Ruth Jones doubles Sky's audience

Ruth Jones has doubled Sky1’s audience with her new comedy-drama Stella.

The show, set in the Welsh valleys, attracted 718,000 viewers at 9pm last night – more than twice the average that slot normally gets.

The overnight Barb figures from Attentional mark another success for Sky’s push into home-grown comedy starring established names.

Jones has described the show, based around a single mother of three, as a gentle comedy drama, adding of her characters: ‘They don't actually want to have a rubbish day. There aren't any evil, nasty characters there.

‘I don't want to make things that are cynical and aggressive just because, oh my God, there's enough of that going on in the world without me adding to it.’

Sky commissioned ten hour-long episodes of the show.

Published: 9 Jan 2012