Gavin & Stacey star Alison Steadman makes her Great British Menu judging debut on the third episode of the finals, on Wednesday, March 30, as the eight regional champions hope for success with their main course going through to Friday's banquet.
The veteran actress will have to help decide who will go through to the final stage of the cookery competition which has already seen Welsh chef, Nathan Davies, go through with his Merlin-themed, Welsh lamb starter. Best known for her role as Pam Shipman in the BBC smash hit comedy, viewers will get to hear her real accent which is nothing like Essex housewife, Pamela.
Alison is originally from Liverpool but by the age of 20 she'd moved down to Essex to study at East 15 Acting School where she met her first husband, the acclaimed director, Mike Leigh. With Leigh she had two sons, Toby and Leo and the pair worked together frequently in their early days, with Mike writing and behind the camera and Alison acting on productions like Abigail's Party, Nuts in May, Secrets & Lies and Life is Sweet. For the latter, Alison won National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in 1991.
Read more: The definitive answer on whether there’ll be a new series of Gavin & Stacey
The pair divorced in 2001 after almost 30 years of marriage and the accomplished stage and film actress is now the partner of Pontypridd-born actor, Michael Elwyn, who's recently been seen in Coronation Street. Elwyn, 79, has also had roles in Bad Girls, Stella, Quiz and Robin Hood. She and Leigh are still friendly and she credits him for her not being typecast in her career. She said: "He gave me the opportunity with Beverly and with Candice Marie to do two completely opposite parts – they couldn’t be more different – and yet I was happy doing both. I wasn’t typecast.”
A keen birdwatcher, Alison became an ambassador for the London Wildlife Trust in 2016. While talking about her recent drama, Rules of the Game. on Good Morning Britain she spoke about whether Gavin & Stacey might return.
Alison explained how the cast 'wish it would' make a come back but it all depends on the show's writers and creators - Ruth Jones and James Corden.
During her appearance the show, presenter Susanna Reid asked: "Is it going to come back?"
"Oh well this is a good question," Alison replied: "You know, no one's ever asked me this before! I honestly don't know, we all obviously in our hearts wish it would. But look James Corden is such a huge star, he's so busy. Ruth Jones is the same, she's writing, acting, you know she's mad busy. So I don't know if they'll get back together but never say never!"
For more TV news, click here. Great British Menu continues this week on BBC Two at 8pm.
