AT the Nedd and Afan Urdd Eisteddfod in 2003, Aled Pedrick was the name on everyone's lips.

He'd wowed the Eisteddfod faithful with his acclaimed performance in the musical show, Jiwdas, won one of the main musical competitions and then went on to clinch the Bryn Terfel Scholarship prize.

At the time the lad from Gwaun-cae-Gurwen was a sixth form pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. He's now nineteen and making waves in S4C's Sunday night drama series, Con Passionate.

In the series which follows the lives and loves of the members of the Gwili Male Voice Choir and their families, which is full of black humour, Aled plays angst-ridden Martin, the schoolboy who's being torn apart by his parents' break-up.

His mother Helen (Eiry Thomas) has deserted the family home to live with another man and her relationship with her estranged husband Ian (Alun ap Brinley) is explosive to say the least.

Martin lives with his dad, who is an intense, introverted character - but at least they have one thing in common and one opportunity to escape from their troubles, the choir.

"You could cut the air between the three with a knife - there's always tension and never any let-up.

Unfortunately, Martin is caught in the cross-fire and is being used as a pawn by his parents.

Ultimately, he's the one who is suffering the most although he tries to hide his emotions," says Martin who is currently having a year out but is hoping to go to drama school in September.

"Both his parents give him their versions of events but he doesn't know who to believe. All he knows is that he wants things back as they were.

He's a very troubled guy and things are about to get much worse for all involved before things can get any better - but I'm not giving away the story!" adds Aled.