Passion for Soap Operas from Childhood
Niall Grant-Rowlands has been a devoted fan of soap operas since he was a child; he has followed shows such as Rownd a Rownd, Pobol y Cwm, Eastenders, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale at various points in his life.
His enthusiasm for the genre led him to study Television Production at Leeds Trinity University.
In recent years, Niall has been writing scripts for Pobol y Cwm and Rownd a Rownd, and he has recently scripted an episode of Eastenders.
Niall discussed his career in the world of soap operas with BBC Cymru Fyw.
Working While Studying in Leeds
"You don’t really have to study that exact subject at university to get into the television industry, but I wanted that experience and the chance to live in a new city, and Leeds was great.
While I was at university, I tried to do things beyond the coursework – I was always sending emails asking if there were any jobs available.
That’s when I started as a runner with Emmerdale, and I spoke with one of the writers there who was working on the show’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
She said I should speak with the person responsible for storylining the series, and I got a two-week placement as a junior storyliner with Emmerdale. The university was very supportive of me doing this as well."
Niall is 25 years old and a former pupil of Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor, and Ysgol David Hughes, Llanfairpwll. He now lives in Cardiff.
Behind the Bar at the Queen Vic During Christmas
While at university, Niall also wrote for Rownd a Rownd.
"This was the first time I wrote something in Welsh, and wrote something for someone to perform, and they decided to develop the monologue."
Writing for Eastenders
Niall was recently working with Pobol y Cwm, and then the opportunity arose to write for Eastenders.
"I still don’t really feel it’s real that I’ve done it. There’s a lot of work involved, and you get a rough guide of what they want from the episode, and they invite you to put your own flair on the script.
I was with Eastenders for about a month before starting to write the episode, and then the episode aired on 12 March. There are about 40 or 45 writers on the show, with several writing regularly."
Visiting the Set
Niall visited the set in January to see the dialogue he wrote being performed by the actors.
"It was a bit strange, I have to say. The first scene I saw was in the gym, where Phil Mitchell was talking to his grandson, Mark.
I was quite lucky because it was dark then and I was standing behind the monitor, so no one could see me trying not to cry.
It was very difficult because I was seeing my work, and Phil Mitchell saying what I had written – it was a bit surreal and I tried not to show my emotions!
I was half miming the script with them, even though the script was changed from the first draft to the final version.
When I met Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale, I was so nervous because I have watched this man on screen my whole life! I was used to seeing the character losing out on love and being miserable, but the truth is he’s a really funny man."
Family and Friends’ Reactions
Niall’s family and friends were delighted to hear he was writing an episode of the iconic soap opera, especially one person.
"The only person who screamed more than me when I heard I got the commission was Mum. I was in an office when I got the call, in a small room, and I screamed.
When I phoned Mum, she was in a shop and she screamed across the shop.
I’m a bit of a joker within my group of friends so they didn’t really believe me when I said I got the commission – so I had to send them a picture of me in Albert Square leaning on the railings by the sign!"
Niall will write another episode of Eastenders for the summer, with work on it starting soon. He hopes to continue his long relationship with soap operas and leave his mark on some of the most popular programmes in Wales and Britain.
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Also of Interest
- Rownd a Rownd: The actors who are about to marry on screen
- Pobol y Cwm at 50: My favourite great and terrible stories
- The mystery of Welsh soap operas before Pobol y Cwm...
