Ruth Jones’s upcoming BBC special has confirmed its release date, with fans not having to wait long.
It was announced in April that the Gavin & Stacey star would team up with close friend Steve Speirs for Ruth and Steve: From Merthyr with Love, an hour-long special in which the pair “hit the road” and celebrate the “rich history” of Welsh town Merthyr Tydfil.
With anticipation now building, it has been confirmed that From Merthyr with Love will premiere on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer on Friday 13 June at 9pm, with the special also remaining on the streaming service.
Commissioned to coincide with the bicentenary of Cyfarthfa Castle, the special – along with a host of other programmes from BBC Cymru Wales – will “celebrate the history, culture, and people of Merthyr”, a town which was once the “iron capital of the world”.
Jones, who co-wrote and starred in Gavin & Stacey, shared that she had the “best time ever” filming the special, adding (via BBC): “We filmed over four days to make it a weekend – I loved meeting all the people and enjoying everyone’s positivity. It was so life-affirming.
ITV Cymru Wales//BBC
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“I’ve known Steve for years as a Merthyr [and] Troedyrhiw boy – but I’d never actually been with him to his hometown. I knew how passionate he was and the idea of spending a few days in his company, learning about the place that he loved – what wasn’t to like?
“I love being around Steve because he’s so funny and lovely, so I didn’t need a lot of persuading. All I really knew about Merthyr before was that my sister had worked there as a GP and she loved the sense of community there and how lovely the people were.
ITV Cymru Wales//BBC
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“I am 1749083289 an honorary Merthyr girl. I just loved the people that I met, the positivity [and] the scenery – I didn’t know that it was such a beautiful place… I’m so grateful for the welcome that I was given. I’ve just had the best time. It didn’t feel like work – it was joyous.”
“It was important to me to make it a personal journey about the Merthyr I grew up in, but also to make it about Merthyr now,” added Speirs, who recently appeared in Death Valley. “I know I’m biased… but I thought, ‘wow! We live in a beautiful place’.”
Ruth and Steve: From Merthyr with Love will premiere on 13 June on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.