Three Celtic-language broadcasters co-commission second series of The Wall
Celtic-language broadcasters S4C, TG4 and MG Alba have joined forces for the first time over a second run of landmark documentary series The Wall.
The 4 x 60-minute series, which examines the impact of borders around the world, will be produced by Wales’ Rondo Media, in partnership with Irish label Rosg and Scottish Gaelic producer Hamish Macleod.
Rondo produced the six-part first series in 2018, which was commissioned by both S4C and TG4. Narrated by Matthew Rhys, it looked at the human impact on those living either side of borders including the USA-Mexico divide, the Israel-Palestine Separation Barrier and the Northern Ireland Peace Walls.
The follow-up will explore the Finnish-Russian border, São Paulo in Brazil, Vietnam and the Spain-Morocco frontier in Ceuta.
Each commissioning broadcaster will be supplied with its own language version, with different presenters working across Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Rhys will narrate the international version while Lisa Jên Brown will present the Welsh version, Sile Nic Chonaonaigh the Irish version and Ramsay MacMahon the Scottish.
The production was filmed simultaneously in multiple language versions, with presenters and crews working together throughout the shoot.
It was ordered by Llinos Wynne (S4C), Proinsias Ní Gráinne (TG4) and Margaret Cameron (MG Alba), and is supported by Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Cineflix Rights is the distributor.
S4C’s head of documentaries and factual Llinos Wynne said: “This collaboration between S4C, TG4 and MG Alba demonstrates what can be achieved when Celtic broadcasters work together.
“By pooling creative talent and resources, we can tell ambitious global stories while celebrating our shared cultural heritage.”
Catherine McCormick, vice-president of acquisitions at Cineflix Rights, added: “The global nature of the stories covered in the first season of The Wall resonated well with audiences around the world, so we are delighted to be partnering once again with the Rondo Media team to offer this second season to our international buyers.”
The Wall will air on 7 April on S4C.
The first series sold to broadcasters including Discovery Latin America, NHK Japan, NRK Norway, YLE Finland, ZDF Germany, TVO Canada, AMC Networks Central Eastern Europe, and LA7 Italy, PBS UK and Histoire TV in France.
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