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{{short description|Welsh actress, producer, and writer (born 1966)}}{{other people|Ruth Jones}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

factoids

| image = Ruth Jones Little Britain Gavin and Stacey.jpg| caption = Jones in 2008| birth_name = Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones196622|df=y}}| birth_place = Bridgend, Glamorgan, WalesActresswriter|producer}}| alma_mater = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama| yearsactive = 1991–presentDavid Peet|1999}}| children = | nationality = }}Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|MBE}} (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the award-winning BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey (2007–2010 and 2019). She later co-wrote and starred in the Sky One comedy-drama Stella (2012–2017), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance and won the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Screenwriter.Jones has appeared in various television series, including Fat Friends (2000–2005), Little Britain (2003–2007), Nighty Night (2004–2005), Saxondale (2006–2007), and The Street (2009). Jones was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to entertainment.Jones is also an author, writing three novels: Never Greener (2018), Us Three (2020) and Love Untold (2022).

Early life

Jones was born on 22 September 1966 in Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales.WEB,www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/ruth-jones/, Ruth Jones. Biography, news, photos and videos, 8 October 2009, Her father was a solicitor for British Steel Corporation, Port Talbot, and her mother was a GP. She has two older brothers and a younger sister. Brought up in Porthcawl, she attended Porthcawl Comprehensive School (actor and comedian Rob Brydon was also a pupil there and the two appeared in school musicals together). She participated enthusiastically every year in musical theatre productions. After graduating from University of Warwick with a degree in Theatre Studies and Dramatic Arts, she trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

Career

Stage

In November 1989, Jones undertook her first professional role, with Dominic Cooke’s company, Pan Optic, playing Countess Almaviva in Cooke’s adaptation of The Marriage of Figaro, which toured the UK for six months. Thereafter, she undertook some temporary clerical work.At that point, she considered giving up acting and training to be a solicitor. However, in 1990, the comedian and pantomime producer Stan Stennett offered her an Equity contract, shifting scenery and playing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) in Dick Whittington at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, where she had performed in school musicals.In October 2018, Jones returned to the stage after a 12-year absence in the new play “The Nightingales” by William Gaminara, produced by Jenny Topper and Theatre Royal, Bath.

