Gavin and Stacey icon lands role in Harlan Coben's new Netflix thriller as another star 'misses out'

Ruth Jones, co-creator of the BBC's Gavin and Stacey and the actress behind the iconic character Nessa, has secured a role in Harlan Coben's upcoming thriller set to air on Netflix. The 58-year-old actress will star as Elena Ravenscroft in the new series, Run Away, alongside big names such as James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver and Alfred Enoch.

This marks Netflix's thirteenth collaboration with Coben, who has previously produced popular shows like Fool Me Once, The Stranger and Missing You. Run Away is based on Coben's novel of the same name, with the author serving as executive producer through his company, Final Twist Productions.

The cast also includes Lucian Msamati from Conclave, Jon Pointing from Sweetpea, Ellie de Lange from Wolf Hall, Ellie Henry from Hollyoaks, Tracy-Ann Oberman from Friday Night Dinner, Annette Badland from Ted Lasso and Ingrid Oliver from Doctor Who. However, Richard Armitage, a regular in Coben's projects, is noticeably missing from the line-up.

Armitage has previously appeared in Stay Close, The Stranger, Fool Me Once and 2025's Missing You. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by fans who have come to expect his presence in Coben and Netflix's collaborations, reports Wales Online.

Netflix is set to continue its successful partnership with author Coben, with several new projects in the pipeline, including Run Away. The streaming giant has also announced upcoming titles such as Caught, Just One Look, and I Will Find You, so while Armitage may have missed out on this particular project, he could be gearing up for something else instead.

The plot of Run Away centres on Simon, played by James Nesbitt, whose idyllic life is shattered when his daughter Paige, portrayed by Ellie de Lange, disappears. The