WELSH speakers are more likely to be able to master the difficult Klingon language beloved of all Star Trek fans.

Computer expert Alex Greene of Wrexham, one of a select group of people who can speak Klingon fluently, believes that’s because the creators drew on several languages, including Welsh, for the intergalactic dialect.

The 46-year-old Star Trek fan said: “I do believe that if you can speak Welsh, you have an advantage where Klingon is concerned as some sounds are similar such as ‘ll’ and ‘ch’.”

Alex began learning the language in 1986 and took a year to master its intricacies.

He added: “Star Trek is one of my hobbies. My other hobby is languages.

“I have always enjoyed foreign languages, listening to them and communicating with them. Up to 1986 it had been French, Japanese and Esperanto.

“Then a trained linguist came up with an actual working grammar for the Klingon language for one of the Star Trek movies.

“It was designed so that actors could easily learn a couple of lines for a script. But later a Klingon dictionary was published. I picked up a copy and learned Klingon as a fun challenge.”

Now recognised as one of the world’s foremost experts on the language Alex teaches Klingon to others.

“It’s a difficult language to learn. It’s meant to be spoken by aliens so there are no greetings as such.

“The alphabet is case sensitive and has different sounds in lower or upper case.

“But certainly the Welsh have a natural advantage in learning the language,” he said.

Next week S4C viewers can see him teach popular singer Shân Cothi and naturalist Iolo Williams some Klingon words and phrases when Bro visits Wrexham.

Alex added: “Shân had a lot of Klingon potential.”

He has been a fan of Star Trek since he was 10, and has been to some conventions.

He has also met Star Trek greats such as James Doohan, the original Scotty, and DeForest Kelley who first portrayed Dr McCoy in the original Star Trek series of the 1960s.

“I remember playing with a Dinky Toy model of the Starship Enterprise when I was young, and also remember one particular Star Trek episode which fascinated me.

“In it, Lee Merriweather played a hologram which rampaged through the Starship Enterprise, killing people. It was definitely a behind the sofa experience!

“I am not one of those Trekkers who dresses up in Star Trek costume but the programme is my idea of something entertaining to pop into the video while eating a pizza,” he said.

Other contributors to the Bro programme featuring Wrexham include martial arts expert Pol Wong, street pastors Sue Allan and Huw ap Dewi, artist Rosemary Ralphes and singing duo Kay and Stephen Lee.

l Bro...Wrexham, Wednesday, July 8, 8.25pm, with English and Welsh subtitles.