Stars come out for Welsh festival

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Welsh-speaking stars Ioan Gruffudd, Matthew Rhys and Gethin Jones's publicity trailer for the BBC's coverage of the National Eisteddfod festival.

It was never going to be easy to get three famous faces to shoot a publicity trailer for the BBC's coverage of the top Welsh cultural festival.

After all, since they performed in the National Eisteddfod as youngsters, Ioan Gruffudd and Matthew Rhys have become big Hollywood names.

While Gethin Jones went on to present iconic children's series Blue Peter and now has a show on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Producer Manon Jones was not sure she would land them all - but she did.

"They were the ideal three out of a number of famous Cardiffians who have been through the eisteddfod," she said.

"I'm really happy that I got them."

The short film, in Welsh with English subtitles, has attracted plenty of attention since it began showing on BBC Wales in the run-up to the eight-day festival, which begins in Cardiff on Saturday.

Ms Jones, like the three stars, attended Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, which at the time was the capital's only Welsh-language secondary school.

This is what I wanted but wasn't sure if I could get it - it's not often you get what you first wanted Producer Manon Jones, pictured with Matthew Rhys

It was only a week or so ago that she had the confirmation that she could go to Los Angeles.

Gruffudd has graduated from Pobol y Cwm, the Welsh soap opera to Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fantastic Four. Rhys is a star of the glossy US series Brothers and Sisters, and played Dylan Thomas in the film The Edge of Love.

"It was a process of about eight or nine days to track them down. Matthew was the first to say yes, then Ioan and Gethin," she explained.

"I went to Television Centre [in London] to film with Gethin - still unsure if I could get a visa for America and that Ioan and Matthew were available for a day's filming.

"But I got the nod so off I went to LA and, with the help of a British man living there, got hold of this fantastic house with stunning views to film."

'Fantastic reviews'

The three stars are shown phoning to tell one another not to miss the BBC's coverage of the eisteddfod.

While Gruffudd and Rhys are shown going online with a Hollywood backdrop, Jones - in different locations in the BBC - struggles to pick up a signal on his radio.

Rhys was first filmed outside on the balcony of the house in LA with the Hollywood sign in the background, and Gruffudd upstairs in the living room with the Hollywood lake in the distance.

The trailer shows Gethin Jones at the BBC in London trying to get a signal

The producer flew back to Wales on Saturday and edited her films on Sunday and Monday before the first promo - in Welsh with English subtitles - was screened on Monday night.

"There are a few different versions, depending on the medium, radio, TV or online," she explained.

"We've also done them for during the eisteddfod week when they'll be referring to particular things like the crowning and chairing ceremonies.

"This is what I wanted but wasn't sure if I could get it - it's not often you get what you first wanted.

"I'm very happy with the result and have had fantastic reviews, and the promos have had so much coverage."

While in the US, Ms Jones also recorded a message from Gruffudd, which will be filmed during an eisteddfod concert marking 30 years since the Cardiff school which all three stars attended opened. Rhys and Jones will both be there in person.

During the week, Rhys will be admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards for his contribution to Welsh culture, five years after Gruffudd received the honour.