Ruby Speaking

Last updated

Ruby Speaking
GenreComedy
Created by
Screenplay byAbigail Wilson
Directed byRosie Gaunt-Mathieson
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerLucy Lumsden
EditorJake Robertson
Production company
  • Yellow Door Productions
Original release
Network ITVX
Release22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)

Ruby Speaking is a six-part British comedy television series for ITVX made by Yellow Door Productions, created and written by Abigail Wilson, and co-created with Jayde Adams and Lucy Lumsden. It stars Adams, Katherine Kelly, Sam Swainsbury and Joe Sims.

Contents

After an initial release exclusive to ITVX in June 2023, the show was broadcast on linear television on ITV2 in January and February 2024. [1] It ran for one series. [2]

Synopsis

Working in a call-centre called Hellocom in South Bristol, recently single Ruby is popular amongst other staff, but puts others over herself and over a sale as she struggles to keep to the call-centre script. [3] [4]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byITVX release date [1] ITV2 airdate [1]
1"Episode 1"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)16 January 2024
Ruby's job is on the line as her non-existent sales record finally comes back to bite her, with boss Vicki deciding to give her one last chance. Mark struggles to ensure she sticks to the script as Ruby gets herself into a romantic entanglement with him and Ellie - who, despite the two being obvious incompatible, he has feelings for - and realises that her steadfastly ensuring she prioritises her geniality with customers who appreciate it over constantly trying to upsell does not always lead to disappointing results, and can be more important than always having a business-minded head.
2"Episode 2"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)23 January 2024
3"Episode 3"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)30 January 2024
4"Episode 4"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)6 February 2024
5"Episode 5"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)13 February 2024
6"Episode 6"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)20 February 2024

Production

The series is produced by Lucy Lumsden and Jayde Adams for Yellow Door Productions. Ideas for the show were loosely inspired by Adams time spent working at a centre in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol. [5]

Casting

In the cast are local actors from Bristol who answered open casting adverts, including Dan Hiscox who was working as a care assistant in nearby village Pucklechurch. [6]

Filming

Filming began in January 2023. [7] Filming took place in the Totterdown area of South Bristol. [8]

Broadcast

The series was made available on ITVX from 22 June 2023. [9]

Reception

Steve Bennett wrote, in a two-and-a-half star review for Chortle, that Adams' character Ruby is "just a little too bland to sustain the viewer’s interest – which is something of a surprise for anyone familiar with Adams's often brash, larger-than-life stand-up performances". However, he praised the relatability of the characters - rather than being "comedy archetypes" - and that the show was mostly "built on gentleness, both of the characters and of the action", but that "it may be quite a big ask for a streaming show to hope audiences stick with the show and warm to its laid-back pace". [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Slattery</span> English actor and comedian (born 1959)

Tony Declan James Slattery is an English actor and comedian. He appeared on British television regularly from the mid-1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. His serious and comedic film work has included roles in The Crying Game, Peter's Friends and How to Get Ahead in Advertising.

Thomas Paul Allen is an English comedian, actor, writer and presenter. In 2005, he won the So You Think You're Funny contest at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Godliman</span> English actor and comedian (born 1973 or 1974)

Kerry Anna Godliman is an English actress and comedian. She has appeared in TV roles in Derek, Bad Move, and After Life.

Jon Joel Richardson is an English comedian. He is known for his appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his work as co-host with Russell Howard on BBC Radio 6 Music. He presented Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier, and also features with his wife Lucy Beaumont in the TV show Meet the Richardsons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Rosenthal (actor)</span> English actor

Thomas Alan Smith Rosenthal is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his television roles as Jonny Goodman in Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020) and Marcus Gallo in Plebs (2013–2022). He has written and performed three stand-up comedy shows: Child of Privilege (2011), благодаря (2013), and Manhood (2019–2020), the latter of which received critical acclaim at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

<i>Benidorm</i> (British TV series) British TV sitcom (2007–2018)

Benidorm is a British sitcom written and created by Derren Litten and produced by Tiger Aspect for ITV that aired for ten series from 1 February 2007 until 2 May 2018. The series features an ensemble cast of holiday makers and staff at the Solana all-inclusive hotel in Benidorm, Spain over the course of a week each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Sims (actor)</span> British actor

Joe Sims is a British actor known primarily for his role in ITV's drama Broadchurch where he played plumber Nige Carter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Dommett</span> British actor and comedian

Joel Patrick Dommett is an English comedian, television presenter and actor. After beginning his career as an actor, and appearing in various television shows including Casualty and Skins, he embarked on stand-up comedy and television presenting and became known for his television roles in Live in Chelsea (2011–2012) and Impractical Jokers UK (2012–2014).

