Assistant Producer Claire Hill writes about filming Larkin and Dale’s Takeaway Revolution.

For more than a year we have been following Larkin Cen and Dale Williams working hard to open their first Chinese takeaway.

Masterchef viewers all have an opinion on these talented Welsh chefs and when they turn up at food events or their own pop ups, people are desperate for photos.

But they are both genuine, down-to-earth Welsh boys, ready to have a laugh at themselves and each other. Plus they are impressively passionate and full of self-belief. Which is a good job really; heading into business is stressful and you need to be able to see the funny side of things and really believe in what you're doing from day one.

When we started filming the project there was an opening date for the takeaway venture which shifted quite dramatically and put lots of pressure on the cooking duo. But if you want to see why it all happened and the real story about how hard it is to open a business, you will just have to keep watching the series.

Assistant Producer Claire Hill (foreground) filming with Dale Williams

My career originated in PR so it was overwhelming when I was asked to move from behind the camera to in front of the camera - I was used to directing shoots and events, not being in the limelight myself! However, I am hugely passionate about what I'm doing right now; I'm a big believer that food and family should be at the centre of everyone's upbringing - even if family isn’t your immediate blood relatives. Everyone should be surrounded by people they love and support. It's what makes the world a happy place, in my opinion!

So doing what I do now - promoting simple food, family and community is very exciting for me. It all started with a series on C4 and our family cook book which I wrote with my sisters. Now my sisters and I are working with Jamie Oliver on YouTube, uploading free simple recipes for all to enjoy while also talking about baby weaning and feeding a family.

Michela and her sisters enjoy a picnic in the Italian sunshine

There's a big contrast in the weather across Wales today - The north east dry but the south west very wet and some torrential rain, especially in Pembrokeshire. The Met Office has issued an amber alert.

As much as 50 to 100 mm of rain, (2 to 4 inches), is likely over the next six hours or so with a risk of flooding and treacherous driving conditions. To give you an idea of how much rain is likely, the October average rainfall for Tenby is 131.3 mm.

The flood-line number is 0845 988 1188 or take a look at the Environment Agency's website.

The rain will spread north this evening and clear so it will be turning much drier overnight with the wind easing.

Tomorrow will bring a mixture of sunny intervals and scattered showers. Some of the showers will be heavy with a risk of thunder. Top temperatures 13 to 15 Celsius with a south to south-easterly breeze.

It's a similar story for Wednesday with more persistent rain coming on Thursday although it's possible that the far north and west may escape.

Friday should be dry with some mist and fog patches in the morning.

Derek

I love a good food festival. Something about wandering aimlessly around a small town or village, the air filled with tempting cooking smells, colourful stalls and celebrity chefs all vying for attention.

Last weekend one of the last agricultural shows of the season at Llandyfaelog in Carmarthenshire took place, together with the Ironman festival in Tenby (which caused an elaborate detour as we tried to get to Amroth for a bracing walk on Sunday).

But as the summer shows and festivals pack up their tents and stalls, the food festivals are gearing up to tempt our tastebuds across Wales. Starting this weekend with the Abergavenny Food Festival. I was out interviewing Richard Arnold from the 'Proper Welsh' milk company at their brand new dairy in Whitland today for the radio programme.

He's taking part in a debate at Abergavenny this Saturday about the benefits of raw milk. He fondly remembers drinking milk warm from the cow as a child and how his father would regularly steal the 'top of the milk'. Remember the days when milk came in glass bottles and you could clearly see the cream sitting on the surface? I would race my brother to the doorstep of a morning to make sure I got first shout - funny how it seemed so important at the time.

Richard was explaining that commercial companies aren't allowed to sell raw (unpasteurised) milk any more but that individual farmers can sell it direct from the farm gate. You can actually order it on the internet, although as he pointed out, there's something not quite right about sending milk through the post.

He thinks it unlikely that raw milk could be sold commercially again, but he's a big fan of non-homogenised milk, which still allows the cream to rise to the top. I'm no scientist, but apparently homogenisation breaks up the fat content in the milk, to make it easier for us to digest, but according to some current research, the process also removes the so-called 'good bacteria' in the milk.

That's if I've understood the theory properly!

Richard believes it'll make for an interesting discussion - he also mentioned that a few years ago, there were only a handful of food festivals in Wales, whereas now there are around 40 or 50 of them. This month alone sees festivals in Narberth in Pembrokeshire, Brecon, Mold, Aberystwyth and at the beginning of next month the Anglesey Oyster Festival - one that I've never been to but intend to get to one day. Abergavenny kicks the season off in style - their website is crammed full of show highlights (www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com) and quotes the Observer newspaper which claims "Abergavenny is to food as Cannes is to film". See you on the red carpet.

