The Toilet: An Unspoken History

A co-production by Cwmni Da and Western Front Films looking at toilets from all angles. A co-production by Cwmni Da and Western Front Films, looking at toilets from all angles. This hour length documentary will be broadcast on BBC4, with a four part series on the same subject broadcast on S4C. Presented by Welsh poet and broadcaster Ifor ap Glyn, the series explores the history, development and design of toilets around the world. From the Roman era to the toilets of the future, the viewers will be taken on an extensive sanitary tour, visiting several countries and meeting all manner of people who work with toilets.

People live longer in societies with toilets – but a third of the world’s population have to do without. The series visits China, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and Bangladesh; viewers will experience the Golden Poo Awards night in London and also learn more about the work being undertaken by the Gates Foundation to provide toilets in the Third World. Amongst those featured are Japanese toilet architect, Junko Kobayashi, and the organiser of the annual World Toilet Conference, Jack Sim.

The programmes have been produced with assistance from S4C’s new co-production fund, and from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s World View scheme.
for S4C’s new co-production fund SDML .