BBC Radio Cymru

BBC Radio Cymru

Broadcast area	Wales
Frequency	FM:92.4-96.8, 103.5-104.9 MHz DAB Freeview: 720 (Wales only) Virgin Media: 936 Online
Programming
Format	Welsh language station
Ownership
Owner	BBC
History
First air date	3 January 1977

BBC Radio Cymru is BBC Cymru Wales's Welsh language radio station, broadcasting throughout Wales on FM since 1977. It was one of the few FM-only radio services in the UK at the time of its launch. The station now broadcasts for 20 hours a day (0500-0100) and is also carried on DAB Digital Radio within Wales, and also on Freeview and satellite. The station has also been broadcasting on the Internet since January 2005 [1].

Radio Cymru first began broadcasting on 3 January 1977 with a news bulletin read by Gwyn Llewellyn, followed by its first programme - the breakfast show Helo Bobol!, presented by Hywel Gwynfryn. Radio Cymru was the first dedicated Welsh language broadcasting outlet, allowing much more airtime for Welsh language programmes than had previously been available on the old Radio 4 Wales (or the Welsh Home Service prior to 1967). Over the years it has done much to promote the language, with its sports commentators coining new terms which later became accepted by Welsh linguists.

It is similar in format to many radio stations with news programmes at breakfast (Post Cyntaf), lunchtime (Taro'r Post - a debate-driven programme) & drivetime (Post Prynhawn), DJs who chat to callers & run competitions (Jonsi, for example) and until recently, a daily soap opera (Rhydeglwys). Radio Cymru also produces current affairs, drama, features, youth and sports programming. One of its more unusual programme is Y Talwrn, a poetry competition in which teams must come up with poetry in specific styles on specific topics.

Radio Cymru programming is produced from studios in Cardiff, Bangor and Aberystwyth.

C2

The evening output of Radio Cymru (8pm to 1am) is branded "C2" and is aimed at a younger audience than the rest of the station. It covers the contemporary Welsh music scene extensively. The service typically opens at 8pm each weeknight with Magi Dodd presenting and closes at 1am following Dafydd Du's late show. Since October 2007, the 10pm hour has been given over to new music and features.

Other presenters include Glyn Wise, Huw Stephens and Lisa Gwilym.

Most of C2's programmes are produced in Cardiff with the exception of Lisa Gwilym's Thursday/Friday night show, which is produced in Bangor.

Regular presenters

Radio Cymru presenters, sorted alphabetically

• Kate Crockett (Stiwdio)
• Iolo ap Dafydd (Post Cyntaf)
• Magi Dodd (C2)
• Dafydd Du (C2 late night show, Saturday lunchtime show)
• Dylan Ebenezer (Camp Lawn, C2 sport)
• Beti George (Beti a'i Phobol, events coverage)
• Gareth Glyn (Post Prynhawn)
• Marc Griffiths (Saturday evening show)
• Gwenllian Grigg (Post Cyntaf Saturday, C2 news)
• Lisa Gwilym (C2 Thursday and Friday, Sunday afternoon show)
• Meinir Gwilym (Dylan a Meinir)
• Hywel Gwynfryn (Hwyel a Nia, events coverage)
• John Hardy (Cofio)
• Dai Jones (Ar Eich Cais)
• Dylan Jones (Taro'r Post, Ar y Marc)
• Jonsi (Eifion Jones) (Weekday morning show, not in South West Wales)
• John Jones (John ac Alun)
• Rebecca Jones (Weekday early morning show)
• Rhys Jones (Taro Nodyn)
• Bethan Lewis (Dau o'r Bae)
• Geraint Lloyd (Weekday evening show)

• Dewi Llwyd (Dewi Llwyd ar Fore Sul)
• Hywel Llewellyn (Post Cyntaf Saturday)
• Wil Morgan (Saturday night requests show, travel news)
• Garry Owen (Post Cyntaf)
• Gerallt Lloyd Owen (Y Talwrn)
• Gwilym Owen (Wythnos Gwilym Owen)
• Gerallt Pennant (Galwad Cynnar)
• Richard Rees (Saturday morning show)
• Alan Roberts (John ac Alun)
• John Roberts (Bwrw Golwg)
• Nia Roberts (Hwyel a Nia)
• Vaughan Roderick (Dau o'r Bae)
• Eleri Sion (Camp Lawn, Post Cyntaf sport)
• Huw Stephens (C2 Monday and Tuesday)
• Alun Thomas (Sunday morning show)
• Maldwyn Thomas (Dal i Gredu)
• Nia Thomas (Post Cyntaf)
• Sian Thomas (Weekday afternoon show)
• Dei Tomos (Byd Amaeth, Sunday evening show)
• Rhodri Ogwen Williams (Blas)
• Glyn Wise (C2)
• Dylan Wyn (Dylan a Meinir)

