Groundbreaking Children’s TV Show Brings Makaton Sign Language to Welsh Screens

A pioneering television producer from North Wales teamed up with Twin Town actor Llyr Evans to make a ground-breaking children’s TV series.

Nia Ceidiog created the new laugh-a-minute S4C show, Help Llaw (Helping Hand), which stars Llyr, a former pupil of Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold, as hapless handyman, Harri, who runs an odd-job company.

It was a major departure for Llyr, who previously had little experience of working with children, describing it as “humbling and rewarding”.

The programme features youngsters from across Wales who have additional learning needs and disabilities and introduces the Makaton sign language.

The 26-part series on S4C’s children’s platform, Cyw, at 7.45am on Mondays and Fridays.

Nia Ceidiog, a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, in Wrexham, is the creative mind behind many children’s TV programmes including the BAFTA Cymru winning Dwylo’r Enfys.

Another series, Y Diwrnod Mawr, was five times nominated for prestigious worldwide awards, however, she remains probably best known for writing the original Welsh and English versions of the popular Sam Tan (Fireman Sam) children’s TV series which ran from 1987-94.

According to Nia, who now lives in Cardiff, S4C were looking for a programme which featured a new hero figure and wanted to put youngsters with additional needs on screen.

“We wanted to make children laugh while at the same time featuring those with additional needs and introduce the Makaton sign language.

“Harri is a handyman who is willing to solve any household problem from leaky taps and sinks to broken down washing machines while Harriet is the one who keeps the company on the road.

“We started with a scenario, a basic script and the Makaton words we wanted to feature in that episode but then went along with what the children themselves came up with.

“It was a challenge but Llyr was brilliant as Harri making the children laugh while at the same time performing with him,” said Nia.

Llyr Evans first rose to prominence in the cult 1997 film, Twin Town, in which he starred in a very different role with brother Rhys Ifans.

Other film credits include Under Milk Wood and Ymadawiad Arthur and he’s also appeared on television in Casualty and Hinterland as well as a host of theatre productions.

But, he said, the opportunity to play Harri in Help Llaw had been a very special experience.

“It was hard work and at times very challenging. Every day we be in a new place working with a different child who had very different needs and this was in addition to learning our lines and signing some of the words.

“For an actor used to learning lines and presenting them Help Llaw involved much more creative working and there was a great deal of improvisation.

“I’ve very little experience of working with children. I’m the coach of a football team and that’s about it. I started a four-year teaching course but bailed out after two months but my parents were both teachers so perhaps it’s in the genes,” he said modestly.

Help Llaw is being shown on S4C at 7.45am on Mondays and Fridays. It can also be viewed on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and other streaming platforms.