# Stella (British TV series)

Stella is a British comedy-drama filmed in the Rhondda valleys that aired on Sky One from 2012 to 2017. It was created by David Peet along with Ruth Jones, who plays the role of the titular character and appears alongside a cast ensemble which includes Patrick Baladi. The sixth and final series premiered on 13 September 2017 and concluded with a 70-minute finale on 18 October 2017. Various celebrities make guest cameos, with former Wales rugby union international Scott Quinnell making the most appearances.

## Plot

Stella focuses on the ups and downs in the life of a struggling mother of three living in the fictional Welsh town of Pontyberry, earning a living doing the laundry and ironing for the locals. Stella’s eldest son, Luke, is serving a prison sentence for joyriding; her daughter, Emma, is completely besotted with boyfriend Sunil and wants to leave school without doing her exams; and her youngest son, Ben, is working on his family tree, which brings back a familiar face from Stella’s past and sends shockwaves throughout the valley.
Along for the bumpy ride are Stella’s best friend Paula, a functioning alcoholic funeral director married to Stella’s brother Dai, an ex-serviceman injured on duty; Stella’s dim, but well-meaning ex-husband Karl, father to Emma and Ben and now with the much-younger Nadine; and lollipop man and youth rugby coach Alan, Stella’s old schoolfriend who has had unrequited love for her since their schooldays.

## Episodes

| Series | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Series | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 January 2012 (2012-01-06) | 9 March 2012 (2012-03-09) |
| 2 | 10 | 10 | 11 January 2013 (2013-01-11) | 8 March 2013 (2013-03-08) |
| 3 | 10 | 10 | 24 January 2014 (2014-01-24) | 28 March 2014 (2014-03-28) |
| Special (2014) | Special (2014) | Special (2014) | 22 December 2014 (2014-12-22) | 22 December 2014 (2014-12-22) |
| 4 | 10 | 10 | 6 February 2015 (2015-02-06) | 10 April 2015 (2015-04-10) |
| 5 | 10 | 10 | 12 January 2016 (2016-01-12) | 15 March 2016 (2016-03-15) |
| Special (2016) | Special (2016) | Special (2016) | 23 December 2016 (2016-12-23) | 23 December 2016 (2016-12-23) |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 September 2017 (2017-09-13) | 18 October 2017 (2017-10-18) |

## Cast
### Key Cast

| Actor/Actress | Character | Duration |
| Ruth Jones | Stella Jackson/Morris/Kosh | 2012–2017 |
| Craig Gallivan | Luke Morris | 2012–2017 |
| Catrin Stewart | Emma Morris | 2012–2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Justin Davies | Ben Morris | 2012–2017 |
| Karen Paullada | Nadine Bevan | 2012–2017 |
| Julian Lewis Jones | Karl Morris | 2012–2016 |
| Mark Lewis Jones | Rob Morgan | 2012–2013, 2015–2016, 2017 |
| Elizabeth Berrington | Paula Kosh | 2012–2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Owen Teale | Dai Kosh | 2012–2013 |
| Kenny Doughty | Sean McGaskill | 2012–2013 |
| Steve Speirs | Alan Williams | 2012–2015 |
| Di Botcher | Aunty Brenda | 2013–2017 |
| Bethan Witcomb | Zoe Morgan | 2013–2017 |
| Patrick Baladi | Michael Jackson | 2014–2017 |