Autumn arrived with a vengeance in Wales last night with heavy rain and strong to severe gale force winds buffeting the country.

The highest wind gusts recorded were 69mph at Mumbles Head in Swansea and also at Capel Curig in Snowdonia. The wind was strong enough to damage or even bring down a few trees, including an oak tree at Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch in Denbighshire.

It's been a wet few days in mid and north Wales with some flooding. At Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, 189.4mm of rain has fallen since the beginning of the month, more than than the February average which is 138.7mm.

Some rivers are swollen and at the time of writing there are three flood warnings in the lower and upper Dee Valley and at Bangor on Dee. We've had some amazing photos sent in too, with the River Dee resembling a raging torrent.

We've had a respite from the heavy rain today but there is more to come this evening.

The Met Office has issued a warning for southern counties from Swansea across to Cardiff, Monmouthshire and The Valleys.

Another 15 to 20 mm of rain is likely with 30 to 40 mm on higher ground and given that the ground is already saturated, there is a risk of more flooding to come.

Most of the rain recently has fallen in the south, west and Mid Wales. At Pant Mawr on the River Wye over 120 mm has fallen in the last 48 hours (just under 5 inches) but it's not been wet everywhere.

Hawarden in Flintshire has only had 5 mm as most of the rain there falls on the mountains, leaving the north coast and the north east drier.

Currently there are 17 flood alerts in force and 4 flood warnings. The flood-line number 0845 988 1188 or take a look at the environment agency website.

Friday morning will start cloudy with some rain across the country but generally drier in the Marches and north east. During the day, the weather will gradually brighten-up, turning drier.

There will be a few scattered showers but the sun will break through in places and visibility will improve too. Top temperatures 10 Celsius with a south-westerly breeze.

As for the weekend, I'm afraid there's more rain, drizzle and strong winds on the way.

On Saturday the heaviest rain will be in the north west and it should be drier in the south and east. It will feel mild but windy with a strong to gale force south-westerly wind.

On Sunday the rain will spread south east - some of it heavy with a risk of more flooding but it will clear up later.

That's it for the time being.

Derek

I've decided I don't like January - it's dark when you wake up and dark when you go home at night. Roll on Spring I say and hopefully some better weather too!

The rain I promised yesterday has well and truly arrived with warnings of heavy rain up and down the country.

In the 12 hours leading up to midday today, 24mm of rain has already fallen at Mumbles Head weather station in Swansea, so just under an inch.

20 mm of rain was recorded at Capel Curig in Snowdonia and there's plenty more rain to come so some large rainfall totals are expected.

The heaviest rain will be in the south and west and Mid Wales. Typically 40 to 60 mm by the end of today with over 100 mm on higher ground in Powys, Ceredigion and Gwynedd.

Some rivers are already swollen and at the time of writing, there are seven flood alerts in force across Wales and this number is set to rise.

Last year was drier than average in Wales. Dennis Smith from Llandeilo recorded just 39 inches of rain over 12 months but it's going to be anything but dry over the next few days...and we could expect to see up to 6 inches falling on higher ground.

It is however going to turn milder (which will help with the heating bills) but very wet at times with a risk of flooding.

The rain will be heaviest on high ground in the south and west and in Snowdonia. Rainfall totals between 75 to 150mm are possible. That's 3 to 6 inches and the Met Office has issued weather watches for the heavy rain.

On Friday, the rain should clear bringing sunshine and showers in the afternoon.

Saturday will be mild but wet and windy with gales although the south east may well be drier.

So, most of us are in for a good soaking over the next few days with many rivers becoming swollen.

Hopefully you won't need it but the Floodline number may come in handy - 0845 988 1188, or visit the Environment Agency's website for details of any flood watches and flood warnings that are issued.

Derek

The Met Office has issued a warning for heavy rain for much of South and West Wales including Powys and Ceredigion.

The rain will clear early tomorrow and it will brighten-up with a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. Temperatures 18 to 20 Celsius with a moderate west to south-westerly breeze.

The BBC Proms in the Park is taking place at Singleton Park, Swansea, tomorrow evening. If you're going along it should be dry with temperatures around 16 Celsius

Sunday will bring a few showers and most of these will be in the north and west in the morning.

Otherwise it should be dry with some sunshine. Temperatures 18 to 20 Celsius with a light to moderate north-westerly breeze.

Wales has been experiencing the highest tides of the year. This picture from Laugharne shows the tide rising around a van last night.

Flooding at Laugharne by Alan Evans. Pictured are Luke Whitton, Josh Staples, Dion John and Lauren Derbyshire - some of the local children who helped the stranded motorists.

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The rivers are swollen throughout Wales thanks to all this rain.

I've had these photos in from reader Colin Roberts who says, "This is the river Dee in Llangollen which passes the bottom of our garden:"