PRESS RELEASE
16/10/2024
Hard-hitting Welsh TV drama tackling children’s mental health issues sold to Czech Republic
TV Broadcaster S4C, production company Ceidiog Content together with UK-based sales house Videoplugger are delighted to announce that kids live-action series season one “BEX” and season two “BEXtra” has been picked up in a deal with public broadcaster Česká televize (Czech Television).
Two series of the ground-breaking drama, Bex and BEXtra, which were first shown on S4C have been snapped up by the public service broadcaster. The live action show was devised and made by Nia Ceidiog’s award-winning production company, Ceidiog Content, which specialises in making TV shows for children.
The deal was brokered by UK-based sales house Videoplugger which has a strong track record in selling programmes in minority languages to international broadcasters.
Bex & BEXtra
All 16 of the 20-minute episodes feature a standalone story set in a different part of Wales.
In the first series West End actress Rebecca Hayes, from Cardiff, stars in the title role as Bex, a mysterious figure who appears to offer information, help and guidance during tough times.
She shows that youngsters can be seriously disturbed by all kinds of real-life mental health, neurodiversity and wellbeing issues and how talking about them can be a big help.
Among the issues featured in Bex, aimed at children aged from eight to 11,is a story of a young boy whose sister has died of leukemia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks, body dysmorphic disorder, separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and a phobia of vomiting.
In BEXtra, Dewi Wykes, (The Sister Boniface Mysteries, Mr Bates vs. The Post Office) plays a new character, Pryderi, a friend of Bex -a cool and empathetic figure who visits each child to provide support, strategies and encouragement.
This second series is aimed at a slightly older audience of children aged 11 to 15 and explores issues including neurodiversity and mental health challenges such as ADHD and social anxiety disorder.
It focuses on how these sometimes invisible disabilities and conditions affect not only the individual but also their family and friends, encouraging understanding, communication, and the normalisation of mental health and neurodiversity in everyday life.
In each story the child, with support from either Bex or Pryderi, teaches the adults around them how to better understand their feelings, fostering open conversations about mental health within families.
Bex was shortlisted for BAFTA Cymru and Royal Television Society awards in 2022.and 2023
About Czech Television
Czech Television (ČT) is a public nationwide television broadcasting in the Czech Republic operating six channels. Established in 1992.
About Ceidiog Content
The brainchild of Nia Ceidiog a Welsh bodybuilder, broadcaster, and producer.
who is well known for writing the classic episodes of ”Fireman Sam” (Sam Tȃn)from 1987-94. CEIDIOG creates content for children of all ages from 1-100, Ceidiog is a small company punching way above its size.
Nia Ceidiog is the creative mind behind many popular children’s TV programmes including the BAFTA Cymru winning Dwylo’r Enfys (Rainbow Hands) which introduced the signing language, Makaton, to small children in Welsh for the first time.
Another series, Y Diwrnod Mawr (The Big Day), was five times nominated for prestigious worldwide awards.
Nia Ceidiog, Producer and Writer said:
“The Bex and BEXtra programmes were challenging to make as we were looking at the myriad of difficulties which youngsters face.The first series was prepared during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and filming took place the following year when there were still restrictions in force.We had psychologists and other experts working with us throughout the making of Bex and BEXtra advising us about the issues portrayed in the programmes.The episodes are challenging but realistic and the conditions portrayed are serious but Bex and Pryderi bring hope to the children.We’re delighted the two series have been picked up by the Czech broadcaster.Hopefully the audience in the Czech Republic will enjoy and appreciate the programmes and that they will be of some help for those who are themselves experiencing problems and difficulties in their lives.”
Sioned Geraint, S4C’s Commissioner for Children and Learners, said
“Bex and BEXtra are truly ground-breaking in the way they deal with children’s mental health, and have opened the door for family discussion about mental health, which is such an important thing.“In many ways these themes are universal and I’m delighted that both series have been picked up by Česká televise and I feel sure they will be equally effective in getting these important messages across in a way that is both entertaining and informative.”
Ebba Eriksson, Creative Director Videoplugger said:
“This series touches on such an important topic as mental health for kids and teens, it gives hands on advice and will surely captivate young audiences anywhere. We are so happy to have worked on getting Bex and BEXtra to a broader audience. Being a mother of teenagers myself I am aware of the challenges with young people’s mental health.”
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