New series capturing life on the Menai Strait
A year in the life of the Menai Strait - the magical stretch of sea that separates the Isle of Anglesey from mainland Wales - is the subject of The Strait, a new six-part documentary series starting on ITV Cymru Wales on Friday, 5 January at 8pm.
The series captures the beauty of the four seasons through the eyes of some of the men and women who live and work on one of the most impressive saltwater rivers in Britain.
The Strait is a follow up to 2015's The Mountain, capturing life on Snowdon, and last year's The Harbour, following life in Tenby, both highly popular series from ITV Cymru Wales. The series is produced for ITV Cymru Wales by Slam Media in partnership with Anglesey-based company Cread Cyf.
The Cast
Frankie - Marine ConservationistFrankie Hobro runs Anglesey Sea Zoo - one of Anglesey’s main tourist attractions. She has a long history of working in hands-on conservation projects with critically endangered species.
Ali and Jamie - Plas Menai InstructorsThe Strait is a perfect playground for adventure activities. Ali and Jamie Yates are instructors at Plas Menai, National Outdoor Centre for Wales.
John Jones - Mussel BoatmanThe unique marine conditions of the Strait makes its underwater world one of the richest farmlands in Britain. It is the perfect environment for growing mussels, as mussel boatman John Jones, who works from Porth Penrhyn, testifies.
Glyn Davies - Landscape PhotographerMulti-award winning landscape photographer has his own studio gallery in Menai Bridge. He’s published a number of books, two of which were bought by the then Prime Minister as a wedding gift for William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in 2011.
Stan Zalot - Beaumaris BoatmanStan is a man of many talents whose main business is running pleasure trips to Puffin Island. Stan’s business HQ is at Gallows Point and his beloved shed in the hub of the boatyard.
Emrys Jones - Caernarfon BoatmanEmrys runs a cruise boat the other end of the Strait at Caernarfon Quay. From the majestic Edwardian Castle his old ferryboat, The Queen of the Sea, heads west to Abermenai and the mouth of the Menai Strait. He’s the sixth generation of pilots and knows the treacherous waters like the back of his hand.
Dr Michael Roberts - ScientistDr Mike Roberts is a research fellow at the internationally renowned School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University - a marine geologist with a passion for this distinctive coastal environment.
The Strait, Friday, 5 January, 8pm, ITV Cymru Wales