Appointment of Delyth Evans as S4C Chair

Summary

On 23 April 2025, the Welsh Affairs Committee held a pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of S4C, Delyth Evans. On the basis of the evidence Delyth Evans gave to us, we have concluded that she is a suitable candidate for the post, and we wish her well in the role.

1 The role: Chair of the S4C Board

S4C

1. S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru: Channel Four Wales) was established in 1982, under the Broadcasting Acts 1980 and 1981. Initially, it broadcast twenty-two hours of Welsh language programmes each week, alongside English programmes from Channel 4.¹

2. Today, S4C is a wholly Welsh language channel, broadcasting over one hundred and fifteen hours of programmes each week, as well as publishing content on other platforms.² The majority of its programmes are commissioned from independent producers from across Wales. Some programmes are also commissioned from ITV Cymru Wales, and BBC Cymru Wales provides approximately ten hours of programming each week.³

3. S4C’s total income in the financial year 2023–24 was £90.75 million. The vast majority of this income (98%) was received in order to fulfil S4C’s public service responsibilities. From April 2022 until at least March 2028, all public money allocated to S4C comes through the licence fee. In addition to consolidating S4C’s previous public funding, this includes an additional £7.5 million per year to support S4C’s digital development. The remainder of S4C’s income (2%) is generated through commercial activities such as sales of airtime.⁴

The role of Chair

4. The basis of S4C’s governance was previously a non-executive S4C Authority. The 2018 independent review of S4C by Euryn Ogwen Williams recommended that this be replaced by a unitary board, comprising both non-executive directors (including a Chair) and executive directors.⁵ The Board operated as a shadow unitary board until it could be constituted in primary legislation.⁶

5. Clause 33 of the Media Act 2024 contained the necessary statutory provisions for this arrangement, and was brought into effect by regulation from 23 August 2024.⁷ It constituted the new unitary board, replacing the previous Authority Board.⁸

6. This appointment is for a substantive replacement for Rhodri Williams, whose term as Chair of S4C ended on 31 March 2024.⁹ Guto Bebb has served as Interim Chair since 1 April 2024; his term expires on1 May 2025.¹⁰

7. The responsibilities of the Chair are set out in the job description in Appendix 2.

2 The candidate: Delyth Evans

The Government’s preferred candidate

8. The preferred candidate of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for the Chair of the S4C Board is Delyth Evans. She currently holds a range of board-level appointments across the cultural, sporting, and education sectors. She has previous executive-level leadership experience in the charity sector, as well as journalistic, policy, and strategy experience. She is a former politician, having served as a Member of the Welsh Assembly (2000–03) and a Deputy Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government. Delyth Evans’s CV is included as Appendix 3. She has declared relevant interests, which are included as Appendix 4.

The hearing

9. We held a pre-appointment hearing with Delyth Evans on 23 April 2025. The session took place bilingually, with a simultaneous translation facility allowing contributions to be made in Welsh.

10. In line with the Liaison Committee’s guidance on the conduct of pre-appointment hearings, our questioning sought to test the candidate’s professional competence and personal independence. As envisaged by the Liaison Committee, the hearing also served to test the candidate’s ability to withstand parliamentary and public scrutiny.¹¹

11. We questioned Delyth Evans on the following:

• her motivations for applying for the role;
• how her previous experiences have prepared her for this role;
• her priorities, if appointed;
• her personal independence, and ability to protect and enhance the independence of S4C from Government; and
• her understanding of, and ability to respond to, the challenges facing S4C today and in the future.

12. A transcript of the session will be published on our website.

13. In line with Liaison Committee guidance, we issued the candidate with a questionnaire, inviting her to disclose any conflicts of interest, demonstrate her experience and expertise, and to indicate her initial priorities once in post.¹² Delyth Evans’s responses to this questionnaire are included as Appendix 5.

