FFIT Cymru returns for second series – and Mared leads the way!

One of S4C’s most popular shows from last year, FFIT Cymru, is returning for a second series in April and Bangor University’s involvement with the Cwmni Da production is set to be even greater this time around, with a student from the School of Welsh and Celtic Studies chosen to be one of the series’ inspirational ‘leaders’.Mared Fôn Owen

Mared Fôn Owen, 20, from Bodedern, is a final year student at the University's School of Welsh and Celtic Studies and over a period of seven weeks, Mared and four other new leaders will be transforming their lives by losing weight and developing new levels of fitness.

Looking forward to the series, Mared said:

“I am delighted to have been accepted into the second series of FFIT Cymru. I am privileged to have been selected from all the candidates and certainly with all the support I have already received, there is no doubt that I will get there!”

Formalising the relationship from the one developed for the first series last year, the University is again one of the 'series partners', joining a select group of organisations and public bodies such as the Welsh Government, Sustrans, Football Association of Wales, Vitality Parkrun and Public Health Wales.

The University has shared its sports facilities and sports sciences expertise with the production again this year.

Before selecting the five final leaders, candidates came to the University's sports centre, Canolfan Brailsford, to be assessed by the series experts, including the dietician, Sioned Quirke, the psychologist, Dr Ioan Rees and the fitness specialist, Rae Carpenter – with the process and the series being presided over by presenter, Lisa Gwilym. Then, after selecting the five leaders, we will see them assessed by Tomos Jones, a PhD student at the University's School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. The tests will be conducted in the School's PAWB laboratories, which house specialist equipment for measuring health and fitness.

These tests will be repeated at the end of the series to see if the five leaders have succeeded to transform their lives for the best.

The series follows the format Transformation Nation, which is now in its twelfth series on the RTÉ channel in Ireland and FFIT Cymru encourages viewers to transform their lives by following menus and fitness programmes developed for the leaders.

Speaking about the partnership between the series and Bangor University, S4C commissioner Sioned Wyn Roberts said:

"The partnership between S4C, Cwmni Da and Bangor University is very beneficial to the FFIT Cymru series. The University is playing a central role in the series again this year, by opening its doors to the leaders and the cameras.

"One of the crucial elements of the five leaders' journey is the detailed fitness tests being carried out at Bangor University's School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at the beginning and end of the series, and this enables us to measure progress and the success of our five during their FFIT Cymru experience. "

Looking forward to the new series, Professor Graham Upton, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University, said:

“We’re delighted to work in partnership with the FFIT Cymru production again this year and sharing some of the excellent facilities and expertise the University has to offer – and of course, we wish Mared well as she inspires others to follow her lead!”

The first episode of the new FFIT Cymru series will be shown on Tuesday, 2 April at 8 o'clock on S4C (subtitles available). To find out more about the series, visit www.ffit.cymru/en

Publication date: 27 March 2019