Ruth’s appearance came just a day after she appeared on TV screens during the Strictly Come Dancing final

Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones made a surprise appearance at a church in Stockport on Sunday night (December 15). The annual Choirs by Candlelight performance was being held at the St Michael and All Angels Parish Church, in Bramhall.

The Welsh actress, 58, who co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC sitcom as well as being famous for roles in Stella and Little Britain, rocked up at the church for the annual performance following an invite from her friend – who is also the choir master.

The St Michael’s Voices and Meraki choir groups live streamed their carol singing service online, in which Jones also stood to give a reading to the packed-out church.

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Peter Crossen, Conservative ward councillor, shared a selfie of himself with Jones following the service on Sunday night, in which he wrote: “What a wonderful community we have. It was an absolute pleasure to be at St Michael & All Angels Bramhall tonight to deliver the first reading of the carol service. It was a wonderful way to begin the countdown to Christmas.”

The service, at the church on St Michaels Avenue, involved choir carols, and the ‘retelling of the Christmas story in beautifully atmospheric surroundings.’

Ruth’s appearance came just a day after she appeared on TV screens during the Strictly Come Dancing final on Saturday night (December 14).

Appearing in character as Nessa, she drew in laughs from the audience in her witty cameo alongside Claudia Winkleman as she went on to read out the T&Cs of the final in her Barry-style accent, before a full

trailer for the new episode, which will air on Christmas day, was shown.

Scenes from the new eagerly anticipated episode saw Gavin and Stacey plan a weekend away with Smithy and the rest of the gang.