The candidate’s suitability

14. Delyth Evans has a range of experience in senior leadership roles, including at board level, and she also worked on S4C programmes as a broadcast journalist earlier in her career. She has demonstrated a good understanding of S4C as an institution and the range of challenges it can expect to face over her term. We are particularly impressed that she has recognised the importance of her role as Chair in providing cultural leadership rooted in the Nolan Principles, and that a ‘transformed culture within the organisation’ is one of the criteria she wishes her term as Chair to be judged against.¹³

Appendix 1: Information on the recruitment process provided by DCMS

Candidate name and biography

Margaret ‘Delyth’ Evans

Delyth Evans is a Welsh executive and former politician who served as Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, Culture and Environment in the National Assembly for Wales from 2000 to 2003. A member of the Labour Party, she was the Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales from 2000 until her retirement from the National Assembly in 2003. In 2010, she became the chief executive of the charity Dress For Success London (now rebranded as Smart Works), where she remained until 2014. She has also been a director at the Film Agency for Wales, a trustee at the charity United Response, and has sat on the board of Sport Wales since 2019.

Recruitment campaign information

The campaign was supported by the Executive Search firm Gatenby Sanderson. They provided a search only function, researching, contacting and supporting candidates and directing them to the Government’s Applicant Portal to submit their applications. They provided periodic updates to the DCMS Public Appointments team whilst the advert was live.

Dates

Campaign opened: 6 December 2024

Campaign closed: 12 January 2025

Candidate field

Number of applicants received: 9

Number of applicants shortlisted and interviewed: 4

Diversity statistics

Table 1: Diversity statistics for the candidates

Stage	Male	Female	Ethnic Minority	Declared disability	Outside London & SE
Applied (9)	6/9 (66%)	3/9 (33%)	1/9 (11%)	0/9 (0%)	7/9 (77%)

Source: DCMS

Diversity details for the shortlist stage have been redacted, to protect anonymity, because there were fewer than five candidates.

Interviews

Interviews were conducted in person at the UK Government Wales Office in Cardiff (Tŷ William Morgan House) on 17 and 18 February 2025.

Membership of the Advisory Assessment Panel

DCMS Panel Chair: Robert Specterman-Green (Director, Media and International at DCMS)

Senior Independent Panel Member: Elisabeth ‘Libby’ Watkins (Retired Judge and former Civil Service Commissioner)

Representative of the UK Government Wales Office: Huw Bryer (Deputy Director, Wales Office)

Representative of the Welsh Government: Joedi Langley (Interim Head of Creative Wales)

Appendix 2: Information on the role provided by DCMS

Introduction

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking an outstanding individual with demonstrable leadership skills and a passion for the development of the Welsh language and public service broadcasting and media to chair S4C.

Background

S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru–the Welsh Fourth Channel) is the UK’s only dedicated Welsh language public service broadcaster and media provider. S4C is a statutory corporation, originally established in 1982 and now regulated by the Communications Act 2003 and the Broadcasting Act 1990. It is operationally and editorially independent of the UK government.

S4C provides high quality content and media services in the Welsh language, offering entertainment, information and inspiration, which aim to reach the widest audience possible across a range of contemporary platforms throughout Wales, the UK and beyond.

According to S4C’s Annual Report for 2023–24, S4C’s annual reach on television in Wales has risen by 5% to 1,713,000 viewers compared to the previous year. In addition, it saw a 9% increase in the number of Welsh-speakers who watch from week to week in 2023–24 - the highest figure for six years. The hours of content watched on S4C’s digital platform S4C Clic or on iPlayer have increased by almost a third in 2023–24 compared to the previous year. S4C has also seen a growth of 53% in the number of hours watched on YouTube, central to S4C’s goal of growing and maintaining a younger audience.

In 2023, S4C sold its crime drama Dal y Mellt (Rough Cut) to Netflix - the first Welsh language only drama licensed on Netflix. In June 2023, S4C also signed a commercial output deal to provide 6 hours a week of Welsh language content curated by Ryan Reynolds for the Maximum Effort Channel, streamed on “Welsh Wednesdays” in a weekly takeover. The channel is available to watch in the United States and the commercial deal will create income to invest back into the creative sector in Wales.

It is the duty of S4C’s Board to ensure that S4C represents a public service for the dissemination of information, education and entertainment. The Board is responsible for ensuring that effective corporate governance and management arrangements, including financial management, are in place for S4C’s public and commercial services. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the independence of S4C is safeguarded. The S4C Board must have a detailed understanding of online and broadcasting developments and of devolved government in Wales and take into account cultural and other initiatives when determining its strategy, and the sociolinguistic situation of the Welsh language. As a commissioner-broadcaster with a commitment to the independent production sector, S4C makes an important contribution to the creative economy in Wales. Independent research concluded that S4C’s economic contribution has resulted in 1,900 jobs and generated £136m for the Welsh economy. S4C is one of the most cost-efficient public service broadcasters in the UK, with a cost per hour significantly lower than other broadcasters and its activities also generate tax revenues in excess of the money it receives. For every £1 pound of licence fee funding S4C receives, £1.02 is generated in tax for the Treasury.

