Jamie and Derek's Welsh Weekends

Jamie Owen was joined on his summer travels across Wales by weatherman Derek Brockway, in the television series for BBC Wales.

Jamie and Derek based themselves in Carmarthen, Llandudno, Mold, Newtown and Abergavenny for their five Welsh Weekends. Along the way they met up with a few of the viewers and listeners who'd come up with some of the great suggestions for places to visit and activities to try out.

Broadcast on BBC Two Wales in November 2007

Ras Ola' Tanni / Tanni’s Last Race

One of the world’s greatest paralympians, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, announced her retirement in 2007. Ras Ola' Tanni gained exclusive access to this uniquely gifted athlete and much loved personality as she prepared mentally and physically for the life changing moment when she competed for the last time.

Broadcast on S4C in June 2007

Jamie Owen's Welsh Journeys 2 (2006)

Aspect Television's second series of Jamie Owen's Welsh Journeys follows Jamie as he explores the Preselis on horseback, swaps one saddle for another to cycle along the Welsh borders, sails the Severn Estuary and takes a camper van around the Gower. Jamie also gets to live a boyhood dream when he dons a boiler suit and clambers aboard one of the little trains of the Talyllyn railway.

A book to accompany the series is available through Gomer Press www.gomer.co.uk

Broadcast on BBC Two Wales in November 2006

The Monks of Caldey Island (2006)

Sixty thousand day trippers visit beautiful Caldey Island off the Welsh coast each year, but they get only a glimpse of the unique life of the monks and villagers who have made the island their home. Now the monks have granted unprecedented access to allow filming behind the walls of the Cistercian monastery.

Narrated by Jamie Owen The Monks of Caldey Island is an exclusive record of island life through the seasons - the people, their work, the stunning setting and the isolation.

The Monks of Caldey Island is available on DVD from www.caldy-island.co.uk

Smooth Movers (2006)

A fast and friendly chronicle of the ups and downs of a moving day, featuring the mainly Australian, Kiwi and South African lads of Ward Thomas Removals. It was a fun show to make and we think the results were entertaining too.

Broadcast on Discovery Home and Health in August 2006

Jamie Owen's Welsh Journeys (2005)

In the follow up to the hugely successful Magic Harbours and Magic Islands, broadcaster Jamie Owen steps ashore for a series of journeys across the length and breadth of Wales. Six fascinating programmes exploring one of the most beautiful, historic and delightful parts of Britain.

Broadcast on BBC Two Wales in November 2005

It Beats Working (2005)

This five part series looked at a minority of people, perfectly qualified to join the British workforce, who, for one reason or another, have decided to opt out and stick two fingers up to the 'nine to five' drudge. Adrian Chiles found out what it's like to 'not work for a living'.

Broadcast at lunchtime in September 2005 on BBC One

Race Country 10x30 (2005)

Clare Balding was our guide around Lambourn in Berkshire, a place known locally as the Valley of the Race Horse. Every morning over 1500 finely tuned equine athletes thunder up the gallops in the surrounding countryside but this series is not just about the horses, it is about the people and their lives in one of the most picturesque parts of Britain. The series was a huge ratings success.

Broadcast at lunchtime in September 2005 on BBC Two

Cardiff Changed My Life (2005)

Celebrating Cardiff's role as the capital of Wales, a host of celebrities fondly remember their time in the city. Michael Aspel, Neil Kinnock, Tanni Grey Thompson, Adrian Chiles, Helen Willets, Jeremy Bowen and John Humphrys are among the contributors to this entertaining and affectionate tribute.

Broadcast on BBC One Wales in July 2005

Surviving 2005: My Story (2005)

The story of actor Dominic Gray's year fighting cancer of the face was broadcast on BBC One just before Christmas 2005. The Evening Standard TV critic Victor Lewis Smith was moved to declare "This brought home the reality of living with illness more clearly than any number of Panoramas or Tonight with Trevor McDonalds ever could, so why on earth was it tucked away in the shadows of the midday ghetto in between Bargain Hunt and the lunchtime news? BBC1 Controller Peter Fincham should correct the mistake at the earliest opportunity by repeating it at Primetime."

Broadcast on BBC One in December 2005

What Ron Said (2004)

An explosive documentary in which disgraced football pundit Ron Atkinson embarks on a journey to discover exactly why his racist outburst that was accidentally broadcast during a soccer commentary caused so much offence. This one hour film was making the headlines before it was broadcast and created plenty of discussion about racism in sport and in British society.

Broadcast on BBC One in December 2004

Working in the Dark (2004)

This five part series profiled the workers who keep Britain ticking over while everyone else rests. Some spend the night tidying up our mess and preparing for another day, while others keep watch, making sure that the darkness isn't dangerous, so we can sleep soundly and safely. Adrian Chiles endured a week of daylight deprivation following the night
workers from the moment they get up to the moment they go to bed. In an evermore stressful world, he wanted to find out how they manage to juggle work, rest and play in apparently difficult circumstances. The series was a huge ratings success and another series was commissioned.

