The BBC has been accused of “cultural colonialism” over a new drama which is set in Wales but has an English character at its core.

Pitching In stars Larry Lamb as Frank Hardcastle, a widower who runs a caravan park on the North Wales coast. His daughter, played by Caroline Sheen, arrives from England to help out.

Both the writers and the director are English, and the supporting cast of Welsh actors are not native to North Wales.

The comedy drama begins on Monday as part of BBC One’s new daytime schedule, but was shown in a primetime slot on BBC Wales last month.

The verdict was damning, with many viewers complaining that the Welsh characters have accents from South Wales.

The leader of Cardiff Council, Huw Thomas, called it “one of the most unfunny, least culturally nuanced TV programmes ever commissioned”.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister for international affairs and culture Delyth Jewell, said the series is “catastrophic” and set in a version of Anglesey “where the inhabitants for some unfathomable reason seem to have developed Valleys accents”.

In an article criticising the series, she claimed that Wales is treated as the poor relation by the BBC, while the corporation has just launched a dedicated channel for Scotland.