News / television
South Bristol features on the small screen in new sitcom ‘Ruby Speaking’
Jayde Adams’ new sitcom treats viewers to some teaser shots of south Bristol in its first episode.
Ruby Speaking, based on Adams’ experience of working in a Stokes Croft call centre, airs on ITVX on Thursday but all episodes are now available to watch online.
The comedian told Bristol24/7 the show “won’t have one single bit of Clifton in it”, “no Suspension Bridge, no Clifton colourful houses, it’s all south Bristol”.
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The six-part series follows Ruby, played by Adams, and “her ragtag bunch of colleagues” at fictional call centre Hellocom in the customer service department.
Partly shot in Bristol with the interior scenes filmed in Watford, the ITVX show sees Ruby deal with her own misfortunes while also navigating other people’s issues, often putting them before her own job.
Adams’ Bristolian accent is out in full force, joined by her ever jovial Bristol mate, Joe Sims.
She recruited Bristol actors Dan Hiscox, who plays Craig, and Kiera Lester, who plays Melons, for the series.
Hiscox was a chef at a Bristol Wetherpoons before landing the role, and Lester trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, already appearing in BBC’s Chloe, Bristol Old Vic’s the Meaning of Zong and ITV’s Grace.
Although the first episode is predominantly filmed in the call centre, hints of Bristol’s cultural landmarks are dotted around the background.
A shot of hot air balloons rising above the city can be seen on a back wall of Ruby’s office, while Cliftonwood’s familiar row of colourful houses can be spotted beyond the call centre’s windows.
Totterdown fruit and veg shop, Fox & West, also appears towards the end of the episode, and looks set to be Ruby’s local.
In one scene in the first episode, cast member Sam Swainsbury, who plays Mark, weighs up his date options with Adams.
“Browns at the top of Park Street?” she responds. “Bit keen. Zizi’s maybe?”
All episodes of Ruby Speaking are now available on ITVX.
Main photo: ITV
Read more:
- Wetherspoons chef among cast for Jayde Adams’ new sitcom
- Jayde Adams: ‘There’s no art without failure’
- My Bristol favourites: Jayde Adams
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