### Supporting cast

| Actor | Character | Duration |
| Maggie Steed | Meg Kosh | 2012 |
| Michael Elwyn | Ken Kosh | 2012, 2017 |
| Aled Pugh | Bobby Gittins | 2012–2017 |
| Pal Aron | Jagadeesh Choudary | 2012–2014, 2016–2017 |
| Sudha Bhuchar | Tanisha Choudary | 2012–2014 |
| Rory Girvan | Sunil Choudary | 2012–2013, 2014 |
| Taj Atwal | Jasminder Choudary | 2012–2013, 2016 |
| Howell Evans | Daddy Simpson | 2012–2015 |
| Anthony O'Donnell | Dai Davies | 2012–2015 |
| Daniel Gammond | Little Alan Williams | 2012–2017 |
| Pal Aron | Jagadeesh Choudary | 2012–2014, 2016–2017 |
| Beth Robert | Mrs Barclay | 2012–2013 |
| Dafydd Hywel | Glen Brennig | 2012–2017 |
| Deddie Davies | Marj Brennig | 2012, 2014–2016 |
| Josh Cook | Keckers | 2012, 2014–2017 |
| Russell Gomer | Yanto Bead | 2012–2017 |
| Andy Linden | Big Rae | 2012–2013 |
| Eiry Thomas | Lisa Howells | 2012–2013, 2016 |
| Ifan Huw Dafydd | Idris Howells | 2012–2013, 2016 |
| Michelle McTernan | PC Jane Glover | 2012–2015 |
| Maxine Evans | Rhian Evans | 2012–2017 |
| Mennar Trussler | Bopa Boyce | 2012–2014 |
| Nicola Reynolds | Shelley Evans | 2013, 2017 |
| Paul Kaye | Peschman Hodd | 2013 |
| Robert Evans | Gwyn | 2013–2014 |
| Paul Kaye | Peschman Hodd | 2013 |
| Lucinda Dryzek | Leah | 2013 |
| Wayne Cater | George the Butcher | 2013–2016 |
| Joanna Riding | Melissa | 2013 |
| Gareth Pierce | Lenny Mack | 2013–2014 |
| Patricia Kane | Mrs Collins / Dotty | 2013, 2016 |
| Martha Mackintosh | Katie Jackson | 2014–2016 |
| Tilly Blackwood | Jan Jackson | 2014, 2017 |
| Emma Rydal | Celia Brackstone/Williams | 2014–2016 |
| Piers Ahia | Billy Matthews | 2014, 2017 |
| Yasmine Akram | Parvadi | 2014–2015 |
| Eiry Hughes | Vivienne ‘Verv’ Draper | 2014 |
| Denise Gough | Collette Jensen | 2014 |
| Clare Hingott | Cheryl Spragg | 2014–2017 |
| Olwen Rees | Mrs Jones / Olwen Kosh | 2014, 2017 |
| Denise Gough | Collette Jensen | 2014 |
| Clare Hingott | Cheryl Spragg | 2014–2017 |
| James Thornton | Marcus Jensen | 2014 |
| Tom Price | Andy Marsh | 2014 |
| Gillian Elisa | Nanna Pat | 2015–2017 |
| Jane Asher | Hazel | 2015 |
| Alice Hewkin | Lily | 2015 |
| Ramon Tikaram | Mr Honey | 2015 |
| Remy Beasley | Beyonce Evans | 2015–2017 |
| Leona Vaughan | Cerys | 2015–2016 |
| Laila Rouass | Maria | 2016 |
| Suzanne Packer | Carole | 2016 |
| Daniel Laurie | Jamie | 2016 |
| Tony Gardner | Ivan Schloss | 2016 |
| Clive Russell | Clem Draper | 2016 |
| Leena Dhingra | Nina Choudary | 2016 |
| Frank Williams | Lord Stanley | 2016–2017 |
| Darren Day | Will Morgan | 2017 |

### Special guests

Many celebrities appeared in the series as themselves:
* Ashley Banjo
* Joe Calzaghe
* Colin Charvis
* Keith Chegwin
* Rylan Clark-Neal
* Nicky Clarke
* Gino D'Acampo
* Andy Fairweather Low
* Warren Gatland
* Russell Grant
* Eamonn Holmes
* Colin Jackson
* Gethin Jones
* Neil Kinnock
* Debbie McGee
* Gillian McKeith
* Only Men Aloud
* Damien O'Kane
* Mike Phillips
* Robert Plant
* Graham Price
* Scott Quinnell
* Tim Rhys-Evans
* Jonathan Ross
* Kate Rusby
* Craig Bellamy
* Andrew Stone
* Gareth Thomas
* Shane Williams

## DVD releases

| Season | Date released | Notes |
| The Complete Series 1 | 12 March 2012 | |
| The Complete Series 2 | 18 March 2013 | |
| The Complete Series 1–2 | 18 March 2013 | |
| The Complete Series 3 | 31 March 2014 | |
| The Complete Series 1–3 | 31 March 2014 | |
| The Complete Series 4 | 20 April 2015 | Includes 2014 Christmas special |
| The Complete Series 5 | 21 March 2016 | |
| The Complete Series 1–5 | 21 March 2016 | |
| The Complete Series 6 | 6 November 2017 | Including 2016 Christmas special |
| The Complete Collection | 6 November 2017 | |

## Filming

The series was largely filmed in Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley in Wales.