Following the independent review of S4C published in March 2018, the governance of S4C is now based on a Unitary Board model (in place of the previous non-executive Authority).

Funding

The Public Bodies Act 2011 places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that S4C is paid an amount that s/he considers sufficient to enable S4C to cover the cost of providing its public services.

S4C is currently funded through a mixture of funding from the TV licence fee via the BBC and advertising and commercial revenue. In 2023/24 turnover at S4C totalled £88.850m.¹⁴ S4C also receives a minimum of 10 hours a week of Welsh language programming from the BBC provided free of charge in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.

The BBC Framework Agreement of December 2016 sets out the level of Licence Fee funding for S4C until 2021/22, together with a commitment to provide Licence Fee funding for S4C until 2027/28, with the amount to be determined by the Secretary of State following consultation with the BBC and S4C. The Framework Agreement was updated in May 2022 to reflect the licence fee settlement announced in January 2022 for the period 2022/23 to 2027/28.

In November 2017, S4C and the BBC published a new Partnership, Funding and Accountability agreement that set out the detailed arrangements for the operation of S4C and the BBC’s partnership, together with funding and financial accountability provisions for the Licence Fee funding.

The Role of the Board

The Unitary Board comprises up to nine non-executive members, together with the Chief Executive, and two other executive members.

While the Board does not participate in day to day decisions, it retains responsibilities in a number of key areas: that of a broadcaster, a strategic and oversight role, some management responsibilities, regulatory responsibilities, and a public role. Candidates need to demonstrate an appreciation of each and the ability to contribute to the Board’s work in each of these areas.

The Board oversees and monitors the systems in place to ensure that S4C’s broadcasting service and management services can act in an appropriately independent manner without any external interference.

Broadcasting Role

The Board is responsible for the provision of S4C’s Welsh language television, and digital and online services.

The Board does not get involved in day to day editorial decisions, although it does develop and set the strategy for S4C’s services and oversees compliance of S4C’s services with the relevant regulatory and legislative provisions, including the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. The Board approves S4C’s Content Strategy, the Annual Statement of Programme Policy, the Annual Work Plan and any services for which a statutory order is required.

The Board has a statutory duty to make arrangements for ascertaining the state of public opinion concerning programmes published by S4C, any effects of such programmes on the attitudes or behaviour of viewers as well as the types of programmes that members of the public would like to see on S4C.

Strategic and Oversight Role

As an independent body S4C is able to set its own strategy and objectives in order to deliver its statutory function. In this respect, the Board’s work includes:

• approving S4C’s corporate strategy, and any sub-strategies (such as the Content Strategy), and agreeing the associated objectives and relevant performance measurement frameworks;
• reviewing the delivery of agreed objectives by monitoring performance, holding the Chief Executive and their Management Team to account for their performance in delivering S4C’s services, its public service remit, and other activities including to ensure a positive organisational culture; and
• approving the annual budget and S4C’s long term financial plans.

Management Role

The Board has delegated the delivery of S4C’s public services and other activities, within a framework set by the Board, to the Chief Executive. However, the Board does have specific management tasks including:

• ensuring that S4C is accountable for all public spending by approving and overseeing effective management, audit and corporate governance procedures;
• appointing the Chief Executive and the Board Secretary, and approving the salary framework for S4C staff;
• approving and reviewing S4C’s main policies and codes;
• scrutinising management accounts and the annual Statement of Accounts;
• securing and monitoring effective financial arrangements and appointing the internal auditors; and
• setting the strategy for S4C’s commercial activities.

Regulatory Responsibilities

Pending the implementation of new legislative provisions with respect to the regulation of S4C’s ‘on-demand’ services, the Board continues to exercise a limited number of regulatory responsibilities that relate to S4C’s online services that are outside the current provisions of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

The Board has agreed and published S4C’s Complaints Process which details how complaints relating to compliance or regulatory matters in relation to S4C content are considered.

Public Role

The Chair and the Board are the public face of S4C and together have a responsibility to be accessible and accountable to the S4C staff members, the public and other stakeholders. This includes:

• responsibility for explaining S4C’s role and contribution as a public body;
• preparing an annual report on S4C’s activities and performance; and
• responding to appropriate consultations.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that S4C’s services are safeguarded against political or any other inappropriate interference.

All Board Members are expected to:

• Function collectively as the Unitary Board of S4C and provide support and advice, and also ensure appropriate challenge to and accountability of the Chief Executive and their executive team.
• Support the Chair, in liaison with the Chief Executive, in overseeing the relationship with DCMS, the BBC, Ofcom and other stakeholders including the Welsh Government and the independent production sector.
• Undertake public engagement duties as necessary on behalf of S4C including public meetings and functions across Wales.
• Attend Board meetings and any special meetings/awaydays, and attending sub-committees of the Board as necessary.

The Board seeks to ensure that its members, between them, are able to draw on a wide range of expertise and knowledge of particular fields relevant to the work of S4C. These include, but are not restricted to:

• Broadcasting, digital media and the wider creative industries
• The Welsh language
• Communications and marketing
• Business and commerce
• Finance, audit and assurance

S4C Chair Role Specification

The Role of the Chair of S4C

The Chair shares the responsibilities of the Board and is expected to:

• Work closely on a non-executive basis with the Chief Executive, Board Secretary and wider senior executive team; supporting the Chief Executive in their role as accounting officer and providing guidance advice and support to them and their Management Team;
• Oversee senior executive recruitment, including appointing the Chief Executive;
• Comply, and ensure the whole Board complies, with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, the Corporate Governance Code and Managing Public Money, and ensure the organisation adheres to best practice governance standards, with effective policies and procedures in place;
• Lead the Board in an effective and collegiate manner, supporting an inclusive and positive culture throughout the organisation and building trust amongst staff at all levels and stakeholders;
• Develop and lead the Board’s annual work plan, liaising with the Board Secretary on associated arrangements for meetings of the Board and its committees and attending meetings as required;
• Review overall Board performance on a regular basis, including ensuring all members contribute to an annual Board Effectiveness Review, with every third review to be external;
• Conduct regular appraisals with individual Non-Executive Directors on the Board;
• Lead the development of the partnership relationship with the BBC at a strategic and Board level, working closely with the Chief Executive and Board Secretary to implement the relationship;
• Work closely with key stakeholders including the independent production sector;
• Represent S4C in its dealings with Ministers both within the UK and Welsh Governments;
• Undertake a wide range of public relations duties on behalf of S4C, including chairing public meetings and events as required across Wales, responding to the press and attending frequent public functions;
• Ensure a thorough understanding of the work of S4C as a public service broadcaster and media provider and of the television and digital sectors in Wales, in the UK and in an international context.

The Person

We are looking for an outstanding individual with proven and advanced leadership skills and a commitment to public service broadcasting, the development of the Welsh language and ability to foster a culture of inclusivity and trust throughout the organisation.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate for the S4C Chair role must be able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of, and commitment to, S4C’s objectives;
• an understanding of, and commitment to, tackling the challenges and advancing the opportunities facing the development of the Welsh language;
• an understanding of the key challenges facing S4C, public service broadcasting and the wider media sector in Wales;
• the ability to lead organisational change and culture;
• excellent advanced leadership skills and ability to chair effectively at senior board level, including leading strategy development, decision making and governance;
• excellent communication skills and the ability to represent S4C with confidence to the public, Government and a wide range of stakeholder groups;
• a commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion.

The Board conducts most of its business in Welsh and the successful candidates will therefore be expected to demonstrate Welsh language proficiency, which will be tested at interview. Candidates will be required to answer at least one question in Welsh. S4C is able to provide some support to those who do not regularly use Welsh in a professional capacity.

Time Commitment

The Chair’s time commitment will be equivalent to an average of two days a week.

Location of Meetings

The S4C Board meets around eight times a year, normally in S4C’s headquarters in Carmarthen, or at its other offices in Caernarfon and Cardiff, although the Board also meets in other locations during the year. The Chair will also be required to attend corporate and external industry engagements.

Remuneration

£40,000 per annum. Reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Duration of Appointment

The appointment will be for an initial term of four years, with the possibility of a second term. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment.