Programmes

Currently, Radio Cymru's regular programming line-up consists of:

Weekdays: daily programmes

• Rebecca Jones: Early morning show - weekdays, 5-7am
• Post Cyntaf: Breakfast news - weekdays, 7-8:30am
• Jonsi: Morning show - weekdays, 8:30am-10:30am, except in South West Wales
• De Orwellin: Opt-out morning show for listeners in South West Wales - weekdays, 8:30am-10:30am
• Hywel a Nia: Mid-morning show - weekdays, 10:30am-12:15pm)
• Taro'r Post: Lunchtime news & phone-in debate - weekdays, 1pm)
• Sian Thomas: Afternoon show - weekdays, 2pm-3pm (until 4pm in South West Wales)
• Dylan a Meinir: Afternoon requests show - weekdays, 3pm-5pm (from 4pm in South West Wales)
• Post Prynhawn: Drivetime/afternoon news - weekdays, 5pm-6pm
• Geraint Lloyd: Evening show - weekdays, 6:30pm-8pm
• C2: Magi Dodd: Evening show - weekdays, 8pm-10pm
• C2: Dafydd Du: Late night show - weekdays, 11pm-1am

Weekdays: other programmes

Other weekday programming includes:

• Wythnos Gwilym Owen: Current affairs debate - Mondays, 12:15pm
• Manylu: Current affairs - Mondays, 6pm
• C2: Huw Stephens: New music - Mondays and Tuesdays, 10pm
• Blas: Cookery - Wednesdays, 12:15pm (repeated on Sunday afternoons, 1:15pm)
• C2: Music features - Wednesdays, 10pm (repeated on Sunday at midnight)
• Beti a'i Phobol: Talk show - Thursdays, 12:15pm (repeated on Sunday mornings at 10:00am)
• Stiwdio: Arts - Thursdays, 6pm (repeated on Saturday evenings, times vary)
• C2: Lisa Gwilym: Music - Thursdays and Fridays at 10pm
• Dau o'r Bae: Politics - Fridays, 12:15pm
• Bwlletin: Topical comedy quiz - Fridays, 6pm (repeated on Saturday afternoons at 12:00pm)

Saturdays

• Byd Amaeth: Rural affairs - 6am
• Galwad Cynnar: Gardening/nature - 6:30am
• Ar Y Marc: Sport - 8:30am
• Cofio: Nostalgia - 9:00am (repeated on Sunday evenings at 9pm)
• Richard Rees: Music - 10:00am
• Dafydd Du: Lunchtime show - 12:30pm
• Camp Lawn: Sport - Saturday afternoons during the football/rugby season, times vary
• Wythnos i'w Chofio: Highlights of Radio Cymru programmes - Saturday evenings, times vary (repeated on Sunday afternoons at 12:30pm)
• Marc Griffiths: Evening show - times vary
• Wil Morgan: Late night request show - 10pm

Sundays

• Taro Nodyn: Classical music - 6am
• Bwrw Golwg: Religious affairs - 8:05am
• Dewi Llwyd ar Fore Sul: Current affairs/talk - 8:30am
• Alun Thomas: Mid-morning show - 10:45am
• Yr Oedfa: Religious service - 12:00pm
• Newyddion a Chwaraeon: News and sport - 1:00pm
• Lisa Gwilym: Contemporary music - 2:00pm
• Dal i Gredu: Religious comment - 4:20pm
• Caniadaeth y Cysegr: Reglious hymn singing - 4:30pm (repeated the next Sunday morning at 5:30am)
• Dei Tomos: Early evening show - 5:30pm
• Y Talwrn: Poetry contest - 6:45pm (repeated on Tuesday lunchtimes at 12:15pm)
• Ar Eich Cais: Evening request show - 7:30pm
• John ac Alun: Country music - 10pm

N.B. Various programmes are broadcast at 5am and 5pm.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night is simulcast on Radio Cymru after closedown every night. This is except for the week of the National Eisteddfod when the station remains on-air through the night for extra programming and non-stop music. An all-night programme of non-stop music is also broadcast on Christmas Eve. Occasional special broadcasts such as election specials, schools programming and boxing commentary are also broadcast overnight.

See also

• List of Celtic language media

External links

• BBC Radio Cymru at BBC Online