Gavin & Stacey star lands new drama role - which gets Pam's seal of approval

Ruth will star in new BBC adaptation alongside Richard E.Grant as Jane Austen's Mr and Mrs Bennet, following Alison Steadman into the big role
Ruth Jones is to follow in the footsteps of her Gavin & Stacey co-star Alison Steadman by taking on Jane Austen's iconic character of Mrs Bennet in a major new BBC series.
The comedy favourite will play the Pride & Prejudice matriarch in The Other Bennet Sister alongside Richard E. Grant, 68, who has revealed that playing the role of Mr Bennet is a lifelong ambition.
‌
One show insider said: 'It's long been known that this was on Richard's bucket list and he leapt at the opportunity when the BBC approached him. Ruth was similarly enthusiastic over playing a character who is about as far from Nessa as it is possible to be. She's overjoyed to be swapping her leather mini skirt and boots for a crinoline and bonnet.'
‌
The 10-part drama is an adaptation of Janice Hadlow's novel, which explores and expands the world of Pride and Prejudice through the often-overlooked perspective of Mary Bennet, played by former Call the Midwife star Ella Broccoleri.
In the story Mary is given the epic love story nobody predicted for her. It takes her from her family home in Meryton to the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District - all in search of independence, romance and, most elusive of all, self-love and acceptance.
Britain's best-loved comedy actress Ruth, 58, is fast becoming a BBC costume drama stalwart, having previously appeared in Little Dorrit and Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Gavin & Stacey, which she co-wrote with James Corden, drew to a close with 21million viewers at Christmas. Steadman, who plays Nessa's best friend Stacey's mother-in-law Pam Shipman, was previously Mrs Bennet in the BBC's award-winning 1995 Pride & Prejudice adaptation, starring Colin Firth as Mr Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet.
‌
Writer Sarah Quintrell says: "I'm thrilled to be telling the story of Mary - the other Bennet sister - exploring what it is to come of age when you're the odd one out.' Saying she herself had been an 'awkward, anxious' teen, she added: 'I grew up watching the BBC's wonderful Austen adaptations. It's the stuff every writer dreams of and I can't wait to bring this beautiful story to screen - not least, for all the Marys out there.'
Producer Jane Tranter, of Bad Wolf, said that she'd landed the 'ensemble cast of our dreams' for the new series, which is part of the BBC's celebration of Austin's 250th anniversary, adding: 'We have been working behind the scenes on The Other Bennet Sister for many years now, and Janice's brilliantly observed characters have lived and grown in our imaginations throughout that time as Sarah has been working on the scripts. So our actors had a lot to live up to - and I can honestly say that this is the ensemble cast of our dreams. Each one brings something new and exciting to the world of Austen. And all of us at Bad Wolf are delighted to be making a drama that brings such joy.'
BBC drama boss Lindsay Salt said it was a joy to see cameras rolling on the 'vibrant, witty and clever' new take on Jane Austen's world, which also stars Coupling's Richard Coyle and Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma. She added: 'With a pitch perfect cast led by Ella, Ruth and Richard, The Other Bennet Sister will be an irresistible treat for viewers when it launches on the BBC next year."
‌
Varma and Coyle play Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mary's worldly aunt and uncle who take her on as a governess to their three children - introducing her to an exciting new social world that includes Ann Baxter, played by Doctor Who companion Varada Sethu.
Another famous character is the simpering Mr Collins, who will be played by Ryan Sampson, who wrote and starred alongside Danny Dyer in Sky comedy Mr Bigstuff. Filming has started in Wales on the BBC1 series, due to air on Sunday nights next year.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

‘Very strange' – Nick Kyrgios lets slip who BBC have replaced him with for Wimbledon and immediately fires dig at him

