Latest news with #RuthJones
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Shrewsbury woodland fire thought to be caused by disposable barbecue
A woman has urged people not to use disposable barbecues, after a fire near her house was thought to have been caused by fire in woodland in Nesscliffe, near Shrewsbury on 5 July took more than six hours for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to bring under service said the blaze involved about 20 sq m (215 sq ft) of woodland and undergrowth at Hopton Hill, and was believed to have been caused by a disposable barbecue."It's quite shocking, it's completely burnt, there's nothing left there," said Ruth Jones. She said the cottage closest to the site of the fire was about 150 yards (137m) away, and believed that the outcome could have been worse if not for the speed of the fire service."We'd have been burnt to death potentially, we are surrounded by the woods so it would've gone from one bit of woodland to the next and into our houses." "Not everyone that comes here is aware of the fire hazard," she told the BBC."There's a lot of conifers and a lot of deadwood in the woodland, and although it's a fairly remote area, we get a lot of visitors because it's a country park."We haven't had a lot of fires… maybe five in the 30 years we've been here, but this is the most serious and the most irresponsible, really." Shropshire Fire and Rescue said that if the public used a portable barbecue, they needed to make sure it was in a safe place, away from flammables, such as dry grass or urged people to never leave barbecues unattended and to make sure they are completely extinguished by submerging the coals in cold Jones said she did not think people thought ahead."I think they just think about what they want to do, and then they think that they've left it and it's dead," she said.""If you absolutely have to use one… take it home with you and make sure it's safely disposed of, don't leave it in the countryside." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones pops in to Sheringham Little Theatre
Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones has returned to a small seaside theatre where she appeared more than 30 years ago to watch a family friend's new actress and writer visited Sheringham Little Theatre in Norfolk with Pirates of the Caribbean actor Steve Spiers for the opening night of his son's new described it as a "trip down memory lane" as she recounted how her summer run in 1993 overlapped with her contract at the Royal Shakespeare Company."I had three days where I would get up at the crack of sparrow's, drive to King's Lynn, get the train to London, rehearse all day, get back on the train, head back to Norfolk and do a performance of Absent Friends," she said. "I'm so excited to return to Sheringham after all this time."We did John Godber's Teechers and Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends and it was such great fun."It was a very special time in my life - I was 26 years old and during the run I also auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company."I was the bottom rung of a very long ladder, with one line in All's Well That Ends Well and lots of understudying."She has since appeared in a host of TV series including Fat Friends, Little Britain and Fat Friends, as well as the long-running BBC hit Gavin & Stacey, which she co-created and co-wrote with James Corden. More recently, she has worked with Spiers on the BBC documentary From Merthyr with Love, looking at his home town in the Welsh were in the audience, alongside actress and theatre president Suranne Jones, to watch Spiers' son Lewes Roberts perform in a new play on Thursday at the 160-seat has co-written The Case of the Three Eyed Elephant - which traces the origins of Sherlock Holmes - with Laurence Akers and actor Ryan show is also being staged at Wolterton Hall, near Aylsham, on 26 July and Bylaugh Hall, near Dereham, on 27 the show, Jones said she was "absolutely gobsmacked by the talent and energy". "If anyone needed an advert for live theatre, this was it – a truly great experience." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
South Wales Argus
07-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ruth Jones MP renews calls to ban UK trophy hunting imports
Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, hosted a parliamentary event on July 3 organised by animal welfare groups FOUR PAWS UK, Born Free, and Humane World for Animals UK, marking 10 years since the lion's death reignited global debate over trophy hunting. Ms Jones said: "I was proud to stand on a manifesto which committed to ban the import of hunting trophies last year and deliver the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation. "I hope that we can be the Parliament to finally deliver this legislation and can protect more animals from having to suffer the same fate as Cecil." Cecil was killed in Zimbabwe in July 2015 by American dentist Walter Palmer, who shot the animal with a bow and arrow. The lion died after 10 hours of suffering. Dame Joanna Lumley, patron of the Born Free Foundation, also spoke at the event. She said: "The brutal, senseless killing of Cecil a decade ago shocked and enraged me as it shocked and enraged the world. "Cecil's death cannot be in vain."