Television

Her first television job was an unbroadcast sketch show for BBC Wales, which included Rob Brydon and Steve Speirs. Soon after, she joined an improvisational theatre group in Bath. That group included Julia Davis, with whom Jones later appeared in Nighty Night and Gavin & Stacey.She first worked in TV and radio comedy for BBC Wales in 1991. Theatre roles with the RSC and The National Theatre were followed by her performance in 1999 hit British film East Is East. In 1996, she appeared in the BBC television period drama Drover’s Gold, billed as a “Welsh Western” which told the story of a cattle drive from West Wales to London. Jones later commented, “I loved that job. I visited places like Lampeter and Llandeilo for the first time, as well as Abergavenny and Crickhowell. I fell in love with them all. There was something so unspoilt about them, and I’ve been back several times since.“WEB,www.wales.com/lifestyle/living/ruth-jones-my-wales, Ruth Jones interview, 26 November 2018, Wales, Jones appeared on television as Kelly in four series of ITV’s comedy Fat Friends, where she met James Corden. Afterwards she appeared in several BBC comedies, playing Myfanwy in Little Britain, Magz in Saxondale and Linda in Nighty Night. Jones achieved prominence in 2007 as co-writer with James Corden of the BBC Three sitcom Gavin & Stacey, and as playing a lead role in it as Nessa Jenkins. The series became a hit and was moved to BBC One. Jones said: “It wasn’t as deliberate as us saying, ‘Right, we’re going to react against cynical comedy’. We just wrote what we wanted. And it just so happens that the show does generate a lot of warmth. People seem to like that, especially when things aren’t terribly jolly. It’s nice to have your cockles warmed.” The series won several awards, including two BAFTAs and four British Comedy Awards. Jones and co-star Rob Brydon recorded “Islands in the Stream” (a song performed by their characters in the programme) as a single for Comic Relief in 2009; the song reached No. 1 in the chart.In 2008, Jones featured in two BBC One television period costume dramas, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Little Dorrit, as well as two episodes of The Street. In December 2009, she starred in A Child’s Christmas in Wales. In 2010, she starred in BBC Four comedy The Great Outdoors alongside Mark Heap, and, in December, presented the first of four chat shows on BBC2, Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker. In January 2011, she starred as Hattie Jacques in BBC Four drama Hattie, which recounts Jacques’ affair with her young driver John Schofield while she was married to actor John Le Mesurier, later known for his role in Dad’s Army.WEB,www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jan/19/hattie-tv-review, TV review: Hattie and the Joy of Teen Sex, TheGuardian.com, 19 January 2011, In 2008, Jones co-founded Tidy Productions with producer David Peet. The company produced the series Jones presented on BBC Radio Wales in 2008-9, Ruth Jones’ Sunday Brunch. In 2010, the company had comedy and light entertainment production credits with BBC Two and BBC Three. It has made two 90-minute comedy dramas for S4C and light-entertainment shows for BBC Wales, and topical radio series What’s the Story? for Radio Wales, predecessor to The Leek.Tidy Productions also produced 58 episodes of the comedy drama Stella for Sky TV. The first series aired in 2012. It was Jones’ first major comedy project since Gavin & Stacey; she created, executive produced and storylined the show with Peet. Jones stars in the title role, and wrote several episodes as well as co-writing episodes with Rob Gittins, Rob Evans, David Peet and Steve Speirs. Jones has stated she was worried about comparisons to Gavin & Stacey when setting a second programme in Wales and the company originally thought to set it in Bristol, but the decision was made to set it in the Rhondda Valley “I know people from the Valleys and it is just a joyously colourful place and full of characters.” A second series of Stella was filmed in summer 2012 and aired in early 2013. A further four series plus two Christmas specials completed the run, with the final episode broadcast in October 2017.In January 2018, Jones took the part of Mandy Haveez in Radio Wales comedy series Splott, written by David Peet and made by Tidy Productions.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} In March 2018, Jones worked with director Debbie Isitt, appearing in the film Nativity 4.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} In 2020, she participated in (’Language Road Trip’), a show for S4C where she and several other celebrities learned Welsh, broadcast in April 2020. An extra episode, (’Language Road Trip: Christmas’) was broadcast at the end of 2020, interviewing each of the celebrities about whether they were still making use of their Welsh and the opportunities they had had to use Welsh during lockdown.WEB,www.boomcymru.co.uk/cynnwys/iaith-ar-daith-dolig/?lang=en, Iaith ar Daith ‘Dolig, Language Road Trip: Christmas, Boom Cymru, live,web.archive.org/web/20210131125652/https://www.boomcymru.co.uk/cynnwys/iaith-ar-daith-dolig/?lang=en, 31 January 2021, 31 January 2021,

Writer

In April 2018, Jones’s first novel, “Never Greener”, was published by Bantam Press. Based on a screenplay she’d written in 2004, it tells the story of a rekindled affair and the dangers of taking second chances. She signed a two-book deal with Transworld after a bidding war between ten publishing companies. The novel went into the Sunday Times bestseller list at number seven after just three days of sales, before reaching the number-one slot for two consecutive weeks.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Lucy Letby had been reading the book when arrested by Cheshire Constabulary, providing possible insight into the killer’s motiveswww.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/18/lucy-letby-the-beige-and-average-nurse-who-turned-into-a-baby-killerJones’ second novel, Us Three, was published by Bantam Press in September 2020. It follows the story of three friends whose futures become unpredictable after an unexpected turn in events.WEB,www.waterstones.com/book/us-three/ruth-jones/9781785176692, Us Three by Ruth Jones | Waterstones, www.waterstones.com, WEB,www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/13/in-brief-us-three-men-who-hate-women-will-my-cat-eat-my-eyeballs-review, In brief: Us Three; Men Who Hate Women: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? – review, The Guardian, Beckerman, Hannah, 13 September 2020, 11 December 2023, Her third novel is Love Untold, which was published by Penguin Books in 2022www.penguin.co.uk/authors/238590/ruth-jonesWEB,www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23567054.gavin-stacey-star-ruth-jones-talks-latest-book-love-untold/, ‘Gavin and Stacey’ star Ruth Jones talks of latest book, Love Untold, The Leader, Snell, Callum, 5 June 2022, 11 December 2023, WEB,www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23643477.abingdon-bookshop-hosts-award-winning-author-ruth-jones/, Abingdon bookshop hosts award winning author Ruth Jones, Oxford Mail, Halford, Ed, 9 July 2022, 11 December 2023,

