Telly lovers all over the UK were absolutely buzzing to hear that beloved British series, Gavin and Stacey, might be coming back for a reunion at the end of the year but, as it turns out, co-writer Ruth Jones has already rushed the supposed plans.
Barely even a full day after there was talk of the cast getting back together for another Christmas special, which themselves have gone on to become a bit of a TV institution in their own right, the Welsh screenwriter and actor has now played down the potential festive comeback.
As per an interview on Irish station RTÉ Radio 1, Jones simply responded to the chatter by insisting it is “sadly a rumour”, going on to question where the story came from in the first place.
Speaking live on air, she said: “Apparently there’s a bidding war going on between the BBC and Netflix and I love it because it says ‘a source says’ — who is this source?”
❌ No return planned for Gavin and Stacey
Ruth Jones joined @olivercallan this morning to chat about her role in Sister Act in the Bord Gáis.
The 57-year-old comedian best known for playing Nessa on the iconic show went on to assure, “All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James [Corden] and I would happily announce it, we would.”
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Many fans might have been hoping that Corden’s recent departure as host of The Late Show over in the US might give some credence to the speculation but, unfortunately, it seems there is nothing concrete regarding a Gavin and Stacey reunion any time soon.
While she did admit, “James and I talk about [the show] a lot, it’s a huge part of our lives”, adding, “It’s lovely that people love it” and that they are still very grateful for the role it played in their careers, she didn’t want anyone to get carried away and start thinking they were writing another series.
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Some fans were already expecting to be let down by the rumblings.
Trying not to get my hopes up for this Gavin & Stacey special this year because we’ve had our dreams crushed countless times before… pic.twitter.com/MMrKmcygRa
A new Shrek-themed cafe has opened at Primark in Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a new Shrek-themed cafe in Manchester city centre – and Donkey’s prayers for waffles have finally been answered by none other than clothing retailer Primark.
The back corner of the bargain fashion store on Market Street has been taken over by vines and fairytale characters as Shrek comes to town.
The cafe has been home to many iconic brands since its launch, one of the most notable being its 2019 debut as Central Perk, the go-to coffee hot-spot from TV Series Friends.
Shrek himself will also be paying a visit to the store in the coming weeks to sample some of the delicious delights customers can try such as nachos, waffles, shakes and bubble teas – each one with an ogre twist (yes, that is green cheese you see).
The Cafe is Shrek-ogeddon from head to toe with the menu paying homage to some familiar faces from the franchise.
Shoppers can indulge in ‘Fairy Godmother’s Potions’ which are a selection of sweet fruity concoctions, or treat your tastebuds to some Swampchos or Toastie ‘Slabs’, which are more appetising than they sound.
The grand entrance to the Shrek cafe in ManchesterA mural dedicated to the main ogre himself – Shrek!Inside the Shrek Cafe at Primark Credit: The Manc Group
After all those scrumptious snacks you’ll definitely be saying ‘I Need A Hero’ as you face your own battle – the dreaded food coma.
The Shrek Far Far Away Cafe will be a Manchester mainstay til the beginning of November, giving everyone the opportunity to have their happy ever after.
There’s also a handful of Shrek merchandise available storewide that fans and customers alike can get their hands on all-year-round.
Tim Kelly, director of new business development at Primark said: “We’ve gone Far, Far Away to find the inspiration for our latest cafe theme, bringing all the fun in the kingdom to our Primark cafes”.
“Our revolving themes have been so popular with our customers, giving them more reasons to visit their local store. We can’t wait to welcome fans to the cafes and hope they enjoy our limited-edition menu fit for a fairytale!”
And if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, fans of the iconic film franchise have just over two years to wait until Shrek 5 debuts in theatres on 1 July 2026.
You can visit the Shrek Cafe at Primark on Market Street and at the Trafford Centre in Manchester now.
Mancs wanted for new BBC adventure travel show with ‘life-changing’ prize
Emily Sergeant
Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? This might just be your calling then.
The BBC is currently casting for a brand-new travel adventure series.
At this point, not a great deal is known about the new series, with a lot of the details seemingly being kept under wraps, but the broadcaster has revealed that the show currently has the working title of ‘Destination X’, and is being described as “the world’s biggest guessing game”.
The show’s producers, Twofour, are on the look-out for budding travel enthusiasts who love solving clues, playing detective, and outsmarting their competition.
Not only does the experience promise to be “an epic journey”, but there’s also the chance to win a life-changing prize.
Casting is closing towards the end of this week (6 September), and filming for the show is set to begin next month and run through to November.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call for the show on the BBC website, producers Twofour wrote: Have you got what it takes to play the world’s biggest guessing game? Twofour are now casting for the BBC’s brand new travel adventure series. If you love solving clues, playing detective and outsmarting your competition, then we want to hear from you.
“This experience promises to be an epic journey, with a chance to win a life-changing prize.”
Fancy it then? Applications for the exciting new series are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of this Friday (6 September 2024), and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.