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Ruth Jones gives cast 'cracking' tour of Barry Island

Angela FergusonBBC Wales
News imageIJPR Five women are smiling while standing in front of the blue Marc's Cafe sign at Barry Island, with one woman kneeling on the floor. The sign includes photos of some of the cast of Gavin and Stacey, including Joanna Page as Stacey and Rob Bryden as Uncle Bryn. Ruth Jones is on the right, standing next to a photo of her as Ness.IJPR
Some of The Other Bennet Sister cast members enjoyed an ice cream at Marco's cafe during their surprise day out in Barry Island

Cast members from BBC drama The Other Bennet Sister enjoyed a "cracking" day out in Barry Island while filming in Wales, courtesy of acting "legend" Ruth Jones.

Jones, who plays Mrs Bennet in the drama series, arranged for Dave's Coaches to pick up the actors for a trip to one of the locations featured in Gavin & Stacey.

She even reprised her role as Nessa at one point during the trip, cast member Ella Bruccoleri, who plays Mary Bennet, told BBC Radio Wales.

Bruccoleri said Jones went to the front of the bus where "she did a bit of a Nessa tour guide turn and then she sang to us as well - she sang a bit of Islands in the Stream - it was wonderful".

"It was so funny. We were all swaying our arms in the air," she said.

"We all went down to Barry and swam in the sea and ate ice cream at Marco's Cafe and stuff and that was wonderful," said the former Call the Midwife actor.

"She knew that she had loads of Gavin & Stacey fans on the bus and she was really giving the people what they wanted."

She described the Gavin and Stacey co-creator as "an incredibly lovely woman -she's just a legend, isn't she".

News imageBBC/Bad Wolf/BritBox A man and woman in Regency period costume stand together in a still from The Other Bennet Sister. Richard E Grant is peering over his glasses while standing next to Ruth Jones. Both are holding a glass of what appears to be wine. A gold gilted mirror and fireplace can be seen behind them.BBC/Bad Wolf/BritBox
Ruth Jones appears alongside Richard E Grant as Mr Bennet in the 10-part drama series

The Other Bennet Sister is based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name.

It offers a different spin on the world of the classic Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice, as seen through the eyes of the couple's often overlooked middle daughter Mary Bennet.

Mary Bennet is striving to forge her own path and identity, with her sights set on stepping away from her sisters' shadows to find love and make a new life for herself.

News imageIJPR Ten woman and two men are smiling while standing by the sea on a pavement at Barry Island. Ruth Jones is in the centre, with Ella Bruccoleri to her left. IJPR
The surprise day out in Barry Island was "glorious", Ella Bruccoleri said

Bruccoleri said it was "magnificent" to work with Jones and "I had the summer of my life shooting this job in Wales".

They also filmed in Brecon in Powys, Merthyr Mawr in Bridgend and the Gower peninsula, near Swansea.

She said she had only previously been to Wales once before but "I had this summer in Wales and I was like oh why would you want to be anywhere else - it is such a beautiful country".

News imageBBC/Bad Wolf/BritBox The two Bennet sisters on the left and right wear colourful period costumes of dresses and cropped cardigan ( L-R- pink, blue, purple, green). Mary, in the middle, wears a more basic white dress, a brown cropped cardigan and a beige head scarf.BBC/Bad Wolf/BritBox
Mary Bennet (centre) is portrayed by Ella Bruccoleri, whose acting credits include Call the Midwife and Bridgerton

The actor, who comes from north Yorkshire, said they had a mainly Welsh crew and "they were some of the kindest, loveliest people I've ever met and worked with".

Jones has previously said the series was "one of the happiest jobs" she has ever done and "I love coming back to Wales".

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