Bryn Fôn (born 27 August 1954) is a Welsh actor and singer-songwriter.[1] He also became the first ever artist to play live on BBC Radio Cymru in 1977.[2]

Bryn Fôn
Fôn in September 2010
Born (1954-08-27) 27 August 1954 (age 70)
NationalityWelsh
EducationYsgol Gynradd Llanllyfni
Ysgol Uwchradd Dyffryn Nantlle
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • television presenter
Years active1977–present
EmployerS4C
Spouse
Anna Wynne-Williams
(m. 2004)
Children2

Biography

edit

Bryn Fôn was born in Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire.[1] He attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle before going on to study physical exercise and environmental studies at college. He began his career in entertainment by taking part in the opera Dic Penderyn in 1977. He formed the musical group Crysbas after leaving college, and Sobin a'r Smaeliaid in 1988.[1] He was voted the hunk of the month in She magazine during the 1980s.[1]

He began releasing albums with his band under his own name in 1994. He and his band later performed under the name Bryn Fôn a'r Band, releasing music under their own label laBelaBel. He won the song contest Cân i Gymru in 1997, with Un Funud Fach.

In his later career, Fôn has concentrated on appearing on stage and also adapted the play Blackbird for a production by Theatr Bara Caws in which he starred in 2010. At present, he performs with his own band. He is involved with numerous gigs yearly all over Wales, most particularly the Royal Welsh Show and the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Personal life

edit

A campaign of protest linked to the Welsh language movement began in December 1979, which involved burning down English-owned holiday homes in Wales. Fôn wrote a song belittling the police's unsuccessful attempts to catch those responsible. In 1990, several detectives visited his home and he was arrested along with his partner, Anna, after they discovered a package hidden in a wall on his cottage's land. He was held at the police station in Dolgellau for 48 hours before being released without charge. His C'mon Midffild! co-cast member, Mei Jones, was arrested at the same time.[3]

In January 2011, it was announced that Bryn Fôn was one of a hundred people who had refused to pay their TV licences as part of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protests against plans to cut the budget of the Welsh-language TV channel, S4C, and the plans to transfer control over the channel to the BBC.[4]

Fôn is also politically active in support of the Welsh language, and is a supporter of Welsh independence.[5]

 
Bryn Fôn at a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protest. Poster reads: "Keep our Welsh-language schools and villages".

Fôn is married with two children.

Discography

edit

Albums

edit
Band Title Year Record label
Crysbas Draenog Marw / Y Nhw (Wil Bach) 1978 Sain
Crysbas Ond ... Mae 'Di Bwrw 1979 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Ta-ta Botha 1989 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Sobin a'r Smaeliaid – 1 1990 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Caib 1991 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid A Rhaw 1992 Sain
Bryn Fôn Dyddiau Di-gymar 1994 Crai
Bryn Fôn Dawnsio ar y Dibyn 1998 Crai
Bryn Fôn Caneuon Tecwyn y Tractor 2004 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Abacus 2004 laBelaBel
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Goreuon Sobin 2005 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band CAM 2005 laBelaBel
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Toca 2008 laBelaBel
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Y Goreuon 1994–2005 2009 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Ynys 2014 laBelaBel

Filmography

edit
Year Show Role Note
1979 The Corn Is Green Robbart
1982 Y Gosb
1986 Siwan William de Braose Aired on 27 December 1986
1988 Lliwiau Rheinallt Vaughan
1988–1994, 2004 C'mon Midffîld! Tecwyn Parri
1989 Jabas Mr Morrison Series 2
1990 Cân i Gymru Contestant Winner
1990 Mwy Na Phapur Newydd
1990 O.M Owen Morgan Edwards
1991 Outside Time Manawydan
1991 Traed Mewn Cyffion Ifan Gruffydd
1994 Dwylo
1994–1997 Pengelli Gwyn Lloyd Series 1–4
1997 Cân i Gymru Contestant Winner
1999–2005 Talcen Caled Les Hughes 5 series; 34 episodes
2000 Meibion Glandŵr
2001 Y Stafell Ddirgel Huw Morris
2001–2002 A Mind to Kill DC Meic Challis Series 3–4; also starred in the Welsh version Yr Heliwr.
2002 Eldra William
2007–2008 Tipyn o Stad Ed Lovell Series regular; series 6–7
2008–2010 Ista'nbwl
2013–2015 Gwaith/Cartref Brynmor Davies Series 3–5
2016–2017 Anita Bedwyr 2 series
2017–2018 Pobol y Cwm Dr Elgan Pritchard Series regular
2018 Bryn Fôn a PTSD Presenter
2019 Hidden Hefin Mathews Series 2; also starred in the Welsh version Craith.
2021 Bryn Fôn: Chwilio am Feibion Glyndŵr Presenter One-off special
2022 Stad Ed Lovell Spin off to Tipyn o Stad

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Interview with BBC Cymru
  2. ^ Erthygl byr ar wefan BBC Cymru.
  3. ^ "25 years later... why have we still not caught the cottage burners?". Daily Post / icNorthWales. 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  4. ^ Tudalen Newyddion ar Wefan Golwg360[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "AUOB Cymru say independence march will go ahead despite Wrexham Council opposition". Nation.Cymru. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
edit