An actor and impresario who made history with British TV’s first gay kiss revealed he grows flowers to unwind from the hectic world of showbiz.
Stifyn Parri, who hails from Rhos, near Wrexham, and now lives in St Fagan’s near Cardiff, loves nothing better than pottering in his garden to switch off and relax.
He shared his passion for gardening with television presenter Meinir Gwilym when he was filmed for an item on S4C’s flagship gardening series, Garddio a Mwy.
The episode featuring Stifyn is being shown at 8.25pm on Monday, June 2, and will then be available on demand on S4C Clic and BBCiplayer and other platforms.
According to the larger-than-life star, he posts images of colourful flowers growing in the garden or houseplants he’s cultivated as a way of raising the spirits of “friends, family and strangers.”
It all started when everybody was locked down during the Coronavirus pandemic and he said: “The reaction was so positive I took another photo the following day and I’ve been posting images on Instagram and Facebook every day since then.
“They have become so popular if I haven’t posted by eleven o’clock in the morning people have been known to phone up and check I’m alive and well,” joked Stifyn.
Insisting he has no formal gardening training and doesn’t know the names of many of the plants growing in the garden Stifyn said: “I love pottering in the garden. I plant things intuitively and if they don’t like where they’re growing plants will let you know just the same as if they do like their spot.
“I live outside as much as I do inside. I have adapted the house so that it opens up into the garden.
“It isn’t the largest garden but I’ve taken advice from Monty (Don) and created lots of areas. There’s many seating areas, a large open sided shed, called The Bus Stop, where there’s a table which can seat lots of people. There’s a barbeque area, and a hot tub. It had a large lawned area when I moved in but I quickly got rid of the grass and replaced it with raised beds which are jam-packed with plants. I think lawns are a waste of time, and space.
“The roses are in bloom right now and look, and smell fantastic and the laburnum tree is looking great when the sun shines through it.
“And the garden backs onto woodland which is full of wildlife like owls, hedgehogs and foxes. There is nothing formal about my garden, I’m just trying to work with nature too.”
His favourite flower, he said, is Lunaria annua or as it is commonly known Honesty
“I just love the simplicity of the flower. It reminds me of home because just about every parlour in Rhosllannerchrugog during my childhood had a display of dried Honesty plants.
“I love the vivid purple flowers in the spring and the way the seed heads follow. And of course they self-seed so I’ll have plenty more next year.”
As an actor he started his career on television as Owen Hughes in the drama series Coleg on S4C and later joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside as Christopher Duncan nearly 40 years ago.
While on Brookside, he broke new ground with the first openly gay relationship on British television and made international headlines with the historic on-screen kiss. .
Stifyn’s theatre work includes starring as Marius in Les Misérables in the West End and George in Metropolis at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. He’s also appeared in various productions at Theatr Clwyd, Mold, and toured his One Man Show’s throughout Wales, in London and New York.
In 2001 he set up an agency called MR PRODUCER and he has produced some of Wales’ most prominent live events such as the Opening Weekend of Wales Millenium Centre for BBC Wales and the Welcome 2 Wales Ryder Cup Opening Concert for Sky 1 and Sky Arts.
Another claim to fame is that he launched Social Welsh and Sexy or SWS, the Welsh ex-pat society which organised events in London, Spain, New York and Russia.
Two years ago he presented his BAFTA-nominated documentary, Paid a Dweud Hoyw (Don’t Say Gay) for S4C on the subject of Clause 28. This was a law in force between 1988-2003 which prohibited public institutions from teaching children and young people about anything related to the LGBTQ+ community.
Later this summer Stifyn will play a prominent part in the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.
During the week-long festival Stifyn will be producing and presenting an outrageous cabaret, ‘Stifyn’s Steddfod’, a panel game, a celebration of 40 years of Les Miserables, and interview with his close friend and celebrated actor Mark Lewis Jones, and help launch the centenary celebrations of Y Stiwt in Rhos.
Garddio a Mwy presenter Meinir Gwilym said she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Stifyn’s garden.
She added: “It’s a garden with character! Not only is it full of colour and shapes and textures, the garden is also full of life – reflecting Stifyn perfectly.
“And yes, it is also a haven, a place to rest. Gardening in itself is as good a process as meditating every bit I think, and Stifyn says that ‘potran in the garden’ is one of his greatest pleasures.”
Made by Caernarfon-based production company Cwmni Da, the series will run until late summer and feature a whole host of projects as well as useful hints and tips for gardeners
Series producer Euros Wyn added: “We’ve been producing Garddio a Mwy for a decade, and I think that our viewers enjoy the variety on offer, as well as the programme’s down to earth approach. You don’t need a degree in horticulture to enjoy some gardening, and I think that the series reflects that.”
Garddio a Mwy is broadcast on S4C on Monday evenings at 8.25pm. The programme is also available on demand on S4C Clic and BBC iplayer and other platforms. English subtitles are also available.
