RUTH Jones is set to host her own chat show this Christmas, I can today reveal.

The actress was in Cardiff on Wednesday to film the one-hour special, which is set to air on BBC1 next month.

A host of big names joined Ruth on the show, including her Gavin and Stacey co-stars Joanna Page and James Corden.

Singers Max Boyce and Michael Ball were also in Culverhouse Cross for the filming of Ruth Jones's Christmas Cracker.

An inside source told me: "There was a really festive feel in the studio. It was a bit like the Charlotte Church Show

"The set was really homely and all of the guests were given presents by Ruth."

The show also sees Ruth's Gavin and Stacey alter-ego Nessa Jenkins doing on- location interviews with singer Katherine Jenkins and Swansea screenwriter Russell T Davies.

My source added: "Everyone in the audience was in stitches when they saw Nessa was the show's roving reporter. It worked really well.

"She chats to Katherine in her dressing room, as well as interviewing Russell on the set of Doctor Who.

"It looks like Ruth's pulled in a few favours to make sure her chat show makes a big impact."

Filming also saw Ruth get audience members competing in some Generation Game-style contests while Michael Ball treated the audience with a performance of The Impossible Dream.

My source said: "The green room was a grotto, with Ruth's mum on hand to knitting scarves for the guests. Everything about it had a twee, family feel."

The new series of Gavin and Stacey starts on Thursday on BBC1.