CARDIFF LIVES TV presenter Angharad Mair on breaking records and chairing Bafta Cymru

ANGHARAD MAIR The S4C presenter talks Bafta Cymru, Cardiff’s best bits, and breaking a European record

Self-confessed workaholic Angharad is an executive director with Tinopolis, one of the main independent media companies in the UK, and she was also chair of this year’s Bafta Cymru, which took place in October.

Her career began in BBC Wales in 1982 presenting the children’s magazine programme Bilidowcar, then she moved to the news department to present the breakfast news bulletins for BBC Wales.

She went on to present Wales Today and Newyddion for S4C, and joined Tinopolis in 1990 as one of the first presenters of Heno. She still presents the programme to this day.

It was so exciting to chair Bafta Cymru in October… Bafta Cymru has been lucky to have had Hannah Raybould as director at the helm, whereas I like to think of myself as leading the committee’s work made up of great people who work in the TV, film or games industry in Wales. The awards are an important part of course, but the various events and masterclasses for members are also an essential part of Bafta’s work.

It’s amazing to be within touching distance to the big Hollywood stars on the red carpet… But it’s also exciting because as a charity we get to organise fantastic events such as Guru Live for young people who have ambitions to work in the industry, and that aspect of it is just as thrilling, seeing young people passionate about the creative industries. I’m also really proud that we offer Bafta membership to those who are starting out as students and getting a foot in the door, and they can mingle at

“I moved to Cardiff to work as a children’s presenter with the BBC ”

events with those at the very top of their game.

The stand-out moment was… George Lucas paying tribute to art director/production director Les Dilley, for Outstanding Contribution. A Welshman who is a real Hollywood heavyweight, having won two Oscars for Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark; that was a wow moment.

My main job is chair of Tinopolis TV in Wales… Which means working on all our productions, mostly for S4C. The daily shows Heno and Prynhawn Da continued throughout lockdown, and we were really proud of that.

As for the current position the creative industries are finding themselves in… It’s difficult, there’s no denying that. I’m hoping that by next year we’ll start getting back to normal, and I’m hoping that all of us will appreciate the creative industry all the more, and make an effort to go to the cinema or to the theatre to show support.

I love Cardiff… Having moved to Cardiff to work as a children’s presenter with the BBC straight after college, my husband and I moved out to the village of Peterston-Super-Ely in the Vale of Glamorgan 20 years ago. But now we’re back! We’ve been renovating a house in Cardiff for the past year.

The best bit about Cardiff is… It’s big enough to be a capital city, yet small enough to feel like a community.

My favourite local businesses are… Bodlon in Whitchurch village, and their deli/café on Whitchurch Road – there’s always a lovely atmosphere there, it’s a great comfy place to catch up with friends over coffee; and with gifts and cards, too, it’s a one-stop shop. My favourite restaurant is Thomas by Tom Simmons in Pontcanna. He’s such an amazing chef, and it’s truly fantastic that someone of his calibre has moved his successful London restaurant to Cardiff.

I’m so lucky to be living by the Taff trail… I love running along the path next to the river through Llandaff fields to the castle grounds. It’s definitely a favourite place.

Something people may not know about me is… I broke the European record for women over 55 in the London Marathon, running in a time of two hours 54.

My biggest achievement professionally was… Winning a Best Presenter Bafta Cymru award. Being at the helm of such a successful show as Heno, which this year celebrated its 30th birthday, is definitely up there too.

If I owned Cardiff for a day I would… try and find places for the homeless to live.

This Christmas, I plan to spend the day… quietly, like everyone else I guess. My mother loves to bring new riddles with her, so after lunch we spend ages trying to guess the answers. It’s become a funny little tradition. n

www.bafta.org/wales www.tinopolis.com