18 December 2019
There will be plenty of laughter and a tug of the emotional heartstrings in store for S4C viewers this Christmas.
Shane Williams, Maggi Noggi, and Trystan and Emma will be among a host of familiar faces starring in the channel's festive schedule, which features a feast of Christmas treats for the whole family.
2019 S4C Christmas Promo
On Wednesday 18 December, comedy lovers will be able to enjoy the best from the Welsh stand-up scene without leaving the sofa this winter, as the Stand Yp (9.30) series returns to S4C. Tudur Owen, one of Wales's best-known comedians, kicks off the series with his show, Parablu.
A week later, one of the country's most experienced and popular comedians Elis James, will light up Christmas Day with a special screening of his stand-up show, Haleliw (10.00), which was filmed in the Lyric, in his home town of Carmarthen.
The final episode, which will be aired on New Year's Day, sees 10 of Wales's best comedians feature in Gala'r Goreuon (10.00), was filmed back in October in front of a packed audience at Theatr Fach, Dolgellau. Among the comedians on show in the gala are Dan Thomas, Beth Jones, Esyllt Sears, Daniel Griffith Steffan Evans, Eleri Morgan, and more.
Food is such an important part of Christmas and on Thursday 19 December (9.30), we'll enjoy a feast of seasonal game meat in a special Christmas episode of Bwyd Epic Chris. On the menu, there will be whole venison, crispy mallards and squirrel empanadas.
On Saturday 21 December, Ifan Pritchard, the lead singer of the group Gwilym, celebrates Christmas on the Noson Lawen stage with some of Wales's best young talents.
Noson Lawen: Nadolig yr Ifanc (8.00) will showcase some of the nation's most talented singers and musicians, including Elan Catrin Parry, Manw Lili Robin, Lewys, Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion Choir, Ysgol Plasmawr Boys Choir, Owain Siôn, Jada and Casey Lane, Mared Jeffery and Leusa, Rhyddid and Brython Trystan.
Later on the same evening, you are also cordially invited to attend the most sought-after Christmas bash of the year - Parti 'Dolig Maggi Noggi (9.00). If someone's guaranteed to add a touch of glitz and glam to the Christmas festivities, you can count on the larger than life, risque Maggi Noggi.
In this special programme, Maggi is joined by some of her friends and a handful of celebs in the fun-filled party at her farmhouse in Anglesey. Among her guests are singer Elin Fflur, presenters Alun Williams and Ifan Jones Evans and poet Gruffydd Owen. She'll also be joined by members of Valley branch of Merched y Wawr and Llangefni Rugby Club players.
No Christmas is complete without a performance of the Nativity, and an alternative version will be performed during the show, featuring singers Steffan Lloyd Owen, Catrin Angharad Jones, Hogia Bodwrog and Y Dwbi Dŵs.
Cofio Dolig Teulu Ni (22 December, 8.00)
On Sunday, 22 December, there will be an opportunity to reminisce about Christmas past in the programme, Cofio Dolig Teulu Ni (8.00). Over the course of an hour, two families will travel back in time to see how the big day was celebrated during two different eras of our past.
From the gifts to the decorations, and from the television screen to the food on the dinner table, over the last hundred years the way we celebrate Christmas in Wales has been completely transformed. This is an opportunity for families to re-visit one Christmas day in the history of their family. In this programme, two families re-create a Christmas Day from their family history - one family go back to 1961 and the other go back to 1984.
This year, the evergreen Carolau Llandudno (9.30) concert will be held for the 25th year, and yet again, the S4C cameras will be at Venue Cymru to bring all of the performances to the viewers at home. This night of festive music and entertainment is one of the true highlights of the channel's Christmas Schedule and this year Carolau Llandudno will be shown on Monday night 23 December.
Among the performers will be: Casi Wyn; Aled Hall; Erin Mai Grove, who represented Wales at this year's Junior Eurovision competition; Y Minis, a group formed during the Chwilio am Seren Junior Eurovision series, who have been taken under the wing of Lloyd Macey; Môn Junior Choir and Môn Children's Choir; and Lili Mair, a young singer who has made waves on social media with her beautiful rendition of the song 'Annwyl Santa Clôs'.
On Monday 23 December, there will be a special edition of Adre (8.25), with a Christmas twist. Usually in the series, Nia Parry visits the homes of some well-known Welsh faces. But instead of celebs, in this Christmas special, Nia visits three people who have one thing in common – they absolutely love Christmas.
