Welsh Culture - Part 1

My gripe with Welsh TV is the continual search for a quick-fix culture. How often have we heard that Church and Henson are the Welsh Posh and Becks? That Catherine Zeta Jones comes from Swansea?

Church and Henson should be their own creation not hoisted on us as a pale imitation of someone else's cultural icons. We diss England and America then imitate them when we should be creating our own cultural identity. As soon as our stars are big enough and wealthy enough, they generally (with a few notable exceptions) sod off abroad. Stars that 'came from ... (add your own discarded town here)' have shown us in their actions what they think of their roots. Yes?

The paradox is that in the current resurgence of Welsh independence and autonomy, we strive to copy than be confident of our own worth and contribution to the world community.

Is this an example of short-cut lazy TV journalism? Or are we, as consumers, to blame?

Here's a link to my first novel, which dealt with the idea of culture and celebrity in contemporary Wales.