Ruth Jones

Ruth is an award-winning actress and writer from Porthcawl. She co-wrote and co-starred in the multi award-winning BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey which has put Barry on the global map. The final episode of the show aired on Christmas Day 2024 gaining a consolidated audience figure of 23 million and making it the most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002.

Ruth’s early career saw her work in a variety of TV and radio comedy for BBC Wales and in theatre roles with the RSC and The National Theatre. Her performance in the 1999 hit British film East Is East caught the attention of TV dramatist Kay Mellor who cast her in ITV’s Fat Friends. It was here she began her TV writing career and met James Corden.

Ruth has always been proud of her Welsh roots, creating, co-writing and starring in the Rhondda Valleys-based comedy¬ drama Stella (2012–2017), for Sky TV. This gained her a BAFTA nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance and a BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Screenwriter. In 2008 Ruth was given the Sian Phillips Award by Bafta Cymru and in 2014 she was made an MBE for services to entertainment. Ruth is proud to be a Welsh learner who took part in S4C’s Iaith Ar Daith in 2018.

Ruth is also a number one Sunday Times bestselling novelist having written 4 books and selling over a million copies. Portraying Welsh characters and Welsh life is characteristic of her writing and can be found in all her novels to date: Never Greener, Us Three and Love Untold. Her 4th novel By Your Side is published in May.