BBC Wales Orders Ruth Jones Steve Speirs Comedy Series on Middle-Aged Relationships

Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs are set to co-write and co-star in a new six-part BBC comedy series focused on the challenges and rewards of relationships in middle age. The untitled show centers on the unlikely friendship between a 60-year-old widowed retired teacher, Clive, and a 55-year-old recently divorced environmental officer, Shelley-Ann, who meet at a knee trauma clinic. The series is produced by Ruth Jones's company Tidy Productions and will air on BBC One, BBC Wales, and iPlayer. BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie praised the script as "instantly special" and expressed excitement for the project, while Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales, highlighted the current strong comedy audience. Both Jones and Speirs expressed enthusiasm for working together again after a 30-year friendship. The commissioning editors for the BBC are Emma Lawson and Paul Forde, and no air date has been announced yet.