Plaid's Best of British

One of the consolations of being ill over the festive season is a chance to sample more telly.

Not just my staple diet of Cribs on MTV or absolutely anything on BBC Parliament, but the wider options available in the multi-channel 360 degrees multi-platform world we now inhabit.

So it was that I happened to catch the contribution of a Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate to the "Best of British" season on Discovery Real Time.

Heledd Fychan, for it is she, co-presents a programme called Waterworld with a promising unknown by the name of Timothy West.

Plaid must be grateful for the boost to her electoral chances the repeat showings may give her - not every broadcaster would be so relaxed about candidates presenting programmes during an election year.

Perhaps contributing to a "Best of British" season on TV is another way of downplaying independence as a Plaid policy.

I'm no expert but Heledd's co-presenter appeared a natural in front of the cameras and could possibly go far in television.

Ieuan Who?

Er, don't mention this within earshot of the current Plaid Cymru leadership, but the party's parliamentary candidate in Montgomeryshire has revealed her own political heroes.

Asked to name the best Plaid Cymru leader, Heledd Fychan chose not to take the easy way out and name the man who led the party into government and is currently deputy First Minister (Ieuan Wyn Jones) or indeed her former boss at Westminster (parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd).

Answering questions on the Mars Hill website, Heledd Fychan says: "Best Plaid Cymru leader would have to be Dafydd Wigley. He's an amazing politician, and managed to connect with people in every corner of Wales in a way no other Plaid Cymru leader had ever succeeded before."

Q: Which political figure has been your greatest inspiration?
A: "Dafydd Wigley again. His charisma and ability to speak publicly is outstanding."

Spinning and blogging

Not only does Elfyn Llwyd now have his own blog, his spin doctor has also started sharing her thoughts with the world.

It's largely on-message stuff but with an edge. Lembit Opik won't thank Heledd for drawing her readers' attention to his latest on camera capers.