NICK KYRGIOS has revealed that world No108 Christopher Eubanks will replace him on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage this year. Kyrgios, 30, worked for the Beeb during last year's Championships, providing a fresh voice and perspective alongside usual suspects John McEnroe and Tim Henman. 5 5 Despite generally going down well with viewers, Kyrgios has not been signed up by the BBC for this year's tournament. The Aussie is set to miss his third Wimbledon in a row, having struggled with persistent knee and wrist injuries. Kyrgios' last match at the All-England Club was the 2022 final, in which he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Eubanks' best run at Wimbledon came in the following year, when he stunned the likes of Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas before losing in five sets to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals. On not being selected by the Beeb this year, Kyrgios told The Guardian: "It's unfortunate but it's probably their loss more than mine. "I understand they've got Chris Eubanks but he hasn't beaten the greatest of all time multiple times. "When someone's beaten Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic and has incredible insights, it's very strange you wouldn't want that person adding knowledge to tennis fans." In addition to working for the BBC at Wimbledon, Kyrgios has also appeared on Tennis Channel's coverage of the sport in the United States. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 5 American Eubanks, meanwhile, has been juggling his playing career with plenty of punditry. The former world No29 has also worked on Tennis Channel, as well as ESPN and most recently TNT Sports during Roland Garros. Nick Kyrgios breaks silence on split with ex-girlfriend Costeen Hatzi as Wimbledon finalist reveals new look Kyrgios has not shut the door on working for the BBC again in future. The former Australian Open men's doubles champion said: "I'm sure our paths will cross again. I only ever want to add humour, some knowledge and some great atmosphere." Due to injuries, Kyrgios has played just six singles matches since October 2022. The crowd entertainer last played in Miami in March, losing to Karen Khachanov in the second round. Despite his uncertain status, having since pulled out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Kyrgios is determined to resume playing during the US hard court swing, culminating in a first appearance at Flushing Meadows in three years. He added: "Yes, for sure. I'm definitely playing the US swing and I'll take it one day at a time." 5

Times

an hour ago

• Times

Rod Liddle on his radio comeback: Somehow I'm still on air

Everyone thought it was going to be trouble and would end in tears. Right at the start I rang Trevor Phillips and said: Times Radio has given me a show, on a Saturday, between 10am and 1pm, would you like to be my guest? Trevor is about as close to a friend as I have in this desperate trade of perpetual scribbling and jabbering. There was a hoot of laughter down the line. 'They've given you a show? Has anyone told Ofcom? Yes, I'll be your guest. Put me on an early one before it's taken off air.' I had not really imagined going back into radio at this stage of life. I endured a decade at the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, five of them as editor. There was always an agreement that radio would be absolutely brilliant if it wasn't for the presenters and the listeners. Both of these groups carped all the time and were impossible to deal with. Becoming a presenter, then, was a kind of betrayal. But the prospect held such allure. I had grown very tired of the BBC's monocultural output, its perpetual and predictable consensus, even if I still respected a lot of the people who worked there. Here was a chance to make a programme which would be, I thought, 'refreshingly different', which would 'break the mould'. And as I was a convert to Times Radio already, it was very hard to resist. I would be taking over the slot previously occupied by the brilliant Hugo Rifkind, and therefore a tricky act to follow. I was introduced to the producer, Danny Garlick. He appraised me with slightly narrowed eyes. How would you like to change the show, he asked. 'I'd like it to be refreshingly different, and to break the mould,' I replied. How exactly? 'I'd like it to be a little more, um … you know … fascisty.' I was joking, largely. But I did see it as an opportunity to approach the daily round of news stories from different angles, left and right. That old divide has become almost meaningless today. Politics does not know where it is; it has become lost. Reform urging nationalisation and the Labour prime minister conjuring echoes of Enoch Powell? This isn't just a shifting of the Overton window, it's a screen door being flung open. And yet too often the broadcasters follow the same old patterns which simply don't hold any more. The first couple of shows were terrifying, of course. Three hours to get through without losing the script, saying 'holy f***' or having a heart attack. I used to edit the Saturday edition of Today, a two-hour show which was put together by three or four producers the previous day plus an overnight team of three or four producers, not to mention input from a forward planning team. Here I had the services of the aforementioned Danny for one and a half days each week. But God, he's good. The most flawless producer I have encountered and generous of spirit, too. When, two weeks ago, I inadvertently deleted the entire three hours of script from the computer so that it could not be retrieved, 15 minutes before we were due to start the show, he performed a kind of technological miracle and we made it to air. Nor did he, when I told him what I had done, call me an abject little tit, which is what I would have done. And then some. What I really wanted from the programme was thought and depth from the political interviews, rather than the splenetic harrying of politicians you get elsewhere. We were the only broadcasters to secure an interview with the only British politician invited to Donald Trump's inauguration, the Labour peer Lord Glasman. We have had long-form political interviews with Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage and even longer interviews with the BBC chairman, Samir Shah, Richard Dawkins and the Labour recusant Rosie Duffield. But alongside this stuff there's also been a chance to share a joke with the audience and to hear what they are making of it all. One of the highlights, for me, has been the constant stream of WhatAapp messages coming in from listeners, which we read out. It is a privilege to know that people are so engaged. Mind you, it is also an act of kindness on Danny's part that he does not forward to me the messages which say: 'Get this interminable arse off air this minute.' When I ask him how many say that sort of thing, he usually mumbles: 'Oh, you know, only one or two …' The whole thing has rejuvenated my appetite for radio. And I hope, if you tune in, it may rejuvenate yours. It is a mix of highish culture, expert journalism from Times correspondents and humour — much like The Sunday Times itself. What's more, Trevor Phillips has been on the show loads more times. And I always remind him, as the second hand ticks round, that here we are, Trevor, still on air, still going strong. Listen to Times Radio for free on DAB radio, online or via the free Times Radio app. Rod Liddle presents every Saturday from 10am to 1pm

