Joanna Page has recalled being ‘groped’ by a TV show host during filming after being warned by a female producer about his ‘handsy’ behaviour.
The Gavin and Stacey star, 48, wrote about the incident in her new book Lush: My Story – From Swansea To Stacey And Everything In Between, and said it felt like being ‘mauled at a zoo’ before fighting him off.
In new interview ahead of her memoir’s release she said: ‘Halfway through filming, he starts groping me.
‘I hit his hands and said: “What do you think you’re bloody doing? Keep your f***ing hands to yourself!” Jesus, I feel like I’m in Bristol Zoo being mauled by the lions.’
‘He stopped. It was bizarre, a female producer telling you this was going to happen, but it’s what you got used to.’
Asked why she was not naming the man in her book, she admitted lawyers had warned her about going public.
Joanna Page, 48, has recalled being ‘groped’ by a TV show host during filming after being warned by a female producer about his ‘handsy’ behaviour
The actress said it felt like being ‘mauled at a zoo’ before fighting him off. (L-R) James Corden, Matthew Horne, Joanna, Ruth Jones in BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey
She told The Times: ‘The legal people said: ‘Be careful!”
Joanna is best known for playing Stacey in the hit sitcom, which aired its final episode last year and took home the comedy gong at the National Television Awards earlier this month.
It comes following reports that Gavin and Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones have signed a brand new seven-figure deal for a follow-up.
The pals, who reprised their roles as Smithy and Nessa in the beloved BBC comedy for its finale last Christmas, are believed to be working on new material.
James, 47, and Ruth, 58, have signed a deal that will take the new project away from the BBC and instead onto streaming platform AppleTV+.
A source close to the production revealed that 10 episodes are set to be filmed with an all British cast, with Corden and Jones also starring.
Shooting will begin next year, with the episodes not set to land until 2027.
However, the new show will not feature the iconic characters fans fell in love with on Gavin And Stacey.
‘I hit his hands and said: “What do you think you’re bloody doing? Keep your f***ing hands to yourself!” Jesus, I feel like I’m in Bristol Zoo being mauled by the lions’
Mathew Horne and Joanna played Gavin and Stacey, with Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb playing Gavin’s parents Pam and Mick, while Rob Brydon starred as Uncle Bryn and Melanie Walters as Stacey’s widowed mother Gwen West.
The insider told The Sun: ‘In what has unquestionably been a pretty miserable year for Brits, there is finally something to cheer — a new James and Ruth co-production.
‘As you might expect, it is uplifting, gentle and very funny.
‘They wanted to bring something full of heart and warmth back to screens; water cooler moments for all the family.
‘Naturally there was a lot of interest around the script and a major bidding war to land this production.
‘But James already had an excellent relationship with AppleTV+.’
The source added that casting has not yet begun, but the show will focus on a new format away from Gavin And Stacey.
Daily Mail has approached representatives for James and Ruth for comment.
On Christmas Day last year, Gavin And Stacey concluded with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally declaring their love for one another and tying the knot.
It marked a poignant end for the sitcom, which launched in 2007 and had last aired in 2019 when Nessa proposed to Smithy before the special ended on the cliffhanger.
In a special documentary following the emotional episode, James revealed why Gavin And Stacey could not continue.
He explained: ‘Probably from the first Christmas special that we did, when Dave proposes and Smithy says, “Don’t marry him”, from that minute on it felt like they had to end together.
‘And that’s what he says in this last scene, “I know it’s messy and not perfect, but that’s because we’re messy and not perfect”.’
Joanna’s autobiography, Lush: My Story – From Swansea To Stacey And Everything In Between, tracks her journey to stardom and goes on sale on September 25.
