Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs celebrate Welsh town

Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones is making a TV tribute to Merthyr Tydfil with fellow comedy actor Steve Speirs.

Speirs – star of the Welsh sitcom The Tuckers and known for playing Richard Burbage in Upstart Crow – is local to the town and will spend a weekend showing Jones around for the hour-long programme. 

He said: ‘To take someone who’s very special to me to the place that’s most special to me was one of the happiest filming experiences of my life. 

‘We laughed so much, we talked so much… and we nearly cried quite a few times. Our Merthyr trip was brilliantly memorable for both of us. If the joy of the weekend comes over half as much on the telly box as it was in reality… then I’ll be very pleased.

Jones added: ‘Merthyr Tydfil! Who knew?! I had the best time learning about this brilliant place and being shown around by my dear friend Steve Speirs. I’m definitely going back!’

The show is one of several  commissioned by BBC Cymru Wales  to mark the bicentenary of Cyfarthfa Castle, which sits in the town. 
 

The programming also features Kiri Pritchard-McLean hosting the two-part stand-up special, Live From Merthyr Tydfil, filmed earlier this year at Merthyr’s Theatr Soar. Across the 30-minute programmes she will be joined by Merthyr’s Morgan Rees and Owen Money, alongside a range of Welsh comedic talent including BBC New Comedy Award winner Paul Hilleard, Mel Owen, Priya Hall, Ignacio Lopez, Anna Thomas and Esyllt Sears.

Rhuanedd Richards, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: ‘I’m so proud that this season will spark curiosity about the past and the future of Merthyr Tydfil, drawing audiences to this special town. 

‘This big collective BBC Wales moment is an opportunity for us to celebrate Merthyr’s character, soul, community and culture, as well as the contribution this particular area has made in building modern Wales and the wider world.’

All the programmes will air this summer.

Published: 9 Apr 2025