Tortoise tryst for celebrity pet

Ruth Jones was reunited with Tom after the tortoise went on the run

It's come as something of a shell shock, but Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones thinks her pet tortoise has finally found reptile romance.

It's only weeks since the other celebrity Welsh Tom Jones narrowly escaping death at a recycling plant.

The publicity his close shave attracted then brought an offer to introduce him to female tortoises for the first time.

Now his famous owner, who presents a BBC Radio Wales show on Sundays, hopes Tom will finally become a father at 55.

The actor, who both plays Nessa in, and is co-writer of, the hit BBC romantic comedy, was relieved to rediscover her pet after he had been missing for five weeks.

The "other" Welsh Tom Jones was eventually found on a conveyor belt in a recycling centre and reunited with his owner.

The owners of two female tortoises were so taken by his adventures that they offered to bring them from Bristol to the actor's Cardiff home to see if Tom was interested in sharing shells.

"I was nervous and excited," said Ruth Jones, who has also featured in comedies Little Britain, Saxondale, Nighty Night and was recently seen in the BBC's Tess.

"Tom had never met a girl tortoise and he was a bit smaller than them!

"There was tortoise flirting with both the girls but he definitely took a shine to Harriet.

"It's coming up to autumn now so they will be hibernating.

"But next year they'll meet again and if the chemistry is still there, who knows, there may be some baby Toms next year."

Ruth Jones' Sunday Brunch is on BBC Radio Wales, 1000 - 1200 GMT.

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