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Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Iolo Williams reveals he has encountered a career first
Iolo Williams reveals he has encountered a career first The Springwatch presenter has opened up about the 'career highlight' he experienced when filming his new series Iolo Williams is hosting a new series called Iolo's River Valleys (Image: BBC ) TV star Iolo Williams has revealed a career first as his new BBC series begins. Iolo is back on our screens for a new four-part series called Iolo's River Valleys which follows him as he explores the hidden stories and natural wonders of four river valleys across Wales. In the series he'll be uncovering the incredible wildlife of the Rheidol Valley, the Dyfi Valley, the Conwy Valley and the Vale of Clwyd. Throughout the episodes, Iolo will be met with sightings of rare birds and elusive mammals. He even encounters a career first on his journey. Ahead of the series' release, Iolo said that the biggest moment of the series was when he saw his "first ever wild beaver in Wales". "This was a real highlight, not just of the series, but of my 27 years working within TV. A real highlight," Iolo said. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter "I wasn't actually expecting to see one. The researchers had done their work and they'd said there were rumours to be wild beaver, and I knew myself that there were rumours of wild beavers in one or two locations as well. "We went out and we had a look one evening, and the weather wasn't great, we didn't see anything. But then we went out again when the rain had cleared up and sure enough there it was, this beaver, eating Japanese knotweed of all things. Article continues below "I'll be honest, nobody knows where the beaver has come from, they've been there for about two years, possibly three and it's quite well known locally. But I'm absolutely delighted because this is an animal that we should have back in the wild." Iolo said that spotting the beaver "topped everything" that happened in the series. He added that he also "achieved a childhood ambition" by seeing a pine martin in daylight. Iolo's River Valleys is a four-part BBC Cymru Wales series, produced by Aden. The series was produced and directed by Osian Griffiths and the executive producer is John Gwyn. Speaking ahead of its release, he said: "For the first time we're following four different rivers. We usually confine the series to specific areas but this time we took four different rivers and follow the river valleys from sea to source. I thought I knew Wales quite well, but one or two of these river valleys I hadn't explored for a very long time. "People moan that it rains a lot in Wales, but it's because of that rain that we have such stunning river valleys, streams and waterfalls. Article continues below "Each and every one of them has a different character and each and every one of them is beautiful from source down to sea." Watch Iolo's River Valleys on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer from Tuesday 6 May
Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Chris Packham: People who call ADHD a fad are prejudiced
Chris Packham has claimed people who call attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a 'fad' are 'prejudiced'. The naturalist and BBC presenter, 64, said progress for people being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia had not been made in the same way it had for those with autism. He told Radio Times: 'There has been some vile and misplaced prejudice prominently voiced recently about ADHD, suggesting that it's a fad and has been wrongly or over-diagnosed. 'That very urgently needs countering in this time of divisive culture wars, with assaults on inclusivity and diversity.' Neurodiversity campaigner The Springwatch presenter, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, in his 40s, said he 'once hid my autistic traits' while he struggled with the then undiagnosed condition in his youth. He has now become a prominent neurodiversity campaigner, which often extends to discussions about ADHD and dyslexia. His comments came as a recent study revealed that the Covid lockdown fuelled a near-doubling in the number of prescriptions for drugs to treat ADHD. Prescriptions per 1,000 people in England rose from 25.17 in 2019-20 to 41.55 in 2023-24 as lockdown was found to have exacerbated symptoms of the disorder. ADHD symptoms exist on a spectrum of severity ranging from mild to severe and affect 2.6 million people in the UK, 694,000 of whom are children and 1.9 million adults. The symptoms depend on the individual, but in general, people with ADHD have trouble with attention, organisation, time management and self-control. Researchers suggested there was an increasing awareness of the disorder through social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, which is likely to be encouraging more people to seek diagnosis and treatment. However, it is warned that 'misinformation on these platforms may lead to misconceptions about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment'. 'Positive and challenging impacts' In 2023, Packham released a two-part BBC Two series titled Inside Our Minds, which attempted to explain the autistic world to allistic (non-autistic) viewers. He said he was still thanked by strangers 'on an almost daily basis' for the series, with people saying it 'gave them a better understanding of themselves or one of their relatives or colleagues'. The 'logical next step', Packham added, was to apply that same storytelling format to other neurodiverse conditions. His two new documentaries, Inside Our ADHD Minds and Inside Our Dyslexic Minds, will be aired by the BBC later this month. Packham's stepdaughter, Megan, has dyslexia, meaning the presenter has 'experience of the positive and challenging impacts of that'. He added that 'thinking about ADHD is a bit like holding a misty mirror up to myself, because there is often an overlap between the traits of autism and ADHD'.
