Stella (UK TV series)

Stella
Genre	Comedy-drama
Created by	Ruth Jones David Peet
Written by	Ruth Jones Rob Evans Steve Speirs Ben Edwards Simon Ludders
Directed by	Sandy Johnson Sue Tully Juliet May Tony Dow Mandie Fletcher Sarah O'Gorman
Starring	See Cast
Opening theme	"And Then She Smiles" by The Mock Turtles
Composer(s)	Mark Thomas Simon H Jones Nick Lloyd
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	5
No. of episodes	50 (inc. 1 special) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Barry Lynch Lucy Lumsden Ruth Jones Jon Mountague
Producer(s)	Jane Dauncey Josh Dynevor
Editor(s)	Sara Jones Peter Hallworth John Richards
Running time	60 minutes (inc. adverts) 90 minutes (inc. adverts) (2014 Special)
Production company(s)	Tidy Productions
Release
Original network	Sky 1
Picture format	16:9 (1080i HDTV)
Original release	6 January 2012 – present
External links
Official Website

Stella is a British comedy-drama created and written by David Peet and Ruth Jones who plays the lead role of Stella. Stella is one of the flagship television comedy series that has been commissioned and aired on Sky1. The series is largely filmed in Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley in Wales.^[1] Just as the show reached halfway through the first series, it was confirmed that a second series was commissioned and premiered on 11 January 2013.^[2] Just before the second series even aired, Sky recommissioned the show for a third series and premiered on 24 January 2014^[3] with a Christmas Special to follow on 22 December 2014. As the show reached halfway through the third series, it was confirmed that a fourth series was commissioned and premiered on 6 February 2015.^[4] After the fourth series concluded, it was confirmed that a fifth series was commissioned and premiered on 12 January 2016.^[5] Various celebrities make guest appearances as themselves in some episodes.

Background

The series is set in the fictional village of Pontyberry in the South Wales Valleys. Stella is a 40-something single mum who earns a living doing the locals' ironing. Most of the time, she's relatively happy with life as she juggles the ups and downs of her family, amid the chaos of her eccentric friends, relatives and children's fathers. Her brood consists of eldest son Luke, who starts the series in prison as a consequence of stealing five cars and a lorry; 16-year-old Emma who's smitten with her first love Sunil; and 12-year-old Ben.

Then there's Stella's best friend, sister-in-law Paula, a functioning alcoholic funeral director. Stella's not-too-bright ex-husband Karl who's now seeing 28-year-old Nadine; not forgetting lollipop man and youth rugby coach Alan, an old school friend of Stella's who's been in love with her since 1984. Finally there's Stella's brother Dai who is an ex-serviceman injured on duty. He doesn't work now but is always willing to help out while enjoying an exciting sex life with his wife Paula.

A running joke of the series is the Daddy character played by Howell Evans who only speaks in an unfathomable language, yet everyone in the village is able to understand him but outsiders cannot. However, Daddy appears in the choir scenes where he appears to sing the same words as the rest of the choir members. In episode 2.7 Ashley Banjo thinks Daddy is speaking Welsh but Paula says Daddy does not speak Welsh. However, in episode 2.10 Aunty Brenda says Daddy can speak Welsh and Punjabi.

A number of main cast members did not return after the second series and exited off screen. Consequently new cast members were added for the third series.

Catrin Stewart did not return as Emma in the fourth series having departed on screen in the Christmas special but returned in episodes 9 and 10 in Series 5. Several other cast members also did not return.

In Series 4 Episode 7 Elizabeth Berrington returned as Paula Kosh after having not appeared since Series 2, however her return was only temporary, she departed in Episode 8. She also returned in episodes 7 and 8 of Series 5, because of Daddy's death.

The Series 4 finale ended on a cliffhanger, Beyonce informed Michael that she was 12 weeks pregnant with his baby and gave him a scan photo.

