Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones leaves James Corden in tears with BAFTA TV Awards speech

Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones left co-star James Corden emotional as she scooped a BAFTA TV Award on Sunday evening.

The annual ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, returned on Sunday 11 May with celebrities flocking to Southbank's Royal Festival Hall for the glamorous evening.

During the ceremony, Ruth, 58, fought back tears as she was awarded best Female Performance in a Comedy for her role in the Gavin and Stacey finale.

The actress, who plays fan favourite Nessa in the show, paid tribute to her longtime pal, co-creator and co-star James Corden, who plays Smithy, which left him in tears.

During her acceptance speech, Ruth, who gave some of her speech hilariously as her character Nessa, said: "I really wasn't expecting this, so I wanted to thank the wonderful cast."

She added: "Huge thank you to the BBC, such a fantastic institution which I am so proud to have worked with so many times."

Continuing her speech, she emotionally said: "The person I would like to thank most is my dear dear talented lovely kind funny friend, James Corden, with whom I have shared this astonishing journey for the past 17 years and without whom Vanessa Shanessa Jenkins would simply not exist. I love you James, I love writing with you, long may it continue."

As the camera panned onto James, 46, he was seen wiping away tears as he emotionally broke down over Ruth's win and speech.

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were also quick to share their thoughts on Ruth's win as one person said: "Absolutely made up for Ruth Jones. Lovely, funny, multi-talented woman! #BAFTAS #GavinandStacey", a different account wrote: "So happy for Ruth Jones. So well deserved!! We are going to miss Nessa #BAFTAS", another put: "I've gone, I've actually gone. Miss Ruth Jones I adore you #BAFTAS."

Elsewhere, a different account put: "Congrats to Ruth Jones & all the fab cast & crew of #GavinandStacey #BAFTAS", another put: "Ruth Jones winning a bafta and they played the Gavin and Stacey song #BAFTAs #BAFTATVAwards" with an emotional GIF while a different show watcher added: "Ruth Jones. Deserved award and brilliant acceptance speech. #baftas #tvbaftas #baftas2025 #gavinandstacey #ruthjones."

The BAFTA TV Awards airs from 7pm on One and iPlayer.