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE What's occurring? You can own piece of British TV history as house from iconic sitcom goes on sale £220k
The house owned by potty-mouthed pensioner Doris in hit BBC One sitcom Gavin & Stacey is up for sale. MailOnline can reveal the two-bed terrace house in Trinity Street, Barry, which is located next door to the lead character Stacey Shipman's family home at No47, is on the market for £220,000 and is already being eyed up by fans of the comedy. And estate agents are pushing its link with the iconic show on its listing, saying: 'This charming two-bedroom mid-terrace property offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of British television history.' Doris was played by actress Margaret John, who passed away in 2011, but was so loved her character was name checked by writers James Corden and Ruth Jones in the Gavin & Stacey: Finale last Christmas. Stacey's neighbour would make regular cameos in the comedy, particularly during its early years, when she would emerge from her front door to interact with lead characters, including Uncle Bryn, played by Rob Brydon, who lived across the road at No48. In the 2019 Christmas special, it was revealed Doris left her house to Gavin and Stacey in her will. The property is located in the west end side of Barry and features a modern kitchen and an open plan lounge/diner 'perfect for entertaining', according to the house's spec. There is a modern bathroom on the first floor, alongside the two bedrooms. The full enclosed garden offers potential owners the opportunity to 'create your own outdoor oasis at the heart of Barry.' The house is located just half a mile away from Barry train station and has another perk for potential buyers - it has no onward chain. In 2023, Uncle Bryn's house was put on the market for £212,000. Fans flock to Barry each year to embark on Gavin & Stacey tours, and Trinity Street is one of the many destinations, alongside Barry Island beach where Nessa (Ruth Jones) worked in the amusement arcade. Actress Margaret passed away aged 84 after a battle with cancer. Her character Doris was known for her frankness, as well as the hilarious reason she refused to make a salad for Neil the Baby's christening. The house, which featured in Gavin & Stacey, is located just half a mile away from Barry train station and has another perk for potential buyers - it has no onward chain Fans flock to Barry each year to embark on Gavin & Stacey tours, and Trinity Street is one of the many destinations, alongside Barry Island beach where Nessa worked in the arcade Ruth, who plays Nessa, won Female Performance in a Comedy Programme at the BAFTAs this year after the show returned for one final reunion on Christmas Day The sitcom, written by James Corden and Ruth Jones, also starred Joanna Page who said her first ever scene was with neighbour Doris, played by the late Maggie John Paying tribute to the veteran actress, Joanna Page, who played Stacey, said: 'Working with Maggie John has got to be one of the highlights of Gavin & Stacey. 'I just love how her character got bigger and worse and saucier and sexier as the series went on.' She continued: 'From, I think, the first series, I always remember filming it because it was my first scene as well. 'Getting off the bus, walking across the road and going 'Alright Dor?' and then she gives me advice on what I should be like when I travel up to London to see Gavin, and she gives me a little bit of saucy advice. 'From that moment I just thought 'Oh my god, this woman is just so hilarious and lovely, and brilliant'.' Co-creator Ruth added: 'I do remember when we were casting Gavin & Stacey and we had this character of Doris, the next-door neighbour who was a little bit rude.' 'Chris Gernon, our director, said 'I know exactly the actress to play that part - it's Maggie John'.'
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Church in Wales urged to share full reports as Archbishop retires
A senior MP is calling on the Church in Wales to fully publish two reports into allegations of safeguarding and governance issues at Bangor Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, announced he was retiring with immediate effect on Friday following a turbulent period for the Bangor diocese after the publication of the summaries of two critical summaries mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred" and excessive alcohol consumption as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses at Bangor Jones MP said "we need to see what the reports actually say, not just the summaries".There is no suggestion that Mr John behaved inappropriately. On Friday, Mr John confirmed he would retire as the Archbishop of Wales with immediate effect and would also retire as Bishop of Bangor on 31 decision follows the publication last month of the summaries of two reports into failures at Bangor to publish the reports in full, the Church in Wales set up an implementation group and oversight board to make improvements and implement the time, Mr John had offered his "most heartfelt apology to any members of the cathedral community who have been hurt or who feel I have let them down" as he faced calls from some quarters to resign. Jones, the MP for Newport West and Islwyn and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities, said there was "a problem" with not having "full sight" of the reports."Because we don't know the full extent of the situation or the problems in Bangor, and everybody wants to make sure that Bangor and the rest of Wales, the Church in Wales, goes forward," she said."It's things like making sure safeguarding principles are in place, procedures and protocols, and that staff and congregations feel safe."We need to know what's gone wrong, because unless you know what's gone wrong, how can you put it right?"A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said the reports into the situation at Bangor Cathedral were commissioned by the church and the summaries of those reports were made public. "We will remain in dialogue with the parties involved at Bangor as we seek to resolve the issues and to inform the wider public, while respecting our obligations to those who contributed to the reports on conditions of confidentiality," they added. Public review Senedd member Sian Gwenllian, whose Arfon constituency includes Bangor, has called for an independent "review" into "what went wrong" at the Plaid Cymru MS said: "We now urgently require a fully independent, public review - not a closed-door process - to examine what went wrong at Bangor Cathedral."Ms Gwenllian said transparency was "absolutely essential" as "the public deserve to know how safeguarding failures were allowed to persist" and "how finances were handled"."Only with openness and an honest reckoning can public trust be restored," she to the MS, a spokesperson for the Church in Wales said: "We are in contact with Sian Gwenllian and have offered a meeting to discuss her concerns and whatever next steps would be appropriate."
