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
NetworkITVX
Release22 June 2023

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.

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]

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.[2][3]

Cast

  • Jayde Adams as Ruby Morgan, a gregarious call-centre worker whose lively interactions with customers, that she has genuine interest in, masks her otherwise lack of enthusiasm for the job, but is not able to cover up for her lacklustre sales record and routinely puts her job security in jeopardy.
  • Joe Sims as Tom Drindle, whose braggadocio over his supreme sales record, and bootlicking, becomes heavily obnoxious.
  • Katherine Kelly as Vicki, the manipulative company head.
  • Sam Swainsbury as Mark, uptight but generally dependable and keen to see his colleagues succeed, seeing himself as the de facto head of the Bristol branch of Hellocom.
  • Jamal Franklin as Cameron Cole, a student only temporarily working at Hellocom, but already roping several co-workers into a choir that Ruby reluctantly is enlisted to become the head of.
  • Nicky Goldie as Donna DiMaggio
  • Amy-Leigh Hickman as Ellie
  • Dan Hiscox as Craig, the eccentric building security guard.
  • Kiera Lester as Melons, an impressive new starter.
  • Gledys Ibarra

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 (2024-01-16)
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 (2024-01-23)
3"Episode 3"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)30 January 2024 (2024-01-30)
4"Episode 4"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)6 February 2024 (2024-02-06)
5"Episode 5"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)13 February 2024 (2024-02-13)
6"Episode 6"Rosie Gaunt-MathiesonAbigail Wilson22 June 2023 (2023-06-22)20 February 2024 (2024-02-20)

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.[4]

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.[5]

Filming

Filming began in January 2023.[6] Filming took place in the Totterdown area of South Bristol.[7]

Broadcast

The series was made available on ITVX from 22 June 2023.[8]

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".[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ruby Speaking Episode Guide - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ruby Speaking". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Jayde Adams lands starring role in Ruby Speaking alongside Katherine Kelly". Entertainment Daily. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "WETHERSPOONS CHEF AMONG CAST FOR JAYDE ADAMS' NEW SITCOM". Bristol247. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jayde Adams' new ITV sitcom casts two unknown Bristolian actors including chef from Pucklechurch". Bristol Post. 23 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Filming starts on Jayde Adams sitcom Ruby Speaking". Chortle. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bristol's Jayde Adams on new ITV sitcom that's so South Bristol it's banned the bridge". Bristol Post. 4 March 2023.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "Ruby Speaking : Reviews 2023". Chortle. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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