Ruth Jones made her first public red‑carpet appearance since announcing the end of her marriage, arriving at the National Television Awards in a dark purple, fully sequined gown as Gavin & Stacey was named Best Comedy.
Jones, 58, joined fellow cast members and writers on the red carpet and later on stage at the London ceremony, where the show was voted Best Comedy by the viewing public. The gown featured flowing cap sleeves with a feathered trim; she complemented the look with gold accessories, including a sequin clutch, hoop earrings and a bracelet.
On stage, veteran actor Larry Lamb praised the writers before passing the award to Jones. "When Ruth and James wrote Gavin & Stacey they created a family that can belong to us forever," Lamb said. Embracing her character Nessa, Jones quipped: "Yeah, all right, calm down. I'm going to the bar now for a pint of wine."
Jones announced in June that her 26‑year marriage to television executive David Peet was over, saying the couple had split 18 months earlier and were "legally separated." Following the announcement, the house they shared was listed for sale with an asking price of £1,150,000, the Daily Mail reported.
The newspaper also reported that Peet, 72, has relocated to Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia and is in a relationship with Jayne Charity Cook, 46, a digital creator and education assistant. MailOnline published social media posts showing the couple together; those posts drew supportive comments, the report said. Peet is understood to have three adult children from a previous relationship.
Jones is stepmother to Peet's children and is reported to be close to them, including taking on a grandmother role to their children. The former couple have owned properties in Cardiff and the Scottish Highlands and had split their time between the two before announcing their separation.
Gavin & Stacey’s win was among a number of honours handed out at the ceremony. Other winners included Gary Lineker for Best Presenter, This Morning for Best Daytime Show and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! for Reality Competition. The awards also recognised Call the Midwife as Returning Drama and EastEnders as Serial Drama.
In recent months Jones has been seen without her wedding ring at public appearances. In a separate stage appearance in Bath, she discussed a character named Linda who leaves a long marriage after realising she and her partner had become "friends," a storyline Jones said was prompted by a partner's affair in that dramatic context.
Jones's appearance at the NTAs marked a high-profile return to public life for the actor and writer, who continues to be closely associated with the long-running sitcom she co-created and co-wrote with James Corden.