THE memoir and inside story of BBC Wales by a former controller and Aberystwyth University Fellow has been released.

The Broadcasters of BBC Wales, 1964–1990 by Gareth Price, published this week by Y Lolfa, is the inside story of an exceptional period in Welsh broadcasting when an eclectic collection of characters emerged both in front and behind the microphone.

Gareth, a former controller of BBC Wales (1986-90), worked for the BBC between 1964 and 1990, during the most exciting period of growth in the history of Welsh broadcasting. He spent 10 years (1964-74) as a radio and television producer and 16 years (1974-90) appointing, enabling and leading production teams in all their varied activities at the BBC.

“Gareth Price has produced an admirably readable account of three exhilarating decades in Welsh broadcasting, an account which tracks his rise to the controller’s office of BBC Wales,” said broadcaster Huw Edwards.

“His story is full of absorbing insights into BBC culture, and along the way he profiles some of the biggest names in the business. It also raises pertinent questions about the role and status of the BBC in today’s Wales.”

Gareth was educated in Aberaeron and at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, before becoming an assistant lecturer at Queen’s University, Belfast.

He joined BBC Wales in 1964 and during the next 26 years spent 10 years as a producer before joining the management team as head of programmes and controller, BBC Wales. In 1990 he left the BBC to join the international Thomson Foundation.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow