Pen Talar (2010) is a nine-part historical serial set over the last five fifty years, broadcast by the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, which was facing considerable political and organisational difficulties. This article seeks to examine the institutional, contextual and textual narratives of nation produced both on- and off-screen in the period running up to and during the broadcast. It also considers the relationships and interdependencies between the various narratives and reflects on how they consolidate and/or are in conflict with each other. It concludes with some tentative observations that may have relevance beyond Wales.
