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Based on the novel of the same name by Iwan ‘Iwcs’ Roberts, Dal Y Mellt focuses on a rag-tag group of misfits who come together to pull off a heist. The show’s title roughly translates to ‘Catch The Lightning’ in English and follows Carbo (played by Gwïon Morris Jones), who is employed by ex-soldier and now garage owner Mici (Mark Lewis Jones). However, little does Carbo realise he’s not been hired for his skills as a mechanic but rather his deft pickpocketing abilities.
Other cast members include Dyfan Roberts as Gronw, Lois Meleri-Jones as Antonia, Graham Land as Les, Owen Arwyn as Dafydd Aldo and Siw Hughes as Meri Jên.
The six-part series kicked off on Welsh broadcaster S4C on Sunday, October 2 and continues to air on the channel weekly. Dal Y Mellt is also available to binge after it was dropped on BBC iPlayer as a boxset.
Some viewers may already have raced through the show and are eager to know what the future holds for the programme.
Mici star Jones, 58, said: “I think these people have definitely got more to tell. Why not?
“I think you’ve got the basics of a group of people who do stuff together and I certainly would be interested in a second series. But in all honesty, I’ve not been told if there is one.” He added: “I think there is definitely more gas in this one.”
Reflecting on where the story could go next, Jones said: “Well, they could do a different job that they’d need to plan or somebody comes up from their past that needs something. There’s definitely room for a new story, I would say.”
S4C and the BBC has yet to confirm a recommission and with the show only recently premiering, it’s early days yet.
For those new to the show, Jones described Dal Y Mellt as a “Welsh Ocean’s Elven” and was “slick but not cool” in its style.
The star went on to say: “It’s got a great quality to it. You really feel for the characters and you really identify with them and you can tell that they really look out for each other.”
Jones said the “basic story beats” were the same as the book with only some differences, which came with the practicalities of adapting a novel for the small screen.
Dal Y Mellt was filmed in various locations around Wales in January this year with the majority of the shoot taking place in Cardiff, before the production shifted to north Wales for the remainder to cover the exteriors.
The show certainly showcases the nation’s natural beauty with some sweeping drone shots of the Welsh countryside.
Jones said he was attracted to the role because he loved characters who were “brilliant at their jobs” but have “other stuff going on” beneath the surface.
He hailed Mici as a fully realised character: a former military man with PTSD and now a gangster, but an individual who didn’t resort to violence to prove himself.
“There’s a silence about him. He’s got an air of charisma around but as the story develops, he’s got this awful condition to deal with daily. So, as an actor, it’s a gift. You have all those different aspects and you see all those different sides to him,” Jones said.
Veteran star Jones is no stranger to screens with roles dating back to the 80s across film and television, including roles in Outlander, Amazon Prime Video’s fantasy epic Carnival Row, Channel 4’s The Accident and The Third Day.
Some of his other credits include Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, The Crown, Gangs of London and Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.
Alongside the big-budget productions, Jones continues to be a firm advocate of Welsh film and television. He has appeared in the projects in his home country, such as the noir series Hinterland and more recently Keeping Faith.
The drama was originally filmed in Welsh under the title ‘Un Bore Mercher’ (One Wednesday Morning) – and then shot back-to-back in English, proving to be phenomenally successful in both languages.
Although Jones said there wouldn’t be another outing of Keeping Faith, he hoped for more Welsh drama breaking into the mainstream.
This trend first started with the rise of Nordic noirs such as The Killing and Borgen in the mid-2010s and continues with the proliferation of streaming platforms featuring international content like Money Heist and Squid Game.
Jones said: “We’re so used to it now.” Adding he felt there was a bigger audience for Welsh shows than just native viewers.
He will next be starring in the film Portraits of Dangerous Women as well as Bolan’s Shoes and Sweetland, which are all in post-production.
Dal Y Mellt airs on S4C in Wales on Sundays and the whole series is available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer
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