Personal life

Jones married David Peet, the TV and radio producer, in 1999.WEB,www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/tvrsquos-funniest-woman-ruth-jones-on-life-after-gavin-amp-stacey-2183843.html, TV’s funniest woman: Ruth Jones on life after Gavin & Stacey, 14 January 2011, The Independent, NEWS,www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ruth-jones-on-fame-feminism-and-liz-taylor-xqcvfw5t8mb, Ruth Jones on fame, feminism and Liz Taylor, Polly, Vernon, 29 December 2012, www.thetimes.co.uk, Jones is step-mother to three children from Peet’s previous marriage.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/nov/03/ruth-jones-actor-writer-q-and-a-interview-disappointment, Ruth Jones: ‘My biggest disappointment? The Guardian’s review of my book’, Rosanna, Greenstreet, The Guardian, 3 November 2018, www.theguardian.com, In 2010, Jones took part in Channel 4’s Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March.In January 2019, Jones was the guest for BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. Her favourite music track was “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. Her choice of Bible was a family Welsh Bible, her own book choice was Halliwell’s Film Guide and her luxury item was the back catalogue of The Archers.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000203m, BBC Radio 4 – Desert Island Discs, Ruth Jones, actor and writer, BBC, 20 January 2019,

Recognition and awards

Jones was judged the Best Female Comedy Newcomer at the 2007 British Comedy Awards, and was also nominated for Best Television Comedy Actress. She was also recipient of the Ultimate Funny Woman award at the annual Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards in November 2009. In July 2013, Jones received an honorary degree from the University of Warwick.WEB, 28 June 2013, Warwick honorary degrees for stars of Gavin & Stacey & Hustle, RSC & Royal Court Artistic Directors, scientists, historians, philanthropist & a US government adviser,www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/warwick_honorary_degrees_for_stars_of_gavin__stacey__hustle_rsc__royal_court_artistic_directors_scientists_historians_philanthropist___a_us_government_adviser1/#ruth, 31 October 2013, University of Warwick, In November 2022, she was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of the University of The Open University by The Open University in Wales, at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport.twitter.com/oucymru/status/1588583184395952128Jones was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to entertainment.{{London Gazette| issue = 60728| date = 31 December 2013| page = 22| supp = y}}NEWS, 30 December 2013, MBE ‘proper tidy’ for Ruth Jones, bbc.co.uk,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25552209, 1 January 2014, Jones was awarded the BAFTA Cymru Sian Phillips Special Recognition Award in 2009.WEB, 2009 Cymru Siân Phillips Award {{!, BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2009/cymru/si%C3%A2n-phillips-award |access-date=2019-10-10 |website=awards.bafta.org}} In 2012, Jones received a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for her performance in Stella.WEB, 2012 Television Female Performance In A Comedy Programme {{!, BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/television/female-performance-in-a-comedy-programme |access-date=2019-10-10 |website=awards.bafta.org}}

Filmography

Films{| class“wikitable sortable”

! scope=“col” style="width:80px;“| Year! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Title! scope=“col” style="width:200px;“| Character! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| ProductionNativity Rocks! >| Entertainment OneHeartlands (film)>Heartlands Mandy MiramaxEast Is East (1999 film)>East Is East Peggy Film4The Theory of Flight >| Fine Line FeaturesEmma (1996 theatrical film)>Emma Bates’ Maid Miramax Films“>

TV{| class“wikitable sortable”

! scope=“col” style="width:80px;“| Year! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Title! scope=“col” style="width:200px;“| Character! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Production! scope=“col” style="width:300px;” class=“unsortable” | Notes 2015–present One in Front and others Jo Series of adverts for TescoVery British Problems >| 3 episodesStella (British TV series)>Stella Stella Morris Sky 1 Tidy Production. 6 series and 2 SpecialRuth Jones’ Easter Treat >BBC Two >| Special 2011 Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker Chatshow BBC Two SpecialHattie (film)>Hattie Hattie Jacques BBC Four 1 episodeRuth Jones’ Summer Holiday >BBC Two >| Special 2010 Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker Chatshow BBC Two SpecialThe Great Outdoors (British TV series)>The Great Outdoors Christine BBC Four 3 episodesAgatha Christie’s Marple>Marple Miss Blenkinsopp ITV Network >| The Secret of ChimneysIgam Ogam >Calon (TV production company)>Calon, Telegael 52 episodes 2009 Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker Chatshow BBC Two SpecialA Child’s Christmases in Wales >BBC Four >| TV filmThe Street (British TV series)>The Street Sandra Lucas BBC One Series 3, Episodes 5 and 6Ar Y Tracs >S4C >| 2008 ‘’Little Dorrit (TV series)’’ >BBC One >|Tess of the D’Urbervilles (2008 TV serial)>Tess of the D’Urbervilles Joan Durbeyfield BBC One Torchwood >BBC Three >Adrift (Torchwood)>Adrift”Chaos at the Zoo >|Gavin & Stacey >Nessa Jenkins>Vanessa Shanessa Jenkins BBC Star and co-writerSaxondale >BBC Two >| Series 1 and 2Mayo (TV series)>Mayo Cal Andrews BBC One I’m with Stupid (TV series)>I’m With Stupid Jean BBC Three Born and Bred >BBC One >| Episode – The Element of SurpriseNighty Night >BBC >|The Baby Juice Express >|Little Britain (TV series)>Little Britain Myfanwy BBC Three 2003 Midsomer Murders Rachael Rose ITV Network >| Episode – Bad TidingsRoger Roger >BBC One >| Episode “Freedom’s Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose”EastEnders >BBC One >| Dot’s StoryHeartlands (film)>Heartlands Mandy 2001 Tales from Pleasure Beach Mandy BBC Two (Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years (TV series)>Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years) Sharon Bott BBC Fat Friends >ITV Network>ITV 2000 ‘’Human Remains (TV series)’’ >BBC >| Episode “All Over My Glasses”A Likeness in Stone >| 1998 Picking Up The Pieces Marie As Time Goes By (TV series)>As Time Goes By Gilly BBC One Episode “Pardon?”Drovers’ Gold >|