Broadcast at lunchtime on BBC One in September 2004

Magic Harbours (2004)

Aspect made a second series of Jamie Owen's sailing adventures. In the first series, 'Magic Islands', Jamie joined the crew of a one hundred year old pilot cutter to sail around the islands lying off the coast. This time he has been exploring the ports and harbours that make Wales one of the most interesting and varied coastlines in the world. The series is another rich mix of arts, history, customs, traditions, food, fellow travellers, industry and tourism - indeed, all the ingredients that made 'Magic Islands' such a success are included. Camaraderie, surprising stories, reunions and nostalgia are also there in abundance, and the programme was transmitted to huge audiences and critical acclaim.

Broadcast on BBC Wales in Autumn 2004

So What Do You Do All Day? - Lorraine Heggessey Special (2004)

Aspect Television was asked to make a special episode of 'So What Do You Do All Day?' for broadcast at the 2004 Edinburgh International Festival. The subject was one of the most powerful women in British broadcasting, the controller of BBC One, Lorraine Heggessey.

Broadcast at the 2004 Edinburgh International Festival

So What Do You Do All Day? Series Two (2004)

Aspect Television completed a second series of 'So What Do You Do All Day?' for BBC2 following the outstanding success of its first run in 2003. Presented by broadcaster and rising star Adrian Chiles (Match of the Day, Who Do You Think You Are, Working Lunch, Five Live) the network 12x30 series followed 12 inspirational, successful people from the UK and around the world, for one day to gain insights into their lives and how they manage their time. The second series featured profiles of world famous chef Raymond Blanc, PR legend Lynne Franks, the editor of the Independent Simon Kelner and top horse trainers Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe. Six episodes from series one and two have been extended to fifty minutes and are on sale through BBC Worldwide.

Broadcast throughout February/March/April 2004 on BBC2

So What Do You Do All Day? Series One (2003)

Not many people would try to make a documentary in just one day but Adrian Chiles wanted to try it and pulled it off with great success. Made for BBC2 and transmitted in 2003, the show aims to find out what exactly makes successful people so good at what they do by following them around for the day. The first 8x30 series followed Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, musical maestro, Eddie Jordan, owner of Jordan Formula One, Dianne Thompson, chief executive of Camelot, John Gray, founder of Spearmint Rhino, Derek Simpson, general secretary of trade union Amicus, John Coleman, chief executive of House of Fraser and Beverly Cobella, Britain's leading hairdresser.

Broadcast on BBC 2 in November 2003

The Henry Files (2002)

For the first time, Graham Henry talks in depth about his roller-coaster ride as coach for the Welsh rugby team in this Aspect production of ITV1 Wales. These three documentaries, presented by Alan Wilkins, throw searching new light on what now seems a golden era - the amazing run of success that saw Wales chalk up 10 successive victories.

Broadcast on ITV1 Wales in 2002

The Lions Raw (2001)

A one hour documentary for BBC One Wales featuring exclusive, behind the scenes footage from the British Lions rugby tour of Australia in 2001. The programme was produced, written and narrated by Rob Finighan who also helped produce the best selling 'Lions, Up Close and Personal' video.

Broadcast on BBC One Wales in 2001

Taste Buddies (2000)

Aspect Television was commissioned by BBC Choice in London to produce ten fifteen-minute comedy programmes for transmission in summer/autumn 2000. Written and directed by Tim Williamson, Taste Buddies is a darkly comic taste of the underbelly of Welsh society - a mixture of cookery programme, 'fly on the wall' documentary and comedy drama.

Broadcast on BBC Choice in Summer/Autumn 2000

Sleeping Dogs (2000)

Forty, thirty-minute magazine programmes for BBC Wales, produced by Tom Law, Sleeping Dogs is a challenging mix of fact and fiction with reports from across Wales on topics as diverse as 'the worst footballer in the world', the difficulties faced by an Aberystwyth based belly dancer and the ramblings of an old man over a pint in a workingman's club.

Broadcast on BBC Wales in 2000

Graham Henry's Guide to the Six Nations (2000)

Transmitted in Autumn 2000, BBC Wales commissioned Aspect Television to make a six part series looking at the nations taking part in the Six Nations Rugby Union Championship. Produced and directed by Rob Finighan, the series journeys through the culture and rugby history of Italy, Scotland, England, France, Ireland and Wales. Our guide is the Welsh rugby coach Graham Henry, who, as a New Zealander, knew little of the championship or the countries taking part when he arrived in the Northern Hemisphere in 1998.

Broadcast on BBC Wales in Autumn 2000