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Spirit of Battle

Alan Dein trails one young wrestler, Gareth Pugh, from the drama of the ring to his quiet village in Wales, as he tries to break through to the big time.

Wrestling, which used to draw millions of viewers to the box on Saturday afternoons in the 1970's, is still going strong in theatres up and down the country. Characters like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks have given way to The Avalanche, Tony Spitfire and Thunder who throw each other about and continue to delight and appal passionate audiences.

Alan Dein follows Gareth Pugh, a young wrestler touring the UK circuit. Known by the Welsh name Caden Lay (Spirit of Battle), Gareth is breaking into the big time having just turned professional. Alan takes a wild ride from the booming ringside along endless motorways into changing rooms and training gyms to Gareth's village in mid-Wales. There, in the family home, he discovers the source of Gareth's spirit of battle and learns how his dream to become a wrestler was born.

Producer Neil McCarthy.

Available now

30 minutes

Wrestler Gareth Pugh AKA Caden Lay (Spirit of Battle) in his Welsh hometown, Dolgellau

Wrestler Gareth Pugh AKA Caden Lay (Spirit of Battle) in his Welsh hometown, Dolgellau

Action in the wrestling ring

Action in the wrestling ring

Broadcasts

  • Mon 21 Apr 2014 11:00
  • Tue 3 Jun 2014 23:30

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