Ruth Jones to star in comedy-drama for Sky1

Ruth Jones has written a new TV comedy drama about a 40-something mother.

The Welsh actress - who plays Nessa in Gavin And Stacey, which she also co-writes - will also star in the 10-part family saga, Stella, set in 'an authentic slice of the working-class Welsh valleys'.

The one-hour episodes will feature Ruth in the title role, juggling the demands of life, love and the next door neighbour's horse.

The drama, announced as part of Sky1 HD's comedy schedule, will be filmed early next year for broadcast in 2012.

Dawn French, Catherine Tate, Kathy Burke and Stephen Fry will also appear in autobiographical comic shorts on the channel.

Each narrated film, shown as part of the Little Crackers season, will dramatise a humorous tale from the star's past. Victoria Wood will be directing and starring in her own tale.

Other shows announced include Mount Pleasant, a comedy drama following the imperfect life of Mancunian 30-something Lisa, played by ex-Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay.

This Is Jinsy, an eccentric comedy written by and starring newcomers Chris Bran and Justin Chubb, is about the bizarre residents of the fictional island of Jinsy.