An Aberystwyth schoolboy is to star in a new S4C show that starts this week.

What are stars? What happens inside a computer? And how are films made? These are the big questions that will be asked (and answered) in Byd Tad-cu, a new series on Cyw, the service for S4C’s youngest viewers which starts on 3 September.

The series is a co-production with Channel 5 (the English version titled The World According to Grandpa), and based on Chris Heath’s books of the same title.

Each episode starts with a question posed by one of the grandchildren to their Tad-cu, who is played by actor Danny Grehan. His answer is always imaginative, impossible and intriguing and is brought to life by puppetry and animation.

Heti, the talking rabbit puppet, completes each story with a true version of the fanciful tale.

The young cast includes 12-year-old Owen Jac Roberts from Aberystwyth who is joined by youngsters from all over Wales.

These include 12-year-old Seren Bowen from Barry; nine-year-old Santiago Ciaran from Cardiff; 10-year-old Gwen Nefydd from Wrexham; nine-year-old Loti Mai Delve from Y Bari, and Elen Dafydd Roberts from Cardiff who is eight.

Owen, who is a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Penglais said: “It was a dream come true to work on this series; the process was quite different because of Covid, but I was glad to have something to look forward to.”

The series received a contribution from the British Film Industry’s Young Audiences Content Fund (YAC Fund), a government backed pilot with the aim of making creative and inspirational projects for children and young people.

Sioned Wyn Roberts, S4C’s children’s commissioner said: “It has been great to work with Channel 5 and the YAC Fund which has allowed us to develop even more ambitious content for our younger viewers.

“Byd Tad-cu is a production full of fun, energy and imagination, which is sure to enchant.

“The series was filmed under the challenging conditions of the lockdown at the beginning of the year, and it’s a real pleasure to see talented young actors, most of whom are new faces to the screen.”

The series was filmed during the tight lockdown restrictions at the start of the year, following an appeal online and on Facebook inviting children to apply for cast roles. Due to the conditions at the time, all screen tests and exercises were conducted online.