Synopsis

Stella is a warm, funny, down-to-earth family saga starring Ruth Jones in the titular role as a mum juggling the demands of life, love and the next door neighbour's donkey. Stella is a 40-something mum who earns a living doing the locals' washing and ironing. And, most of the time, she's relatively happy with life as she juggles the ups and downs of her family, amid the chaos of her eccentric friends, relatives and children's fathers. Her brood consists of eldest son Luke, a lovely boy who starts the series in prison; beautiful 16-year-old Emma who's smitten with her first love Sunil; the brains of the family 12-year-old Ben and their dog Banjo.

Then there's Stella's best friend Paula, a functioning alcoholic funeral director. Stella's not-too-bright ex-husband Karl who's now seeing 28-year-old Nadine; not forgetting lollipop man and youth rugby coach Alan, an old school friend of Stella's who's been in love with her since 1984. Finally there's Stella's brother Dai who is an ex-serviceman injured on duty. He doesn't work now but is always willing to help out while enjoying an exciting sex life with his wife. Stella's life isn't straightforward. Bagging toy boy Sean and son Luke's release from prison indicated that things were on an upward turn in the first run, but teenage daughter Emma's pregnancy and the untimely return of Stella's first love Rob soon knocked the family off balance. In the last episode, Luke revealed he was emigrating to Canada, although Stella stole the show by confessing to Emma that she was pregnant - but didn't know if Rob or Sean was the father.

Series two joins Stella and Sean preparing for their new arrival, while Emma and Sunil adjust to married life. Domestic bliss looks doubtful for both, however, as Rob's business dealings bring him back to Pontyberry and Sunil enrols at a brainy (and boozy) medical school. Elsewhere, Dai begins work at the funeral home with wife Paula, creating untoward problems for the usually adventurous couple. Catch up with lollipop man Alan too, who experiences a run of bad luck when his crossing is replaced by traffic lights. Karl and Nadine's new salon Tantastic Bodies, meanwhile, promises to make the town "browner and beefier", and they've already got a potential client in Aunty Brenda, a new arrival from Tenerife armed with bags of insults and an appetite to offend.

English lawyer Michael Jackson moves to the house next door to Stella after an acrimonious divorce has caused him to downsize his lifestyle. As he tries to adjust to valley life he soon becomes inextricably linked to Stella's household. When we left Pontyberry at the end of Series 2 Stella had made the life changing decision not to go to Canada with Rob. She also parted ways with Sean and he emigrated to Australia with his new love. As the story picks up for series 3 will Stella have entirely given up on men? Or could new neighbour Michael become the new apple of her eye?

Cast

Main cast

Actor/Actress	Character	Duration	Notes
Ruth Jones	Stella Morris/Jackson	2012–Present
Craig Gallivan	Luke Morgan	2012–Present	Eldest son of Stella
Catrin Stewart	Emma Morris/Choudary	2012–2014, 2016–Present	Daughter of Stella
Justin Davies	Ben Morris	2012–Present	Youngest son of Stella
Patrick Baladi	Michael Jackson	2014–Present	Boyfriend/Husband of Stella

Supporting cast

Actor/Actress	Character	Duration
Karen Paullada	Nadine Bevan	2012–2016
Julian Lewis Jones	Karl Morris	2012–Present
Aled Pugh	Bobby Gittins	2012–Present
Daniel Gammond	Little Alan	2012–Present
Maxine Evans	Rhian Evans	2012–Present
Russell Gomer	Yanto Beed	2012–Present
Dafydd Hywel	Glen Brennig	2012–Present
Deddie Davies	Marj Brennig	2012, 2014–Present
Pal Aron	Jagadeesh Choudary	2012–2014, 2016–Present
Taj Atwal	Jasminder Choudary	2012–2013, 2016–Present
Scott Quinnell	Himself	2012-Present
Wayne Cater	George the Butcher	2012–Present
Di Botcher	Aunty Brenda Draper	2013–Present
Bethan Witcomb	Zoe	2013—Present
Martha Mackintosh	Katie Jackson	2014–Present
Emma Rydal	Celia Braxton	2014–Present
Clare Hingot	Cheryl Spragg	2014–Present
Grace Fan	Betty Wong	2014–Present
Remy Beasley	Beyonce Evans	2015–Present
Alice Hewkin	Lily	2015–Present
Leona Vaughan	Cerys Ferris	2015–Present
Suzanne Packer	Carole	2016–Present
Tony Gardner	Ivan Schloss	2016
Laila Rouass	Maria	2016–Present
Ruth Madoc	Mayor Mary Meyer	2016
Richard Harrington	Ian Meyer	2016
Patricia Kane	Dotty	2016
Andy Fairweather Low	Himself	2016
Clive Russell	Uncle Clem Draper	2016
Josh Cook	Keckers	2012–2014, 2016
Elizabeth Berrington	Paula Kosh	2012–2013, 2015-2016
Tim Rhys-Evans	Himself	2016

