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Wales Online
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across the World's Sioned has a famous relative and amazing Gladiators connection
Race Across the World's Sioned has a famous relative and amazing Gladiators connection Race Across the World's Sioned and Fin appeared on S4C's Heno where they revealed her famous Welsh relative. The pair appeared on the Welsh language programme Heno to discuss their time on Race Across the World (Image: Heno/Tinopolis/S4C ) A young Welsh couple from Carmarthenshire has already made a mark on Race Across the World fans after the first episode of the new season. Fin and Sioned, who were 18 and 19 at the time of recording, appeared on S4C's evening magazine programme, Heno, to discuss their time on the series. During the interview with presenters Angharad Mair and former Welsh football player Owain Tudur Jones, they revealed Sioned's famous Welsh relative and her family connection to the series Gladiators. The famous Welsh presenter and BAFTA Cymru chair Angharad explained that Sioned was actually her niece by marriage. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Article continues below Angharad has been a huge TV personality in Wales since the early 90s and has even been described as "the true princess of Wales" by the popular Instagram page Huns Cymru. The TV host also competed as a runner in the 19990s, entering trials for the GB athletics squad for the 1997 World Championships in Athens. Her husband, Jonathon Cray's brother is the father of Sioned. This means that she's also the cousin of Angharad's daughter, Tanwen Cray, who is a BBC and S4C weather presenter and star of S4C's series Tanwen and Ollie with her partner Swansea City and Welsh football player Ollie Cooper. Content cannot be displayed without consent Sioned and Fin, have swapped their small-town Welsh life for a 14,000km adventure across Asia. They started on The Great Wall of China as they race the other four teams across China, Nepal and India, before ending in Kanniyakumari, which is the southernmost tip of India. They've recently been dubbed as "the cutest" by fans after appearing on the first episode of the series. They finished second in the first section of the race, although along the way they had a few hurdles including Fin's health. Read more here. During the second part of the programme, Angharad revealed that Sioned has a weird connection to the show Gladiators. Before Sioned was born a woman from a rural town in South West Wales appeared on the competition show, that woman was her mother, Meleri Davies. Sioned's mother once appeared on Gladiators it was revealed on S4C's Heno. (Image: Heno/Tinopolis/S4C ) The presenters showed the pair the clip of her mother on Gladiators back in the 1990s when it aired on ITV and was hosted by John Fashnu and Ulrika Johnson. In the showreel, we saw her being interviewed as the camera later panned to an audience full of Welsh flags and signs saying "Pob Lwc Meleri." She told the presenter: "They've travelled a really long way to support me, so I'm going to give it my all." Article continues below Sioned told the presenters that it was still funny seeing that clip despite having seen it before. She explained that her mother lost in the end and that she is still gutted about it. Fin and Sioned will appear on Race Across the World on BBC One and BBC iPlayer every Wednesday at 9pm.
Sharjah 24
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Dr. Ahmed Heno receives ATI delegation ahead of Arab Theatre Fest
Joining them for the meeting were key figures from both the Arab Theatre Institute and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, including Ghannam Ghannam, who is in charge of training and school theatre at the institute, and Khaled Galal, the head of the Cultural Production and Theatre sectors in Egypt. They discussed plans to make this festival a significant cultural event, highlighting the importance of showcasing theatre across the country. During the meeting, Abdullah conveyed warm greetings from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, a prominent leader and supporter of the arts. He stressed the importance of creating a memorable festival that reflects Egypt's rich heritage and the vital role that theatre plays in the Arab world. Key topics of conversation included where the performances and discussions would take place, and ideas were shared about bringing some festival events to different regions in Egypt to engage more people in the arts. Dr. Heno emphasized the importance of promoting youth involvement in theatre. Another interesting proposal was to hold a scientific conference during the festival. This conference would bring together academics and researchers to discuss Arab theatre through research papers, enriching the festival's focus on the intellectual side of theatre and helping to document its evolution. Dr. Heno assured that the Ministry of Culture will provide all necessary support to ensure the festival's success. He expressed enthusiasm about this opportunity to strengthen cultural ties among Arab nations and to promote theatre as a powerful tool for education and awareness. The Secretary-General also shared ideas for including more Egyptian performances in the festival to give attendees a fuller view of the country's theatrical landscape. Additionally, they plan to host the fifth Arab Puppet Arts Forum alongside the festival, further expanding its reach and impact. Overall, the meeting was seen as a hopeful sign of collaboration and creativity as they prepare for the festival. Abdullah remarked that the partnership with Egypt, a country known for its artistic contributions, marks a new beginning for the festival, one that promises to involve a wide range of participants from across the Arab world, ultimately enriching the theatre community and its service to society.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Landeilo bridal store donates 100 gowns to charity as it closes
The owner of a popular bridal boutique has donated almost 100 bespoke gowns to charity as it closes its doors. Store owner and broadcaster Huw Rees said he had to close Huw Rees Brides in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, after 16 years of business due to his kidney failure. Mr Rees said closing a business is always difficult but he wanted to close it on a "positive note" by giving back to charity. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast ahead of its closure at the end of March, Mr Rees said dresses have so far been donated to Cancer Research, the British Red Cross, local colleges and a local dogs charity. Also known as Huw "Fash", Mr Rees is a regular face on S4C programmes Prynhawn Da and Heno, and has previously opened up about being on dialysis for kidney disease. "People have been disappointed, we're a multi award-winning brand and just won a national wedding award just recently," Mr Rees said. "But customers who know why have been so supportive." Mr Rees said donations have been ongoing but around 20 dresses have been donated to Cancer Research, while 40 gowns have been handed over to Bridgend and Carmarthen college to "work on sustainability". Donations were also sent to a local dogs charity and around 30 wedding dresses, including bridesmaids' dresses, veils and accessories have gone to the British Red Cross in Llandeilo. British Red Cross shop manager Sarah Morris said they were "overwhelmed" by the generosity of the designer donation. Ms Morris said: "The shop has been buzzing with excitement. The phone has been ringing with enquiries about the dresses, and customers have been visiting us to try the dresses on."The money raised by selling these dresses will support our work across the UK and around the world, allowing us to continue to be there for people in crisis. We're truly grateful to Huw for this donation."The collections include bespoke designs by Mr Rees, as well as gowns from designers such as Ellis Bridal, Lou Lou and Louise Bentley, which are typically priced upwards of £1,000. The stylist said he has also sold a lot of stock in a sale in the shop, adding: "I don't want people to think I'm some extremely kind saint from Wales who gives everyone expensive dresses."I'm doing what I can and it's time now to think clearly about where these dresses are going to go."We've had 16 successful years and I'm just grateful for the supportive brides."The stylist said they will continue to finish working with the brides that they have on the books, and said their last wedding is in Rees said he is now training to be a celebrant and hopes to be marrying the brides instead of working on dresses.
