Fat Friends cast – Where they are now, from Hollywood to roles in Peppa Pig

The show was a huge hit between 2000 and 2005, and many notable faces featured in the cast

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Kay Mellor appears on This Morning in 2015

Many people are reminiscing about hit TV series Fat Friends this week, after it was revealed the creator of the show had passed away.

On Tuesday (May 17) it was confirmed that Kay Mellor, who wrote hit series including ITV ’s Girlfriends, Band of Gold and The Syndicate, has died aged 71.

Despite her many successes Leeds-born Mellor was perhaps best known for writing Fat Friends, which aired from 2000 until 2005, before later being turned into a musical.

A spokesperson for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May 2022.

“We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends at this time.”

Mellor’s Fat Friends was a show that particularly touched the hearts of many, as it focused on the lives of different members of a slimming club in Leeds.

The cast were brilliant, and many of them are still on our screens today, but what have they been up to since the show ended?

Here’s what the cast of Fat Friends are up to now.

James Corden

It’s not often that we don’t see James, now 43, these days after making viewers fall in love with his character of Jamie Rymer. He later joined forces with his Fat Friends co-star Ruth Jones to write Gavin & Stacey, which went onto be a huge success.

He’s also since done very well on the stage having received rave reviews for his work in One Man, Two Guvnors on the West End.

Not to mention he’s also featured in a number of huge Hollywood movies since jetting off to the states such as Into the Woods, Cats and Peter Rabbit.

In 2015 it was also revealed that he would host US chat show, The Late Late Show, where he has since interviewed a number of stars and created hit sketches. Recently it was confirmed he was set to leave his role after a brilliant and fun-filled run.

Ruth Jones

Ruth, 55, is now more commonly known as Gavin & Stacey’s Nessa, but she first played Kelly Chadwick in Fat Friends. Her character came up against various hurdles on her weight loss journey, as she worked in a chippy.

Two years after the show’s finale she launched Gavin & Stacey with James, and the show became so successful that it was awarded a BAFTA and went onto be voted the 17th greatest sitcom in poll conducted by the Radio Times.

As well as this she’s appeared in shows such as Little Britain, Saxondale and Stella, for which she bagged a BAFTA nom for Best Female Comedy Performance. She has also released two novels in more recent years.

Gaynor Faye

Gaynor, 50, took on the role of a struggling actress named Lauren Harris in Fat Friends – and, if you didn’t know – it was her mum who actually created the show.

The actress has been a regular on our screens throughout the years having starred in shows such as Playing the Field, Between the Sheets and in recent years she also played Megan Macey in Emmerdale.

Not to mention she was also the first ever champion of Dancing on Ice when she competed in the first series of the show back in 2006 with pro partner Dan Whiston.

Lisa Riley

It was Lisa who was responsible for performing some of the most emotive scenes in the show as her character, Rebecca Patterson, was shown to try and overcome years of bullying when she joined the cast in series two.

Many soap fans will know Lisa for rising to fame as Emmerdale’s Mandy Dingle – she even went back to the role in 2019 after working on shows such as Three Girls.

As well as this she’s regularly featured as a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, and was a big hit with viewers when she competed in the 10th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Alison Steadman

Alison, now 75, took on the role of Betty Simpson in Fat Friends, and her brilliant performance saw her bag a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.

The actress has had a brilliant career having appeared on TV, radio and film, but she’s best known as our Pam in Gavin & Stacey where she worked alongside her Fat Friends co-stars Ruth and James.

More recently she has featured in shows such as Hold the Sunset with John Cleese, Life and is also currently on our screens in new BBC sitcom Here We Go.

Lynda Baron

Those of a certain generation will remember growing up with Lynda as her role as Auntie Mabel in children’s TV series Come Outside.

Not to mention she also played Nurse Gladys in Open All Hours, and went onto play Linda Clarke in EastEnders from 2008 to 2009.

The actress later returned to her role as Nurse Gladys in comedy sequel, Still Open All Hours, but in March this year is was confirmed that the actress had sadly passed away.

Janet Dibley

In Fat Friends Janet played the part of cynical weight loss coach Carol McGary, who was in charge of the slimming group.

When the show came to an end she went onto star in Doctors as Dr. Elaine Cassidy, and has also featured in shows such as The Chase and Broadchurch.

Kathryn Hunt

Kathryn hit our screens in the first series of Fat Friends as Val Lorrimer, but she later moved over to Coronation Street to play the part of Angela Harris.

She stayed in this role until 2005, and also starred in shows such as Waterloo Road, The Royal and Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Richard Ridings

Richard, 63, featured in 14 episodes of Fat Friends as Alan Ashburn, and was a huge favourite with fans.

He’s also voiced many characters of well-known TV shows including Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig.

Viewers may also recognise him from his role in BBC One comedy-drama Common as Muck.