Appendix 3: Candidate’s CV

Delyth Evans

Key Skills

• Board level experience as Chair, Non-Executive Director and CEO
• In-depth knowledge of government and public policy - Wales and UK
• Solid understanding of Welsh broadcasting and media landscape
• Strong strategic and analytical skills
• Confident media performer and public speaker
• First language Welsh speaker
• Former journalist on ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar’–flagship S4C current affairs programme

Current Roles

Board Member, Sport Wales (Current)

Sport Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport in Wales and the main adviser to Welsh Government on sport and physical activity. Chair of Facilities Review committee and member of Audit & Risk and Sports Partnerships committees.

Governor, Coleg Gwent (Current)

Coleg Gwent is Wales’s largest further education college, serving a community of around 15,000 learners across the five counties of Gwent. Member of the Curriculum and Quality Committee.

Trustee, The Alacrity Foundation (Current)

The Alacrity Foundation is a Newport-based education charity providing entrepreneurship training for young tech graduates. Duties include governance, oversight and scrutiny of the charity, and supporting students to develop their business ideas.

Trustee, Yr Urdd (Current)

Yr Urdd is Wales’s leading Welsh-language organisation for children and young people, offering cultural and sporting activities in communities across Wales. Chair of the Urdd’s International Board.

Chair and Non-Executive Director, Volunteer Space (2018–19)

Technology start-up based in Newport, South Wales, developing digital platforms for volunteering in the charity and corporate sectors.

Non-Executive Director, Ffilm Cymru Wales (2009–13)

Trustee, United Response (UK-wide learning disability charity) (2008–11)

Career - Executive

Policy/Strategy Consultant (2016–21)

Self-employed consultant undertaking strategic and governance reviews on behalf of Welsh government and other organisations.

Chief Executive (interim) Action for Stammering Children (January-August 2016)

Interim role with responsibility for undertaking a strategic review of the charity’s aims and activities, working closely with the Board of Trustees to develop a new business plan, build partnerships, identify new income streams and extend the charity’s reach across the UK.

Chief Executive, Smart Works (2010–14)

Smart Works is a UK-wide charity supporting disadvantaged women into employment by providing interview training, work clothes and confidence building programmes. Responsible for organisational strategy and business development, managing and motivating staff and volunteers, building relationships with grant-making bodies, corporate partners, the media and other stakeholders.

Strategic Communications Consultant (2005–2010)

Advising a range of public and private sector organisations on strategy, communications and government policy.

Member of the Welsh Assembly, Mid & West Wales (Lab) (2000–2003)

Appointed Deputy Minister for Culture, Environment and Rural Affairs in 2001. Responsible for policy development; representing the Welsh Government on public platforms and in the media; chairing committees and working groups; representing constituents; working with stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

Arts and heritage consultant, Adrian Ellis Associates (1994–1998)

Speechwriter to John Smith MP, Leader of the Labour Party (1992–1994)

News and Current Affairs journalist, BBC and ITV (1985–1991)

Extensive broadcasting experience as a journalist on the flagship BBC Radio 4 ‘World at One’ and ‘PM’ programmes; news and current affairs reporter with HTV Wales and Sky News, including working on S4C current affairs programme ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar.’

Voluntary Work

NHS Covid driver/marshal, Bronllys Hospital (2020–21)

Mentor, Llamau homeless charity, Cardiff (2019–21)

Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Richmond (2004–05)

Education & Qualifications

Financial Times Group–Non-Executive Director Diploma (March-Sept 2021)

University of Wales, Aberystwyth BA Hons. French (Class II.I)

Rhydfelen Comprehensive School, Mid Glamorgan

Appendix 4: Candidate’s declaration of interests

Financial interests declaration

Nil

Employment, appointments and other outside roles declaration

Board Member, Sport Wales - paid (£564.00 per month)

Governor, Coleg Gwent - unpaid

Trustee, Alacrity Foundation - unpaid

Trustee, Yr Urdd - unpaid

Commissioner, Welsh Government Commission into future of Welsh Language Heartlands - unpaid

Personal interests declaration

A family member works for BBC Radio 2

A family member works in special effects, freelance (mainly on blockbuster movies)

A family member is Chair of NESTA

Other relevant interests declaration

Nil

Political activity declaration

Nil

Appendix 5: Candidate’s questionnaire responses

Motivation

1. What motivated you to apply for this role, and what specific experiences would you bring to it?

S4C is a vital part of the media ecosystem in Wales, an important driver of the creative economy, and a critical tool in supporting the Welsh language. It is therefore essential that S4C continues to operate as a commissioner of high quality Welsh-language media content and to do so as a well-run, highly respected and creative organisation. I decided to apply for the role because I believe I have the necessary skills and experience to lead the organisation effectively at a critical time and to rebuild trust both internally and within the wider sector.

