Ruth Jones in the title role, and wrote several episodes as well as co- writing episodes with Rob Gittins, Rob Evans, David Peet and Steve Speirs. Jones has stated that she was worried about comparisons to "Gavin and Stacey" when setting a second programme in Wales and the company originally thought to set it in Bristol, but the decision was made to set it in the Rhondda Valley 'I know people from the Valleys and it is just a joyously colourful place and full of characters.' A second series of "Stella" was filmed in summer 2012 and aired in early 2013. A
Ruth Jones "Ultimate Funny Woman" award at the annual Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards in November 2009. In July 2013 Jones received an honorary degree from the University of Warwick. Jones was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to entertainment. Ruth Jones was awarded the Bafta Cymru Sian's Phillips special recognition award in 2009. In 2013 STELLA won three Bafta Cymru awards for best drama, best writer and best editing. Jones received a Bafta nomination at the London awards for best actress for her role as Stella in