A schoolboy from Anglesey is one of two young actors chosen to play a mischievous pair of twins in a hit TV series

The new duo, Ifan Henri from Menai Bridge and Lleucu Owain from Cerrigydrudion, are set to star in the main roles in the S4C show, Deian a Loli.

They will make their debut when the changeover happens during a special episode of the award-winning show that will air at 7.35am on Christmas Eve and as part of the main prime time schedule at 6pm on Christmas Day.

Ifan and Lleucu are taking over from Gwern Jones, 13, from Llanrug, near Caernarfon, and Lowri Jarman, 12, from Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, who have now outgrown the roles.

As well as having a legion of young, dedicated fans across Wales, the show has also been a big hit with television critics.

It recently won its second BAFTA Cymru award in the Children’s Programme category, having been nominated every year since the show was launched four years ago.

Deian a Loli was also shortlisted as a finalist at the prestigious 2019 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, along with other finalists from the UK including network favourites Peaky Blinders and The Durrells.

The Welsh language show made by Caernarfon-based television Cwmni Da also won a Highly Commended award at the UK Broadcast Awards ceremony, where it was up against the biggest names in children’s TV, including Disney Junior, CBeebies and Nick Jr.

The show has also sold internationally and two Deian a Loli books have been published by Y Lolfa.

By saying the magic word, “ribidirew!”, Deian and Loli are able to freeze their parents while they go off on fantastic adventures.

The new twins are the third pairing to play the dynamic young duo.

Ifan, a pupil of Ysgol y Garnedd in Bangor, will take over from Gwern to play Deian, and Ysgol Cerrigydrudion pupil Lleucu will replace Lowri to play Loli.

The talented pair beat over 550 children to land the parts after the hunt for new stars was launched by the show’s producers.

Lleucu said: “I feel lucky to have this opportunity to be on a children’s show that’s so popular, and that I get to be on a show that I’ve watched since it started. It’s my favourite programme.

“It’s very exciting to work on the show and I get to have a lot of fun with Ifan. I was a little bit nervous at the start but once I got used to it, I felt confident.

Ifan added: “I’m very proud of getting the role because there were four or five auditions to get through.

“I tried for the part because I’ve watched the show loads and I heard that they were looking for a new Deian and Loli.

“I’ve acted in the school play and I’ve done an acting workshop called Blas at the Pontio centre in Bangor, and I think that helped me because I learned acting techniques.

“I’m a big fan of the show and I watch it at school and at home. I like that there is a lesson or a message in every episode, and I like that they have the power to freeze their mum and dad and to shrink themselves.

“It’s fun to work on the show because of all the different costumes people wear and it’s fun to work with the green screen too.”

Nerys Lewis, from Cwmni Da, who co-produces the show alongside Martin Thomas, said: “In the special episode, airing on Christmas Eve, we say goodbye to one family and welcome another.

“Deian and Loli learn an important lesson during their adventure, when they come to realise the importance of letting go and moving on.

“It’s springtime and the family are moving house and the twins decide to use their powers on their parents so they don’t have to leave their home.

“But soon enough they realise that the windows are covered in frost. Winter is facing the same dilemma as they are - he’s refusing to let go and move on - and is not prepared to hand over the reins to Spring.”

She added:“There is no doubt that Ifan and Lleucu stood out very early on in the selection process. There is a lot of talent there, they’re very likable, they’re mischievous. They’ve got all the elements that we were looking for.

“They’ve both adapted very well. They're very mature and have taken up the challenge.

“The casting process has been a difficult one this year because of the lockdown, so I’d like to thank everyone who auditioned for the parts of Deian and Loli for being so so patient.

“We had to interview over Zoom and conducted a socially distanced interview with the final six. The standard was incredibly high.

“Filming the series under the current restrictions has been a huge challenge. We’ve had to socially distance, wear masks, and we’ve had to sterilise everything.

“But for the special episode, we were able to create a bubble, which meant cast and crew having Covid tests and then everybody living together on set for the week.

“Working with Lowri and Gwern over the past two years has been fantastic. They’re such talented young people, and they’ve got along brilliantly with the crew from the very beginning.

Ysgol Brynrefail pupil Gwern said: “Working Deian a Loli has been a fantastic experience – it was a lot of fun.

“I’m going to miss working on the show because it’s been so much fun doing it and the crew has been so friendly. Winning a BAFTA was a great way to cap it off.”

Lowri, a pupil of Ysgol Godre'r Berwyn in Bala, said: “It was an incredible experience to work on the show. I’m going to miss working on the show because I’ve made so many friends and I’ll miss everybody, and it will be a bit strange not working on it.

“My favourite episode to work on was Deian and Loli and the Ballerina, I enjoyed that very much because it was different and quite funny. In the episode there was a ballerina who was stuck in a box she gets to come out of it and follow her dreams, and I think that’s an important message for young children.

“I am a little bit sad about finishing but it was a wonderful experience and I’m looking forward to watching the next Deian and Loli.”

Deian a Loli a Diwedd y Byd (Deian and Loli and The End of the World) will be shown on S4C on Christmas Eve at 7:35am and Christmas Day at 6pm.