Former cast

Actor/Actress	Character	Duration
Owen Teale	Dai Kosh	2012–2013
Kenny Doughty	Sean McGaskill	2012–2013
Beth Robert	Mrs. Barclay	2012–2013
Menna Trussler	Bopa Boyce	2012–2013
Maggie Steed	Meg, Stella's mother	2012
Michael Elwyn	Ken, Stella's father	2012
Donna Edwards	Mo the Bap	2012–2013
Nadia Kamil	Bethan	2012–2013
Joanna Riding	Melissa	2013
Joanna Scanlan	Nancy	2012
Lucinda Dryzek	Leah	2013
Paul Kaye	Peschman Hodd	2013
Howell Evans	Uncle Huw Simpson	2013
James Corden	Steven	2012
Melanie Walters	Sonographer	2013
Andy Linden	Big Rae	2012–2013
James Thornton	Marcus Jensen	2014
Denise Gough	Collette Jensen	2014
Katie Elin-Salt	Amy Edwards	2012, 2014
Tilly Blackwood	Jan Jackson	2014
Ian Lavender	Keith Jackson	2014
Keith Barron	The Captain	2014
Gareth Pierce	Lenny Mack	2013–2014
Eiri Hughes	Verv/Vivienne	2014
Sudha Bhuchar	Tanisha Chaudary	2012–2014
Rory Girvan	Sunil Choudary	2012–2013, 2014
Steve Speirs	Alan Williams	2012–2015
Anthony O'Donnell	Dai Davies	2012–2015
Yasmine Akram	Parvadi	2014–2015
Celyn Jones	Brother Alan	2014–2015
Vern Griffiths	Dewi Phillips	2015
Ramon Tikaram	Mr. Jeffrey Honey	2015
Jamie Lomas	Dan Braxton	2015
Richard Elfyn	Iwan Jenkins	2015
Jane Asher	Hazel	2015
Wynne Evans	Dafydd Sanchez	2015
Howell Evans	Daddy Simpson	2012–2015
Michelle Luther	Carley	2015
Michelle McTernan	WPC Jane Glover	2012–2014, 2015
Mark Lewis Jones	Rob Morgan	2012-2013, 2015-2016

DVD release

The complete first series of Stella was released on DVD on 12 March 2012.^[6]

The complete second series of Stella was released on DVD on 18 March 2013.^[7]

The complete third series of Stella was released on DVD on 31 March 2014.^[8]

The complete fourth series and the 2014 Christmas Special of Stella was released on DVD on 13 April 2015.^[9]

The complete fifth series of Stella was released on DVD on 21 March 2016. A series 1-5 boxset was also released.

References

1. Stella filmed in Ferndale
2. Sky order 2nd series of Ruth Jones comedy drama Stella, retrieved 10 February 2012
3. Ruth Jones's Stella gets third series, retrieved 25 August 2012
4. Sky orders Series 4 of Ruth Jones comedy drama Stella, retrieved 27 February 2014
5. Jones, Hannah (14 August 2015). "Stella series 5 films new scenes in Cardiff". Wales Online. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
6. "Stella - Series 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
7. "Stella - Series 2 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
8. "Stella - Series 3 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
9. "Stella - Series 4 + 2014 Christmas Special [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Stella at the British Comedy Guide
• Stella at the Internet Movie Database