Bafta-winning actress returns to Gavin and Stacey for surprise cameo-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro

The Christmas special just got even more exciting (Picture: BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Ja)

Filming for Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas special is well underway, and fans will be happy to know that an iconic character has been filming scenes.

Sheridan Smith is said to be back as Ruth ‘Rudi’ Smith, the sister of James Corden’s Smithy.

In the most recent Christmas special in 2019, Sheridan, 43, did not feature, but for the final-ever episode, a source has said she is ‘over the moon’ to be back.

‘She is an incredible actress and stepped straight back into Rudi’s shoes,’ a source told The Sun.

It may have been 14 years since she was last filming as Rudi in series two and three, but they added it was like ‘no time had passed at all’.

‘Sheridan was over the moon she could go back into the fold and her scenes are brilliant.’

Sheridan played Smithy’s sister Rudi (Picture: BBC)

In the series that ended in 2010, Rudi was part of many of the show’s iconic moments including rapping Estelle and Kanye West’s American Boy on a car park with Smithy and wearing wheelies on a shopping trip.

The actress, who won a Bafta in 2013 for her part in Mrs Biggs, previously dated creator James, 46, between 2007 and 2009, when the BBC sitcom began airing.

It was first reported in May that Sheridan had ‘informal discussions’ about being involved and was ‘friendly’ with her former partner.

James and Sheridan previously dated (Picture: Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock)

‘All of the stops are being pulled out to make sure the whole cast are there, and in the coming weeks the production team hope to pin down everyone’s availability,’ a source told The Mirror.

They added: ‘Sheridan and James are still friendly – they recently bumped into each other at the Variety Club Awards and got on really well. So, the hope is that she will be able to be part of it.’

Sheridan didn’t appear in the last Christmas Special because her character ‘was not part of that storyline’, however, it is ‘a different story’ this time around.

When asked about whether she would be appearing in the 2019 Christmas Special ahead of it hitting screens, Sheridan told BBC Radio 2: ‘I wish. No, I’m not going to be in it, I think.’

Sheridan was involved in plenty of comical scenes (Picture: BBC)

She also shared: ‘I’d definitely come back for a series. I’m not in touch with James — he lives in America. If I saw him here, we’d hug.’ 

James married Julia Carey in 2012, and the couple have three children together. Sheridan shares son Billy, three, with ex-partner Jamie Horn.

News of a Christmas special was first confirmed in May with James and co-creator Ruth Jones, 57, sharing a selfie holding the finale script.

Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and Sheridan Smith’s representatives for comment.

The final Gavin and Stacey episode will air on Christmas day.

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