice *so* doesn't match your face! Whatever that means.. Either way, I'm just saying it was a surprise.

I remember when you said you were down at the beach having publicity photos taken etc -- and wasn't Trish Bertram used for your idents?

If I heard another of those jingles though I think I would've gone quite mad -- it was like being in hospital!
I see what you had to work with..

Quite a few people say that my voice dosen't match my face - I dunno why, people probably expect me to sound deeper and meaner!!

I'm much more suited to newsreading, I'm better at being serious.

As TV Dragon stated, it does seem to be ( in most cases) the people of middle England and London that have the problem with accents on the tv/radio. It's probably down to a historical thing with regard to RP being the acceptable voice of broadcasting. For some reason it's always been the Welsh accent thats always been put down by these, as there has never really been a problem, as such, with Scottish or Irish accents. There was a time recently when almost every presenter seemed to have a Scottish accent (GMTV being a prime example with Lorraine Kelly, Ross Kelly, Simon Biaggi and the weather girl, with at laest three of the fore mentioned on the programme at the same time). However, in my opinion, it can be argued that some of the best " narrating" or broadcasting voices have belonged to the Welsh i.e. Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Philip Madoc to name but a few. Even the some of the newsreaders of the past who used RP, but still maintained a hint of Welsh, were much more pleasing to the ear than some of the middle England accented presenters. The likes of David Parry Jones, John Darren, Michael Lloyd Williams and Huw Thomas (I think Thomas was his sirname, who was one of ITN's big name presenters of the late 50's/60's) all had a deepness and richness in their voices that only the Welsh accent could provide.

The Welsh accent is known for its variant tones that are used when spoken, often reffered to as a "singsong" accent. Someone once joked that the reason the Welsh accent was so full of richness and that the Welsh could sing, was due to the fact of all the rain we get is keeping the vice box nice and moist!!!

I think you'd be much better suited to newsreading also, and continuity -- that style suits your voice too. You don't sound out of place doing lighter items on a radio show -- I just expected your voice not to be so mature, and so sensible!

Again not sure what I exactly mean by that, but people your/our age, just don't sound like you do!
Lots of practice I guess.



GMTV is still full of Scottish people, Carla Romano, Jenny Falconer, and Andrea the weather girl. NI have Eamonn, but there are still no Welsh people on GMTV! Amanda Sergeant still occasionally does the early newsdesk, formerly of Wales Today, but I don't know if she's actually Welsh. Again -- if she is, her accent doesn't make it apparent.

Richard Burton has a fantastic speaking voice, Wales love him. I'm a sucker for some old Welsh films, dunno why -- I got my middle name from one of them.. Sadly I hate it, but it just goes to show how much older Welsh people love those films. There are a lot of Welsh people in films and tv though, I notice this. Kylie's Welsh too! Her mother and her family come from the town near where mine are from. And Bonnie Tyler is of course Queen of Wales.

I agree, there was a trace of the clarity a Welsh accent has in newsreaders of the past. But nowadays people seem very quick to dispose of it, Anthony Hopkins [hell, he got rid of his whole nationality!], and Catherine Zeta-Jones.. well, God knows where she sounds like now. Although whenever she's pregnant and all hormonal her Welsh accent seems to come back! Maybe she loses control over hiding it then..

The place where Richard Burton was born is literally 2 miles from where I currently live - do you know where is it TV D?

And also Catherine Zeta-Jones is from my home town of Swansea. When she received her Oscar she mentioned Swansea and her accent came back! She is Queen of Wales not Bonnie

With regard to Catherine Zeta, its probabably the Welsh "mam" coming out of her. No doubt she gives Dylan a " cwtch" as it is good for you according to the paper

LOL I like that word "cwtch"

Kylie's family are from Maesteg which is quite near to where I live.

Sandfields Estate was on the HTV News tonight - did anyone see it. It really is a rough area and the beach is a dump, im glad I live in one of the better area's of Neath Port Talbot.

Hehe, *everywhere's* apparently near where you live

I haven't been to Maesteg for getting on for a couple of years now, but it's the town some of my family still live, if not in the couple of villages up the hill. At least the train goes to Maesteg from Cardiff again -- they stopped that in the 70s.

Train don't go up the top no more, mind, but. No track, isn'it? Nor a bridge, neither! Bloody Beechin' -- He had all the buggers down didn'he? Gotta go Maesteg now, mun.

I bet Catherine bends Michael's ear to call this new one something Welsh too, she seems like someone who gets her own way -- flying Welsh nannies and Welsh carpenters over to her place to do everything. Michael's there going, "Yes, dear.. whatever you want, dear.."

Re:- GMTV presenters, does'nt Fiona Phillips come from Haverfordwest?

There once was a reporter on GMTV called Sarah Holden, IIRC, don't know if she's still there ( I dont watch GMTV), but she used to work for HTV and was part of the launch team of Wales Tonight before moving on.

Well I live in Neath so im near too Maesteg, Pontrhydyfen, Tonmawr, Port Talbot, Swansea, Porthcawl, Glynneath, Ammanford, Pontardawe etc

Yes we use the word "Mun" a lot in Wales - e.g. "Alright Mun" Its just part of our dialogue.

And TV Dragon you can get to Maesteg from Swansea in an hour as I looked at a bus timetable which said it takes just under an hour and that includes stopping off at Port Talbot on the way.

Yes I remember Sarah Holdent she was on the 6pm programme in the days of Nicola, Jonathan, Wiggy and Huw. I think Lucy replaced her IIRC

Her parents live in Pembrokeshire, her mother is in hospital with alzheimers disease, but her father lives in Haverfordwest, yes.