Welsh Gogglebocs star Nia Phillips has opened up about her son\u2019s courageous journey battling spina bifida in the hope he inspires other young people living with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Single mum Nia from Trefach, Llanelli told of George\u2019s miracle journey and praised independent programme makers Cwmni Da and Chwarel for their inclusive approach to casting.<\/p>\n
Fifty-year-old Nia and children George, 20, and Olivia, 16, have appeared together on the show since the Welsh language version of the best-loved format first screened in November.<\/p>\n
Since then, the sport-loving trio have become regulars on screen and are often seen giving their off-the-cuff assessments of the weekly sport \u2013 including Welsh footballer Gareth Bale\u2019s hair!<\/p>\n
Most viewers will be unaware that George, who is studying for a Level 3 qualification in sports science at Coleg Sir G\u0203r in Llanelli and has set his heart on a career as a rugby analyst, was diagnosed with spina bifida within a few days of being born.<\/p>\n
The condition is caused when part of the neural tube \u2013 the structure that eventually develops into the baby\u2019s brain and spinal cord \u2013 does not develop or close properly. This leads to defects in the spinal cord and the bones of the spine. The condition is usually visible at birth and can cause mild or severe physical and intellectual disabilities.<\/p>\n
S4C commissioned Cwmni Da and Chwarel, both based in Gwynedd in North Wales, to co-produce the first ever Welsh language version of Channel 4\u2019s and Studio Lambert\u2019s top-rated format in the autumn.<\/p>\n
The inaugural show was broadcast in the first week of November with the new series hitting screens on Wednesday, January 4, after the celebrity special on December 28.<\/p>\n
It is the first time Studio Lambert and Channel 4 have licensed the franchise to another UK-based broadcaster.<\/p>\n
Rugby fan George, who has appeared on TV a few times since he was born in hospital-based documentaries, was put forward for the show by an executive producer who met him previously during filming.<\/p>\n
Former council worker Nia said it didn\u2019t take too long for the Scarlets fan to relax in front of the camera and for his remarkably positive outlook to shine through.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s amazing, I\u2019m so proud of him,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge is seen sitting down during the programme so the majority of people won\u2019t notice he has a disability.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople don\u2019t really realise what goes on behind closed doors \u2013 we all live within our own bubbles. The show is fantastic in that sense, it\u2019s really diverse and shows the strength of Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge is an inspiration. I know he\u2019s mine, but he is just incredible. Everything is a daily struggle for him, but he just gets on with it. He always has a smile on his face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within the first five weeks of his life, George underwent a series of major operations at Cardiff Royal Infirmary including shunt surgery to treat suspected hydrocephalus, spinal surgery and a procedure to treat his perforated bowel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a completely healthy pregnancy and nothing was picked up on scans,\u201d Nia explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen George was born, he had a blister on his back so they took him to the special care unit but told us not to worry. The following morning, the pediatrician came in and he was blue lighted to Cardiff. A bed became available and he had an operation every week for five weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were warned he would be brain damaged and vegetative and would never walk or talk. He has proven them all of them wrong. He doesn\u2019t walk very far and uses the wheelchair in college, but nothing stops him, he\u2019s a real fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n
As avid fans of the British reality series, the family were thrilled to be invited to join the Welsh version\u2019s cast and have already become mini celebrities in their local community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love Gogglebox and have always watched it together. It\u2019s a lovely experience to do this together as a family,\u201d said Nia, whose first language is Welsh.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge knows his rugby inside and out. He\u2019s very opinionated! My daughter plays rugby for Merched Mynydd Mawr.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit surreal to start with. Virtually the whole of the downstairs was taken over and I wasn\u2019t expecting it but the crew are brilliant, they\u2019ve become part of the family now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose we were nervous and apprehensive on the first show but as the weeks went on and you get the same crew every week, you build a rapport with them and relax to the point you almost forget you\u2019re filming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I wanted to cut Gareth Bale\u2019s hair off during one episode \u2013 I think I said I would like to take scissors to it! I read a few comments about it after that!<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to watch my Ps and Qs and so far there\u2019s been no swearing! When a complete stranger comes up to you and asks if you\u2019re on Gogglebocs, it does take you back. Obviously people are watching it at home but it\u2019s surreal. It\u2019s happened a few times in the shops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Series producer Huw Maredudd said the show was already going down well with viewers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first block was very successful and popular thanks in no small part to our cast and all the hard work of the crews,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we were trying to represent as broad a spectrum of the Welsh community as possible and so we have people of all ages from John in his 70s through to our youngest cast member, Olivia, who\u2019s 16.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels as if we are watching with them, so they\u2019ve really come into their own, and they\u2019ve all enjoyed the experience which is the most important thing. We get to enjoy them enjoying themselves as viewers at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of work went into making sure the entire cast complemented each other and that they all worked on their own individually as well as a full patchwork too.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to be involved but they also had to justify their place. Obviously, George is a star and we have presented the family naturally in the same way as everybody else. We didn\u2019t treat anyone any differently to anyone else, they are there because they are funny and bubbly and part of everyday Welsh life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll be back later in the year with a cast I hope will have become old friends to the audience by then. We\u2019re looking forward to doing a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n