A TV soap star is in the running for an award for his new role in a care home.

Emyr Gibson, who played Meical in S4C's Rownd a Rownd for over 18 years, is now a creative practitioner at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd in Caernarfon.

He has been shortlisted for the Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation Wales Care Award for promoting the arts in social care.

The award is sponsored by the Pendine Arts & Community Trust which 'supports community and the arts in all its forms'.

Mr Gibson said: "It was a pleasant shock and appreciated that others thought I deserved to be nominated.

"I never thought of working in the social care sector but it is something I enjoy and get so much out of it.

"I get to sing and just enjoy being with people who live with dementia and make them forget their fear and anxiety at least for a short time."

The soap star is now a creative practitioner (Image: Supplied) Mr Gibson has been working at Bryn Seiont Newydd since early 2022.

He said: "I've been working at Bryn Seiont Newydd for over two years now and I now know which songs work.

"But we don't just go from song to song because as we sing we ask questions and have fun.

"I make the residents laugh and give them the opportunity to sing as the words come back to them.

"As an actor I will act the parts to bring the song to life and that makes so much difference."

Bryn Seiont Newydd's resident musician, Nia Davies Williams, said: "Emyr often takes the time to reassure distressed or confused residents with patience and empathy.

“I feel that one way of measuring someone's success at a role is how people react around him, and both staff and residents adore Emyr."

The Wales Care Awards, supported by headline sponsor Ontex Healthcare, will be held at Cardiff's Holland House Hotel on October 18 and will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: "Our aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines on the front line of social across Wales.

"The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor."