Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones has paid tribute to the screen writer who "indirectly" brought the comedy to our screens. The Welsh actress was paying tribute to Kay Mellor, who wrote some of the most successful television dramas in recent decades, after it was announced she has died at the age of 71.
Kay's dramas launched the career of many stars, and it was on the drama Fat Friends that Ruth met Gavin & Stacey co-writer James Corden and actress Alison Steadman, who went on to play Gavin's mum Pam Shipman. Paying tribute, Ruth said that she had texted James after news of Kay's death was announced, and said that she would be eternally grateful for her big break.
Read more: Tributes as Fat Friends and Band of Gold writer dies aged 71
A spokesperson for Kay Mellor's TV production company, Rollem Productions, said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May 2022. We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends at this time.”
Kay began her career writing plays, worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children’s drama Children’s Ward, and also wrote BBC One’s women’s football series Playing The Field. Ruth said she has spoken to the other actors who had starred in Fat Friends after the news broke and told BBC Radio Wales: "We are all just so shocked. I mean, she was only 71. And she was such a vibrant, lively, healthy person.
"I still can't really get my head around it, to be honest. She's going to be missed by so many people." The Welsh actress, who also went on to create Stella, said that it was Kay who had given her a "huge break" and for that she would be "eternally grateful".
"I met Kay over 20 years ago when I auditioned for the part of Kelly in Fat Friends, which went on to run for four series," she said. "I ended up writing one of the episodes, and I'll never forget the audition.
"Kay was a very, very down to earth person. And I went in for the recall audition, and she said, you wouldn't mind going blonde would you love and she threw this blonde wig at me. And I put it on, I did the audition, and it's the only time in an audition I've been told that I've got the part on the actual day. She just said to me that I may as well tell you you've got the job.
"I will never forget that it was just fantastic. And she was a really she was a very giving person in the sense that she really encouraged new writers and new talent and she really believed in paying it forward. And I will be eternally grateful to her for the break she gave me.
"Of course, I met James from doing Fat Friends and he and I ended up writing Gavin and Stacey together. So indirectly Kay had a huge part in that and I am thankful to her for that. She's going to be so missed, and what she contributed to British television and the stage is was just phenomenal."
James Corden, who starred as Jamie Rymer in Fat Friends, also paid his own tribute. He said: “Kay Mellor sadly passed away today. She was the most generous, kind and loving person. An exceptionally gifted writer.
“She changed my life when she cast me in Fat Friends on ITV. She saw something in me that no one had before that point. She gave so many people their first chances. I have the fondest memories of being on set with her. She will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time x.”
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