Daily Mirror

an hour ago

• Daily Mirror

'William has key priority he'd never put in jeopardy - despite any criticism'

Prince William is marking a special day today as he celebrates turning 43 - and it comes after he puts what he described as a 'brutal' year behind him From tackling climate change and saving the oceans to trying to solve the homelessness crisis, Prince William seems to be a man on a mission. In recent months the Prince of Wales has been carrying out work linked to a range of causes close to his heart - including mental health and the climate crisis - combining it with the pomp and pageantry of royal events such as Trooping the Colour and the ancient Order of the Garter ceremony. ‌ But today, he will surely be swapping any work matters for precious family time with the Princess of Wales and their children as he celebrates his 43rd birthday. A year ago, William was in a very different place, as wife Kate was still undergoing chemotherapy treatment after her cancer diagnosis. At the same time, his father the King has also been diagnosed with the disease. ‌ Not only was he on hand to support them both, but he also proved to be a rock for his three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. He memorably described 2024 as "brutal" and significantly one of the "hardest of his life". But with Kate now in remission, things look different 12 months on as he turns a year older, focus shifts slightly to duty. In the past week, not only has he been at Trooing and Garter Day but also Royal Ascot and carried out a visit alongside actress Cate Blanchett to Colorifix - a Norwich-based company which creates sustainable dye for clothing, and is one of his Earthshot Prize finalists. And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells the Mirror that William is "extremely serious" when it comes to the job that his life has given him. ‌ She explained: "As he himself has said, if he can't make some kind of difference, some kind of impact on issues he cares so deeply about – then what is the point of being a prince or of having such a high profile platform? "So, now that the crisis of the past 18 months has eased, he seems to be working pretty much flat out for much of the time, and I'm sure that will continue." But despite his work and duty, there is one thing that always comes first for William as well as wife Kate - family. William is a very hands-on parent, doing the school run and ferrying the kids to their various after-school sports clubs and activities. Putting family first was no more so evident than at Easter earlier this year when he and his family skipped the traditional Easter Sunday church service with the King and Queen at Windsor to spend precious family time together - all with the King's blessing. ‌ And even if his schedule may seem busier, Jennie believes this family time is something William will always make a priority. She said: "These years are a period when, without the never-ending state duties of a monarch, he can be allowed to concentrate rather more fully on his wife and children. So I think school holidays will continue to be ring-fenced as much as possible, even if he is criticised for doing so. "You just have to look at the pictures of William and his children released for Father's Day to see how much they adore him and how close they are as a family. This tall, handsome, smiling man is their dad and their protector. And William would never want to put that in any jeopardy." ‌ It's not known exactly what type of birthday celebration will be in store for William today - but no doubt it will involve Kate and the kids. Last year, Kate shared an incredible photo of her husband and three children leaping over sand dunes in Norfolk with the message: "Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx" His father the King also shared a baby photo of the Prince sitting on his lap. And Jennie added: "His birthday is on a Saturday this year, so there'll be a chance for a family celebration. I doubt it will be anything particularly grand - it's more likely they'll enjoy a family barbecue and a romp around the garden or beach."