Better Later - New BBC Comedy '35 Years in the Making' Now Filming in Wales

Filming is currently underway in Wales for Better Later, a new BBC Wales comedy written by and co-starring lifelong friends Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs.

The heartfelt comedy, produced by Tidy Productions in association with BBC Studios Wales, follows the unlikely friendship between Shelley-Ann (Ruth Jones), an environmental health officer going through a bitter divorce, and Clive (Steve Speirs), a retired teacher and widower. The pair meet at a knee trauma clinic before their lives change forever.

Credits: BBC Wales, Better Later

Although set in the fictional village of Brynfach, the series is being filmed in and around South Wales, including the Brecon Beacons.

Jones said: "In a funny way this show has been 35 years in the making, which is when I first met Steve. It's not that we're slow writers, it's just that we've been up to other things." Speirs added: "Our first time acting together for quite a long time, Ruth makes me laugh more than anyone and I'm a terrible giggler. This could be a long shoot."

The duo revealed that they first came up with the idea for the show years ago while filming together. Jones explained: "We both had - and still have - dodgy knees, so we were hobbling around Merthyr and we started talking."

Credits: BBC Wales, Better Later

She continued: "[Steve] told me about the knee trauma clinic and what [he] had to go through there, and we'd been saying for a while that we should write something together. "So we came up with this idea about a divorced woman going through a bitter divorce and a widower who was a really lovely, gentle guy. My character would be a very bitter, angry, OCD person."

Since filming ended on the iconic Gavin & Stacey, Jones has gone on to write a number of novels, including Love Untold, By Your Side and Us Three.

She also recently appeared in the BBC drama The Other Bennet Sister and Netflix's thriller Run Away, whilst it has been rumoured that she could reunite with James Corden on a brand-new Apple TV+ series.

Better Later will air on BBC One, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer, although a broadcast date has yet to be announced.