A CHILD actor from the Bala area, who plays a mischievous twin with secret superpowers in a hit TV show, is getting used to “pop star status” with a legion of fans across Wales.

Lowri Jarman, 10, from Llanuwchllyn, has teamed up with, Gwern Jones, 11, from Llanrug, near Caernarfon, to take on the title roles in the new series of Deian a Loli.

Extra screenings had to be put on to accommodate the huge demand for tickets for premieres of the programme made by Caernarfon-based television production company Cwmni Da for S4C’s children’s platform, Cyw.

They were forced to put on a fourth showing at the Pontio Centre in Bangor after the first three sold out in just 10 minutes.

Packed-out preview shows were also held in Bethesda, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Cardiff.

Producer Angharad Elen was thrilled with the “overwhelmingly positive response” at all the venues.

She revealed the show is also proving popular with TV critics across the UK and is a shortlisted finalist in the category for the Best Pre-School Children’s Programme at the prestigious Broadcast Awards.

It is going for glory against three of the biggest names in children’s television: Disney Junior, CBeebies and Nick Jr.

The programme was also honoured with an award at the Welsh BAFTAs last year.

By saying the magic word ‘Ribidirew’, Deian and Loli are able to freeze their parents while they go off on fantastic adventures.

The first two series had already established Deian and Loli as a firm favourite with Welsh youngsters and their parents.

As the original Deian a Loli, played by Erin Gwilym and Moi Hallam, were growing up, it was decided to recast the roles for the show’s latest outing.

Meanwhile, real-life husband and wife Rhian Blythe and Simon Watts were drafted in as the new mum and dad.

Gwern and Lowri were chosen from an original 600 children who tried for the roles in Deian a Loli.

Lowri, a pupil at Ysgol O M Edwards in Llanuwchllyn, said: “I was really happy when I heard I had got the part. Part of me was nervous but I was very excited.

“The filming was hard work but I really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun.

Gwern, a pupil at Ysgol Llanrug, said: “I was very nervous to start with because I hadn’t done anything like that before but once I did it, I enjoyed every minute.

“It’s a lot of fun because I go to places in the world that I thought I would never visit.”

Angharad Elen revealed she was inspired to create the Deian a Loli series by her own children, Cain, seven, and Syfi, five.

She said: “I hadn’t done anything with children’s shows before I had children myself, and I felt a little bit guilty leaving them every day to go to work, so I wanted to create something for them.

“I think my generation is prone to wrapping our children in cotton wool, telling them not to climb trees, so the programme is based to some extent on my own childhood. I was brought up in Llandwrog where we film the series.

“The programme also popular with parents as well because I put in some in-jokes sometimes as well.

“Deian and Loli are mischievous and they can be quite naughty at times but they do learn something in each episode, although I try not to make it too worthy.

“I wouldn’t have created the show if it wasn’t for Cain and Syfi. When I think up ideas, I try them out with them to see if they work. They’re almost like script editors.

“You have to get into children’s minds. There are things that make children laugh that don’t make adults laugh. They like toilet humour!

“The popularity of the premieres has been staggering. Deian a Loli mania has swept across Wales.

“Things went crazy because Pontio sold out three showings in just 10 minutes, so they put a fourth show.

“Then Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda heard that the four showings Pontio had sold out so they put one on and then went on to sell two more.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. Deian and Loli are like pop stars to our audience.”

Actress Rhian Blythe, a Welsh BAFTA winner who has also appeared in critically acclaimed stage roles in New York, London and Edinburgh, was delighted by the reaction of the young Deian a Loli fans at the premiere.

Rhian said: “The response was lovely because the children obviously really enjoyed it.

“I’m also a fan myself and before taking the role in this series I’ve been watching it as a real-life mum.

“It’s also nice to work with my husband, Simon. It gives us a little bit of a head start, just getting the relationship right.”

Deian a Loli can be seen on S4C’s Cyw platform at 7.45am every Wednesday.