Scripted TV production in Wales

Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special
Broadcast Christmas Day 2019
Produced by Tidy Productions and Fulwell73

Scripted TV production in Wales

Gavin & Stacey NTA Impact Award

Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special
Broadcast Christmas Day 2019
Produced by Tidy Productions and Fulwell73

Tidy Productions is an independent production company based in Cardiff, specialising in scripted comedy and comedy drama. It was born out of the partnership between multi-award winning actress, screen writer and novelist Ruth Jones and TV producer and writer David Peet. Since its first comedy drama, Ar y Tracs, in 2009, Tidy has established a track record in making top class network shows, partnering with other production companies and working with the renowned production talent of South Wales.

Oh! Why all the fuss?

Gavin & Stacey cuttings
When it aired on Christmas Day 2019, the Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special became the most watched scripted TV programme of the decade and the biggest BBC TV programme outside of sporting and national events since records began in 2002. It was watched by 18.5 million viewers, 4.9 million of who were 16-34-year-olds. Critical response was very favourable and at the National Television Awards in January, Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special picked up the Special Impact Award.
NTA Impact Award

Even if you weren’t a fan the first time round, travelling back there now in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special feels like an hour’s respite, sorely needed.” ****
Lucy Mangan, The Guardian

What luck then to be delivered a Christmas special as hilarious, irreverent and heart-warming as the original series.” *****
Emily Baker, i

“James Corden and Ruth Jones, the writers, took a risk in reviving an award-winning show because the only way is down. But it paid off. Characters this well-conceived can rise from the near-dead and you barely notice any decay.” ****
Carol Midgley, The Times

“This, though, was a joyful indulgence, a pub scene glowing with love and affection. ‘There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour,’ Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol — and there in Barry, the Christmas spirit was very much present.”
Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times

By the end of the hour my face hurt from the smiling. It wasn’t the jokes as such, but the sheer pleasure of having all the characters back and hearing why Nessa will be otherwise occupied on New Year’s Day.” *****
Deborah Ross, The Mail on Sunday 

Any fears that Gavin and Stacey’s long-awaited return might be a comeback too far disappeared after around two minutes. That was when Mick and Pam arrived on screen and I actually found myself cheering out loud.” *****
Ian Hyland, Daily Mirror

“Warm, family friendly, slightly daft and crucially it was funny; in parts anyway. Lush, as they say in Barry.”
Garry Bushell, The Sunday Express

“Gavin & Stacey proves that playing it safe is not always a bad thing. It’s a way of spending an hour with people we’ve known a long time, and we are happy to see, but probably only once a year at most.” ***
Ed Cumming, The Independent

“Dropping to one knee in front of an amazed Smithy, on the door-step of their best friends’ terrace house in Barry, South Wales, she grunted: ‘I loves ya.’ What could possibly have been more satisfying at the end of this one-off special? We didn’t realise it, but we’ve been waiting for this moment for ten years.” *****
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

Our Story

Tidy Productions is wholly owned by Ruth Jones and David Peet. It was formed in 2009 following the huge success of the BAFTA award winning sitcom Gavin and Stacey, created, written and starring Ruth Jones and James Corden and produced by Baby Cow.
Gavin & Stacey was a celebration of two undervalued cultural jewels within the UK’s comedy landscape: Billericay and Barry Island. It afforded both places a newfound kudos and introduced the world to expressions like “What’s occurring”, “Lush” and “Tidy”.
Meanwhile, David brought a vast range of writing, presenting and producing experience in TV and radio. He established his credentials on Radio 4 and BBC Wales as a writer and producer of ambitious documentary series, interviewing the likes of Martin Scorsese, Arthur Miller, Graham Greene and Michael Caine. At the time, comedy at BBC Wales was non-existent, and seeking to remedy this, David brought together a team of new talent to produce the TV pilot Throw Another Log on the Cottage. The team comprised Rob Brydon, Wayne Forester and Steve Speirs, and introduced new comedy actress (and then bartender!) Ruth Jones. David then went on to produce Except for Viewers in England, with the same cast, which aired on BBC1 Wales. The seeds of Tidy Productions had been sown.

In 2009, Tidy launched with Ar y Tracs and A Child’s Christmases in Wales (co-produced with Boomerang), plus three prime time talk shows hosted by Ruth Jones in 2010 and 2011. Ruth and David’s next comedy drama was The Great Outdoors (with BBC Studios) and then, in 2012, they created the hit comedy Stella, which ran for six series and two specials on Sky One.

The strength of Tidy Productions lies in Ruth and David’s joint creative talent and the freedom to work in partnership with other production companies, the location to access the best of Welsh TV talent and the experience to produce outstanding scripted comedy. The latest project is the 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special, co-produced with Fulwell73.
Wales plays a big part in Ruth and David’s work. It is both the setting and source of much of the creative and production talent involved. Companies such as Boomerang, BBC Studios and post-production specialists Gorilla are all examples of the resources that have brought the attention of the television world to Wales, and Tidy Productions is helping major broadcasters and production companies to access that talent.

Our Credits

Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special

The hotly anticipated return of the multi-award-winning series, widely regarded as one of the best ever UK sitcoms. Director Christine Gernon. Set and filmed entirely in South Wales. 

Stella

Set and filmed in the South Wales valleys, this multi-award winning comedy drama won a record-breaking and consistent audience from its first showing and ran from 2012-2017. Key director Tony Dow.

The Great Outdoors

A much-loved comedy series following the hikes, heartaches, friendships and rivalries of a misfit rambling club. Director Catherine Morshead.

A Child’s Christmases in Wales

A beautiful re-working of Dylan Thomas’ most popular work, a lyrical and evocative recollection of a young boy’s experience of several Christmases in Wales. Directed by Christine Gernon. 

Contact Tidy

Please send any enquiries by email to enquire@tidyproductions.co.uk

We regret that we do not accept unsolicited scripts. 

Contact Ruth Jones

To contact Ruth for personal appearances, voiceover work, acting or books, please go to www.porthallam.co.uk