It was the BBC tv programme Naked Video that starred John Sparks as Siadwell (pronounced shadwell) the welsh poet. This was also the programme which starred Gregory Fisher as Rab.C.Nesbitt, and the bald man we saw in the hamlett cigar adverts.
siadwell was a character before absolutely.john sparks did other characters in absolutely,one of which,the old man was blatantly ripped off by the fast show.
Oh my days! I think it was the now-wife of David Baddiel who played the wife of Shadwell. What is her real name; it's totally gone? She also played the schoolgirl in another sketch. Loved the show and that sketch; she used to make Shadwell eat 'the cheeeese waaterrrr' and make him 'rrrrrrrrrrrrrattttatouiiile'. You had to be there mind.
The schoolgirl character was played by Morwenna Banks. No idea if she's married to David Baddiel, though. At least Aschoolgirl character in a sketch show was played by Morwenna Banks..........
To be pedantic, the correct spooling should be Siadwel with one L (although it is spooled with a LL in "The Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy". Two Ls (i.e. LL) would be the frothy Welsh LL sound, as in Llanelli (not Clanethli). I remember him from "Naked Video" and I have never heard of him in "Absolutely" (which I have never heard of).
John Sparkes definitely played Siadwel in both Naked Video and Absolutely. - both excellent series in their own right. The Stoneybridge Council sketches in Absolutely were superb.