I have the necessary experience to lead the organisation in three important areas: first, I have extensive experience of governance as a Board member of a number of organisations, including chairing committees; second, I have a deep personal commitment to the Welsh language and in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing the language in many of our communities, as well as a clear understanding of the media’s role in supporting the language and securing its future; finally I have first hand experience of working in the independent television sector in Wales as a journalist at HTV Wales working on programmes for S4C at the start of my journalistic career.

2. If appointed, are there specific areas within your new responsibilities where you will need to acquire new skills or knowledge?

I am comfortable with all of the key areas of responsibility in relation to governance and leadership, as well as my knowledge of the wider media sector and the Welsh language. An area in which I will need to acquire new skills is in understanding the opportunities presented by AI and how it will transform the media and content creation in the years ahead. The issue of sports rights is another area where I will need to gain new knowledge, as sport programming is a very important part of S4C’s output. I will seek to harness the considerable expertise within the executive team to assist me in these areas.

3. How were you recruited? Were you encouraged to apply, and if so, by whom?

I was recruited via a direct email approach from DCMS. I was encouraged to apply by friends and colleagues who knew of my media and governance background and shared my concern for the future of S4C.

Personal background

4. Do you currently or potentially have any business, financial or other non-pecuniary interests or commitments, that might give rise to the perception of a conflict of interest if you are appointed? How do you intend to resolve any potential conflicts of interests if you are appointed?

I have no interests or commitments that might give rise to the perception of a conflict of interest. I am a member of four other Boards in the sport, education and charity sectors, and I do not believe that any of these would represent a conflict with the S4C role. If there was a potential conflict (for instance if Sport Wales was involved in a programme for S4C), I would declare my role and withdraw from subsequent discussion.

5. If appointed, what professional or voluntary work commitments will you continue to undertake, or do you intend to take on, alongside your new role? How will you reconcile these with your new role?

I intend to continue in my other Board roles for the time being. My term as a Board member at Sport Wales ends in September 2025. I will continue as a governor at Coleg Gwent, which has a time commitment of around 2 days per month, and also as a trustee of the Urdd and the Alacrity Foundation. Both these roles require a time commitment of no more than a day a month. I believe these commitments are entirely compatible with my new responsibilities at S4C. Moreover I believe my work within these organisations will be beneficial to my new role at S4C because they give me a valuable insight into key sectors which are relevant to programme-making, namely children and young people, and sport.

6. Have you ever held any post or undertaken any activity that might cast doubt on your political impartiality? If so, how will you demonstrate your political impartiality in the role, if appointed?

I was a politician in the Welsh Assembly (as it was then called) between 2000–2003, representing Mid and West Wales for the Labour Party. I also stood as a Parliamentary Candidate for the Labour Party in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in the 2015 General Election, unsuccessfully. I have not undertaken any political activity since that time.

As Chair of S4C I would take the obligation of political impartiality extremely seriously. The future of S4C requires cross-party support, and if S4C is to represent all communities in Wales it must remain completely impartial. As Chair I would ensure that the broadcaster treats all political parties with fairness and respect at all times, and covers any contentious topics in a fair and balanced way. S4C’s news programmes are provided by the BBC, which ensures the complete impartiality of all news and political coverage.

7. Do you intend to serve your full term as Chair? Do you intend to seek re-appointment?

I intend to serve my full term as Chair. I don’t know my intentions regarding re-appointment at this stage.

S4C

8. If appointed, what will be your main priorities on taking up the role?

My first priority on taking up the role would be to build an effective and collaborative Board working together as a team to ensure the success of S4C into the future. I will be greatly assisted in this task by the appointment of five new Board members who will bring extensive additional expertise to the current Board. I will seek to establish a culture of mutual trust and respect from day one, and to set high standards of behaviour based on the Nolan Principles of public life. Within the Board I will ensure a clear focus on providing high quality content for our audiences and delivering value for money for taxpayers. I will also seek to build a strong relationship with all of S4C’s stakeholders, in particular the BBC, the independent production companies across Wales who provide a huge variety of content for audiences, as well as politicians in Westminster and Cardiff Bay. My other main priority will be to focus on staff wellbeing, and to ensure that effective processes are in place to manage staff morale and to develop a positive and supportive culture throughout the organisation.