Guest appearances

{| class=“wikitable sortable”! scope=“col” style="width:80px;“| Year! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Title! scope=“col” style="width:200px;“| Appearance! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Series2015 (The Apprentice: You’re Fired!) Herself Series 11, Episode 10Would I Lie to You? (British game show)>Would I Lie to You? Panelist Series 9, Episode 8Duck Quacks Don’t Echo >| Series 1, Episode 1The Jonathan Ross Show >| Series 4, Episode 11 2012 ‘’Hit the Road Jack (TV series)’’ >| Series 1, Episode 1Edinburgh International Television Festival 2012 >| The Matt Lucas Awards >| Series 1, Episode 6Just a Minute >| Series 1, Episode 3Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night >| Series 5, Episode 7Alan Carr Chatty Man >| Series 7, Episode 7 2010 The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Herself 2010Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night >| Series 3, Episode 4The Graham Norton Show >| Series 7 Episode 6Would I Lie to You? (British game show)>Would I Lie to You? Panelist Series 4, Episode 2A League of Their Own (British game show)>A League of Their Own Panelist Series 1 Episode 2 2009 The Graham Norton Show Herself Series 5 Episode 2Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night >| Series 1, Episode 2Have I Got News for You >| Series 37 Episode 7Comic Relief >| (Barry) Islands in the Stream video

Writing

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Screen {| class“wikitable sortable”

! scope=“col” style="width:80px;“| Year! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Title! scope=“col” style="width:200px;“| Episodes! scope=“col” style="width:300px;” class=“unsortable” | NotesStella (British TV series)>Stella 6 series Gavin & Stacey >| co-written with James CordenAr Y Tracs >|The Chase (2006 TV series)>The Chase 1 episode Fat Friends >| Series 4 Episode 3 “Angels Delight”

Books

WEB,www.facebook.com/RuthJonesAuthor/, Ruth Jones, www.facebook.com, {| class=“wikitable sortable”! scope=“col” style="width:80px;“| Year! scope=“col” style="width:300px;“| Title! scope=“col” style="width:300px;” class=“unsortable” | NotesNever Greener >FIRST=CARRIEDATE=13 APRIL 2018NEWSPAPER=THE GUARDIAN, Published by Bantam.Us Three >WEBSITE=WWW.FANTASTICFICTION.COM, Published by Bantam.Love Untold >URL=HTTPS://WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM/BOOKS/2022/SEP/11/IN-BRIEF-LOVE-UNTOLD-THE-MODERN-BESTIARY-THE-RED-PLANET-REVIEW WEBSITE=THE GUARDIAN Bantam Press>Bantam.

Production

• Gavin & Stacey (Series 1, 6 episodes: BBC3 and BBC2 2007)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 2, 7 episodes: BBC3 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Christmas Special: December 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 3, 6 episodes: BBC1 2009,2010)
• Ar Y Tracs Exec. Producer Tidy Productions S4C 2009)

Discography

• Islands in the Stream (cover version for Comic Relief)

References

{{reflist|refs=NEWS NEWS NEWS WEB NEWS WEB NEWS , WEB WEB WEB }}

External links

• {{IMDb name|0429197|Ruth Jones}}

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