Wawffactor

Wawffactor
Presented by Eleri Sion
Judges Owen Powell
Bethan Elfyn
Aled Haydn Jones
Huw Chiswell
Country of origin Wales
Original language(s) Welsh
No. of series 3
Production
Producer(s) Alfresco
Release
Original network S4C
Picture format 16:9
Original release 2003 – 2006
External links
Wawffactor Website

Wawffactor (sometimes styled as WawFfactor, English: Wow Factor) was a Welsh television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions. It was broadcast on S4C between 2003 and 2006 and was produced by Al Fresco.

It has now gained fame for contestant Duffy, now a major worldwide artist, who competed in the first series of the show, finishing second behind Lisa Pedrick.

Format

Contestants initially performed in front of a panel of four judges at one of several auditions held around the country. From these, ten people were chosen to progress to the studio heats where after performing each week, one contestant would be eliminated by decision of the judges until three remained. Then during the live final, one contestant would be eliminated by the judges after performing, and a public televote decided the winner. The prize was to record an album and music video.

Judges

The four judges for the initial series were former Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell, singer & television presenter Emma Walford, musician Peredur ap Gwynedd and Radio 1 producer Aled Haydn Jones. Emma Walford was replaced by BBC Radio 1 DJ Bethan Elfyn for the second series, and Peredur ap Gwynedd was replaced by musician Huw Chiswell for the third series. The show was presented by Eleri Sion and Welsh singer-songwriter Caryl Parry-Jones acted as a vocal coach to the contestants from the studio heats onwards.[1]

History

The winner of the initial series was Lisa Pedrick, who beat Aimée Duffy and Beth Williams in the final. Duffy would go on to release a UK No. 1 album and single in 2009,[2] as well as a self-titled Welsh extended play in 2004. The singer is now one of the world's biggest-selling singers, becoming the best selling artist of 2009 in the United Kingdom. She has enjoyed massive global chart success. The second series saw Rebecca Trehearn triumph over Francesca Hughes in the final. Lisa Haf Davies would have been the third finalist, but was forced to withdraw after contracting mumps. The third and final series was won by Einir Dafydd, who beat Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Nathan Whiteley.

Winners

Year Winner Runner-up Third finalist Ref
2003/04 Lisa Pedrick Aimée Duffy Beth Williams [2]
2005 Rebecca Trehearn Francesca Hughes —[A] [3]
2006 Einir Dafydd Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Nathan Whiteley [4]

Notes
  • A ^ Lisa Haf Davies would have been third runner-up, however she withdrew due to contracting mumps

References

  1. ↑ "Wawffactor".
  2. 1 2 Smith, Lizzie (20 February 2009). "Triple Brit winner Duffy... as the teen singer who could only come second in the Welsh Pop Idol". Mail Online.
  3. ↑ "Waw! Gwych Genod". BBC Lleol (in Welsh). March 2005.
  4. ↑ "Einir yn ennill". BBC Lleol (in Welsh). May 2006.
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