Gavin and Stacey Christmas special 'not this year'

Ruth Jones (far left, who starred as Nessa) said she and James Corden (middle, standing) are too busy to write a special of BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey

Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones has confirmed there will not be a one-off special of the TV comedy in 2012.

Jones says she and co-writer James Corden still want to do a special for the hit show to follow up the third series which ended in 2010.

But she admitted that any return to Barry Island would not be for the "foreseeable future" as they are too busy with their other work schedules.

"We won't be doing a Christmas special this year," she told BBC Wales.

Jones, 45, who also played Nessa in the show, launched her new comedy drama series Stella on Sky TV last week, which is based around a south Wales valleys single mother.

Jones and James Corden co-wrote and starred in Gavin and Stacey

Time off

As well as starring as Stella, the eponymous central character, Jones is also the primary writer for the 10-part series.

While also set in Wales, it is entirely different from Gavin and Stacey, the cross-border boy-girl romance tale which helped make her a household name, along with Corden.

Jones said Stella has the potential to go to a second series but added that, in the meantime: "I need little bit of time off."

Corden, 33, who played Smithy in Gavin and Stacey is appearing in a sold-out play called One Man, Two Guvnors in London's West End.

The comedy and its cast is due to transfer to New York's Broadway in April.

But Jones defended her and Corden's loyalty to the BBC series.

She said: "It has never changed since we finished the last series - if we get the chance.

"James is off to America to do his play on Broadway. I have other writing projects.

"So for the foreseeable future, we don't have any time. It would not be this year."