THE series Welcome to Wrexham (Disney+, season four, episode six, Friday) is ostensibly the story of the rising fortunes of an ordinary football club, Wrexham AFC. But it is also about the unlikely relationship between two Hollywood stars and the working-class community of a former mining town in north Wales.
The actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the ailing club in 2021. It was languishing in the fifth tier after being relegated from the Football League in 2008. Since the takeover, Wrexham has risen an amazing three divisions in just three seasons, most recently to the Championship — a historic feat. This fly-on-the-wall documentary has, since 2022, followed the fortunes of the club and the town.
It is a gripping and inspiring story. The pairing of these Hollywood stars with the people of Wrexham is the most incongruous of partnerships, but it is a triumph of how positive community relations can be when a huge injection of funding is accompanied by humility, cultural sensitivity, and the thoughtful sharing of resources.
It helps that Mr Reynolds and Mr McElhenney are both immensely likeable, as are the people of Wrexham seen here, some of whom are now household names in the United States, thanks to the popularity of the series.
Buying a failing football club was a fool’s errand in terms of financial decision-making, but it was done with noble intentions, using the combination of global fame and the power of sport to improve a town that was down on its luck. In just four years, it has helped to transform Wrexham from an underprivileged backwater into an international name, injecting new life and economic vigour into the town.
Welcome to Wrexham is a wonderful showcase of the potential that sport has to uplift communities and transform negative cultural mindsets. It is a story that is to be continued.
Hidden Treasures of the National Trust (Episode 6, to be shown on Friday, available on BBC iPlayer) is a deep dive into the unseen work of this vital organisation, and a timely reminder of the Trust’s contribution to preserving the fabric of our history. This latest episode explores the religious strife of the 16th and 17th centuries, through the fortunes of the families who once owned Lanhydrock House, in Cornwall, and Coughton Court, in Warwickshire. A glorious ceiling containing biblical scenes is laboriously restored, as is an exquisite, embroidered prayer book.
Like many history graduates, I dreamt of working in a stately home. The view offered by Hidden Treasures beyond the roped-off area is a treat. It offers a welcome insight into the expertise involved in the conserving of priceless historical objects: an often complex task, for which endless patience, steady hands, and laser-sharp eyes are all necessary.