An 11-year-old Powys actor has a starring role in a hard-hitting TV drama about children's mental health.

The drama series, Bex and BEXtra, is set in Wales and explores a range of mental health issues affecting young people.

It features Machynlleth's Daisy Oldham.

The drama has recently been sold to the Czech Republic.

In the live-action series, Daisy plays Gaia, a character who lives in a rural area with her mum and stepfather.

The series addresses her past struggles with anxiety and her growing fears about the impact of climate change.

Help comes from Pryderi, a cool and empathetic character, who helps calm her fears.

The drama initially aired on S4C, was created by Ceidiog, an award-winning Welsh production company known for developing children's TV programmes.

The sale to Czech Republic broadcaster, Česká televise, was brokered by UK-based sales house Videoplugger.

Producer and Director Nia Ceidiog shooting on location  (Image: Supplied)

Series creator Nia Ceidiog, who previously wrote the popular children's series Sam Tân, said: "The Bex and BEXtra programmes were challenging to make as we were looking at the myriad of difficulties which youngsters face."

She added: "We had psychologists and other experts working with us throughout the making of Bex and BEXtra advising us about the issues portrayed in the programmes.

"The episodes are challenging but realistic and the conditions portrayed are serious but Bex and Pryderi bring hope to the children."

Each of the 16 episodes features a standalone story set in different parts of Wales.

The first series starred West End actress Rebecca Hayes as Bex, a mysterious figure offering help and guidance to children facing tough times.

The series aimed at eight to 11-year-olds discussed a range of issues, including OCD, panic attacks, and separation anxiety disorder.

The second series, BEXtra, aimed at an older audience of 11 to 15-year-olds, explores issues including neurodiversity and mental health challenges such as ADHD and social anxiety disorder.

It focuses on how these sometimes invisible disabilities and conditions affect not only the individual but also their family and friends, encouraging understanding, communication, and the normalisation of mental health and neurodiversity in everyday life.

In each story, the child, with support from Bex or Pryderi, teaches the adults around them how to better understand their feelings, fostering open conversations about mental health within families.

Sioned Geraint, S4C's commissioner for children and learners, said: "Bex and BEXtra are truly ground-breaking in the way they deal with children's mental health, and have opened the door for family discussion about mental health, which is such an important thing.

"In many ways these themes are universal and I’m delighted that both series have been picked up by Česká televise and I feel sure they will be equally effective in getting these important messages across in a way that is both entertaining and informative."

Ebba Eriksson, the creative director of Videoplugger, added: "This series touches on such an important topic as mental health for kids and teens, it gives hands on advice and will captivate young audiences."

The series was shown outside the normal children's programming time on S4C to encourage family discussions about the issues raised.