BBC orders Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs comedy series
BBC Wales and BBC Comedy have commissioned a "tender comedy" series co-starring and co-written by Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs.
Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs have created a "tender comedy" series.
BBC Wales and BBC Comedy have commissioned the untitled project - co-starring and co-written by the 59-year-old actress and the 60-year-old comedian.
The six-part series, of which each episode runs for 30 minutes, is centred on the unlikely friendship between two people - retired teacher Clive is 60 and widowed, and environmental officer Shelley-Ann is 55 and going through a bitter divorce - who meet at a knee trauma clinic.
And the show - of which the BBC is yet to announce when it will air - looks at the challenges and rewards of relationships in middle age.
Ruth said: "I’m so grateful to the BBC for commissioning our new series. Steve and I are old friends and working with him is always a thrill.
"[I] can’t wait."
Steve added: "Thanks to the team at the BBC for backing our new show. I’ve worked with Ruth for over 30 years and am really looking forward to doing it again!"
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, said Ruth and Steve's new series is "special".
He said: "We were genuinely weak at the knees when this script first landed in our inboxes.
"It’s a rare thing to read something that feels so instantly special, and we cannot wait to see it come to life.
"Having comedy powerhouses like Ruth and Steve choose to bring this to the BBC is a real privilege, and we’re hugely grateful for their trust."
And Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales, declared the show - which has been made by Ruth and her ex-husband David Pleet's production company Tidy Productions - said the commission was "superb news".
He added: "It’s a total delight to be working with Ruth and Steve again!
"We’re having such a cool time in comedy at the moment with audiences coming in big numbers; to have this project now joining such a rich slate of content is beyond exciting.
"Superb news."
