Village hit by Little Britain fans

The Welsh Assembly has been asked to step in to help the village featured in Little Britain cope with its new-found notoriety.

Souvenir-hunters have stolen three village signs from Llanddewi-Brefi, the home of Matt Lucas’s fictional “only gay in the village" character, Dafydd.

One sign disappeared some time ago, with the other two vanishing just before Christmas.

Now Plaid Cymru’s Elin Jones, who represents the village, has asked the assembly for the money to replace them with signs that are harder to steal.

“Llanddewi Brefi… has received a degree of notoriety in recent years," she told the assembly. "The three village signs were stolen before Christmas, and Daffyd's phrase that he is 'the only gay in the village' has been voted the best ever catchphrase, which will only increase its notoriety. 

"What support can you give to the community council in Llanddewi Brefi in dealing with such international publicity, and in possibly having to face permanently replacing their Llanddewi Brefi village signs?"

Despite the unwelcome attention the series has brought to the Ceredigion village, locals have been quick to cash in.

Photographs of the village are being sold on eBay and at the local shop you can buy T-shirts saying: "Dafydd was the only gay in Llanddewi Brefi - until I came out."

The village newsagent recently revealed that no one has ever asked for Gay Times in the three years he’s worked there.

Published: 1 Dec 2005