First of all, Nia visits David Easton in Tremeirchion, who has 60 Christmas trees in his house. Then, we'll get to see a house in Llangefni which has been lovingly decorated with more than a thousand baubles, 7,000 bulbs and a Nativity scene, including Mary, Joseph and the three wise men, in the shed. Lastly, Nia is invited to the home of Tesni Walker, in Porthmadog. Every year, she and her children decorate the house with countless Christmas lights, and hold a 'switching on ceremony' in memory of her father.
On Christmas Eve, viewers can enjoy an unique festive-themed musical competition. The cute factor will be turned up to the maximum as primary school children sing their own original carols in the hope of clinching the title - Carol yr Ŵyl (9.00).
Nadolig Deian a Loli (24 December, 6.05)
During the excitement of Christmas Eve, there will be a chance for children to sit down and lose themselves in a world full of magic and Christmas cheer, in the film Nadolig Deian a Loli (6.05).
It's the day before the big day and Deian and Loli are running riot around the house. Little do they know that they're being watched by Celyn and Telyn, the elves! They must dash to the North Pole to stop the little elves from telling Father Christmas and ruining their Christmas. This certainly is a film for all the family.
Also on Christmas Eve, Emma Walford and Trystan Ellis-Morris will come together once again for a festive edition of the popular series, Prosiect Pum Mil (8.00).
This time, the pair are helping to transform an old shop in Caernarfon into a community hub where adults with learning difficulties can gain work experience, socialise and sell products that they make in workshops. But will the shop open in time for Christmas? And can they keep within the five grand budget?
On Christmas Day, we will be welcoming one of S4C's wisest men onto the screen for a Cefn Gwlad Christmas special (9.00). After featuring male voice choirs on the programme for many years, this time Dai Llanilar is drawn by the warm sound of the Crwbin Silver Band. A band that unites several generations and is the beating heart of the small village nestled between Llangyndeyrn and Bancffosfelen ever since it was established back in 1891. We'll meet the characters as they prepare for their annual Christmas Concert at the Gwendraeth Hall, Drefach.
One of Welsh rugby's brightest stars will be back to entertain the whole family on Christmas Day too – but not by scoring tries. Two years ago, Shane took on the challenge of stepping from the rugby pitch and onto the theatre stage, to take part in a pantomime show.
To prove himself once again, he returns for a second time to star in the brand-new panto, Shane a'r Bont Hud (6.30) (Shane and the Magic Bridge), written by Tudur Owen.
Shane a'r Bont Hud (Christmas Day, 6.30)
The panto brings the old gang back together with Tara Bethan, Scott Quinnell, Ieuan Rhys, Rhianna Loren and Rhys ap William among an all-star cast. There will be the odd surprise guest appearance during the show, and a host of Shane's fellow international rugby stars will also be taking to the stage, including James Hook, Scott Williams, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate.
With the fire still roaring on Boxing Day, the warm fuzzy feeling will continue with the first episode of feel-good series Gwesty Aduniad (8.00) (Reunion Hotel). In this hotel, one thing is certain: life's about to change forever.
Nestled in the heart of the Welsh countryside, the guests are here with only one thing in mind: to meet someone from their past. From adoptees desperate to find birth family after years apart, to friends who've lost touch, or those who want to say thank you, their reunion is often the end result of an emotional journey. Neil Pearson from Rhyl was adopted as a baby and now wants to know more about the birth mother he never knew. Will the Hotel have any answers?
And of course, there will be plenty of sport to enjoy over Christmas and New Year, with Welsh rugby derbies in the Guinness PRO14 and the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership on Clwb Rygbi (2.45), while the Sgorio (5.00) team show live football action from the JD Cymru Premier.
Among the highlights will be the live rugby match between Dragons and Scarlets on Saturday 21 December, Dragons v Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day, and on the same day, the football match between Gwynedd rivals Caernarfon Town and Bala Town.
On top of that, you can enjoy two special programmes looking back at the major rugby and football success of 2019, with Rygbi Cymru 2019 (8.00), on Sunday 29 December, and Cymru a'r Wal Goch (7.00), which will be shown on Wednesday 1 January.
And if you haven't overindulged on turkey and chocolate, remember that there are a whole host of Christmassy box sets available to watch On Demand, any time, on S4C Clic.
Among the season's highlights will be the classic film Y Dyn Wnaeth Ddwyn y Dolig, a special edition of Nadolig Hoffwn i from 1993, starring Mici Plwm, and the series Hapus Dyrfa, as well as more recent box sets, including Pili Pala, Amdani, Gwaith/Cartref, Teulu, and from December 22, the second series of Craith.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at S4C.