<i>The Walshes</i> Irish/British sitcom (RTÉ/BBC 2014)

The Walshes is an Irish comedy television series that was first broadcast on RTÉ One on 6 March and BBC Four on 13 March 2014. The three-part series was written by Graham Linehan and the comedy group Diet of Worms, and is based on the group's 2010 web series The Taste of Home. The show follows the Walshes, a tight-knit family living in the fictional West Dublin suburb of Strollinstown. Diet of Worms portray the family, reprising their roles from the web series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayde Adams</span> British actress and singer (born 1984)

Jayde Pricilla Gail Adams is a British comedian, actress, writer and opera singer from Bristol. She is the winner of the 2014 Funny Women Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funny Women</span> Female comedy network

Funny Women is an online and in-person workshop community dedicated to the support of female comedians. It was founded by Lynne Parker in 2002 as a reaction to misogynistic comments from a comedy promoter. Funny Women helps women find their voice, promote them, and assists charities.

Jamie Demetriou is an English comedian, actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Bus Rodent in Fleabag and for creating, co-writing, and starring in Stath Lets Flats. For the latter, he won Best Male Actor in a Comedy, Best Writer of a Comedy, and Best Scripted Comedy at the 2020 BAFTA Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Pattison</span> English stand-up comedian

Lauren Pattison is an English stand-up comedian from Newcastle. She was nominated for the best newcomer award at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival and for best show in 2022.

<i>Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster</i> British comedic culinary podcast

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster is a food and comedy podcast featuring Ed Gamble and James Acaster, in which guests are invited to select their dream menu by both comedians. Off Menu was launched in December 2018. As of April 2023, the podcast has been downloaded 120 million times.

Kate & Koji is a British television sitcom produced by Hat Trick Productions for ITV. It was created and written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. The show aired from 18 March 2020 to 13 April 2022. The series follows Kate, a working-class café owner in the neglected coastal resort Seagate in south Essex, who develops a strong friendship with regular customer Koji, an asylum-seeking doctor. For Series 2, Akingbola was replaced by Okorie Chukwu.

<i>Almas Not Normal</i> Television series

Alma's Not Normal is a British sitcom first broadcast as a pilot episode on BBC Two in April 2020. The series follows the eponymous Alma, from Bolton, as she tries to give her life meaning and the "fabulous" outcome she has always dreamed of, while coping with the strained relationships of her family that saw her spend time in care, something else which she is trying to reconcile. The series is written by and stars Sophie Willan, and is inspired by her own experiences of the care system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Barron</span> American comedian & writer

Sara Barron is an American comedian and writer based in the United Kingdom.

Changing Ends is a British television sitcom released on ITVX in the UK from 1 June 2023. It is a semi-autobiographical series about comedian Alan Carr growing up in Northampton during the 1980s, the son of a professional football manager. A second series was commissioned in November 2023.

Significant Other is a British comedy drama television series made by Quay Street Productions for ITVX starring Katherine Parkinson and Youssef Kerkour.

Piglets is an upcoming British comedy series set in a police training college. It will broadcast on ITVX in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ruby Speaking Episode Guide - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. "RUBY SPEAKING AXED BY ITV AFTER ONE SERIES". TV Zone. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. "Ruby Speaking". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. "Jayde Adams lands starring role in Ruby Speaking alongside Katherine Kelly". Entertainment Daily. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. "WETHERSPOONS CHEF AMONG CAST FOR JAYDE ADAMS' NEW SITCOM". Bristol247. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  6. "Jayde Adams' new ITV sitcom casts two unknown Bristolian actors including chef from Pucklechurch". Bristol Post. 23 January 2023.
  7. "Filming starts on Jayde Adams sitcom Ruby Speaking". Chortle. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. "Bristol's Jayde Adams on new ITV sitcom that's so South Bristol it's banned the bridge". Bristol Post. 4 March 2023.
  9. Darvill, Josh (9 May 2023). "Ruby Speaking release date and first look at new ITVX comedy with Jayde Adams". Telly Mix. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. "Ruby Speaking : Reviews 2023". Chortle. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.