9. What challenges do you think S4C will face over your term as Chair? How do you intend to manage them?

The main challenge S4C will face is the challenge faced by all traditional broadcasters in the UK, which is how to maintain and build audiences in the face of a highly complex and rapidly changing media environment. This is particularly acute in the area of young audiences who have very different ways of consuming media compared to older generations. Understanding how to reach these audiences and what type of content is most likely to appeal to them is a significant challenge for all media providers, however for S4C attracting younger audiences has an added importance because of its critical role in supporting and sustaining the Welsh language. Maintaining the visibility of S4C programmes across a wide range of streaming platforms will be critical in this task.

Continuing to provide a wide range of high quality programming within a tight funding envelope will be a major challenge as the cost of production continues to rise.

As Chair of S4C I will ensure the Board addresses this challenging media environment with honesty, transparency and rigour, and we will work closely with partners, in particular the BBC and TV companies in Wales, to deliver the kind of high quality programming that audiences expect and deserve. We will achieve this by fostering a culture of innovation and creativity both within S4C and across the sector.

10. What criteria should the committee use to judge your and S4C’s performance over your term as Chair?

The committee should judge my performance by the strength of governance and overall performance of the Board over the next four years, as well as by the transformed culture within the organisation. S4C’s performance should be judged by the quality and originality of its output, its success in representing and reflecting communities across Wales, its engagement with key stakeholders, and its ability to demonstrate value for money for Welsh taxpayers.

11. How will you protect and enhance your personal independence and the institutional independence of S4C from the Government and ministers?

I will do my utmost to adhere to the Nolan Principles of public life at all times, and to lead with integrity and dedication—both to the success of S4C and to its role in sustaining the Welsh language. The institutional independence of S4C is well established and understood by Government and ministers and all political parties. Should the independence of S4C from Government ever face challenge, I would act robustly with the support of the Board to resist any interference and to ensure the important principle of institutional independence was protected at all times.

Formal minutes

Wednesday 23 April 2025

Members present

Ruth Jones, in the Chair

David Chadwick

Ann Davies

Simon Hoare

Claire Hughes

Ben Lake

Llinos Medi

Andrew Ranger

Steve Witherden

Henry Tufnell was on parental leave under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A and the Speaker’s certificate of 24 March 2025.

Appointment of Delyth Evans as S4C Chair

Draft Report (Appointment of Delyth Evans as S4C Chair), proposed by the Chair, brought up and read.

Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paragraphs 1 to 15 read and agreed to.

Summary agreed to.

Papers were appended to the Report as Appendices 1–5.

Resolved, That the Report be the First Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chair make the Report to the House.

Ordered, That embargoed copies of the Report be made available (Standing Order No. 134).

Adjournment

Adjourned till Wednesday 30 April at 2.00 p.m.

Witness

The following witness gave evidence. The transcript will be published on the inquiry publications page of the committee’s website.

Wednesday 23 April 2025

Delyth Evans, Government’s preferred candidate for the Chair of the Board of S4C

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Footnotes

1 S4C, Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024, HC 137 (2023–24), 29 July 2024.

2 S4C, Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024, HC 137 (2023–24), 29 July 2024.

3 S4C, Introducing S4C (accessed 20 February 2025).

4 S4C, Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024, HC 137 (2023–24), 29 July 2024.

5 Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Building an S4C for the future, Cm 9589, March 2018.

6 Welsh Affairs Committee, First Report of Session 2019–21, Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the Chair of S4C, HC 89, para. 7.

7 The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/858 (C. 55).

8 House of Commons Library, Media Bill, Research Briefing 9885, 17 November 2023, p. 52.

9 S4C, Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024, HC 137 (2023–24), 29 July 2024, p. 39.

10 Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Guto Bebb appointed as Interim Chair of S4C, gov.uk, 14 March 2024.

11 Liaison Committee, Third Report of Session 2017–19, Pre-Appointment Hearings, HC 2307, Annex, para. 20.

12 Liaison Committee, Third Report of Session 2017–19, Pre-Appointment Hearings, HC 2307, Annex, para. 17.

13 See question 10 in Appendix 5.

14 £88.85m was S4C’s income from the licence fee in 2023/24. S4C’s total turnover in that year was £90.75m.