Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones is stepping back into Nessa’s trademark bob to revisit the character just days after over 12 million people watched the finale of the BBC sitcom, making it the most watched programme on Christmas Day.
The 58-year-old star is wil read Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast as the programme celebrates its centenary on New Year’s Day.
Explaining why she took the character out of retirement for the landmark occassion Ruth said: “Nessa has got quite a colourful history and one of her jobs was on the high seas. The Shipping Forecast was always very important and useful to her.”
She is just one of the celebrities helping to mark the anniversay of the legendary forecast.
Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh, national treasure Stephen Fry, Line Of Duty‘s Adrian Dunbar, and sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur are also among those marking the first broadcast of the Met Office‘s forecast on the BBC.
The project fits in nicely with the Gavin and Stacey finale which saw Nessa intending to return to working on the high seas as Smithy (played by James Corden) planned to marry Sonia (Laura Aikman).
After realising mid-ceremony that Nessa was the woman for him he dumped Sonia at the altar.
Realising he had to tell Nessa how he felt the whole gang decamped to Southampton Dock so he could propose to her and prevent her departing on a ship.
The episode ended on a happy not for fans with Nessa and Smithy’s unconventional wedding.
Ruth’s reprisal of Nessa for this one off event is likely to be the last time she steps into the character’s shoes as both she and co-creator James Corden have said the festive special is definitely the last ever episode of the popular BBC sitcom.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain James, stated emphatically: “It’s definitely the last time you’ll ever see them [the characters], no question.”
Meanwhile Ruth hinted at potential emotional turmoil ahead, saying: “When you see this episode, you’ll go, ‘There’s nowhere to go after this.”
Ruth will also appear on BBC One on New Year’s Day alongside the rest of the cast as an eagerly awaited documentary Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell, broadcasts at 7pm.