Patrick Baladi joins Ruth Jones's Stella

Patrick Baladi, who played David Brent's nemesis Neil in The Office, has joined the cast of Ruth Jones’s Sky 1 comedy Stella.

He will play an English lawyer with the unfortunate name of Michael Jackson, who moves in to the house next door to Stella after an acrimonious divorce.

The news was announced as shooting begins on the third series in and around Cardiff.

Baladi said: ‘Miss Jones is a brilliant writer of character, warmth and wit and I'm delighted to be part of the show. It's an honest, unique and a refreshingly rare bit of fun.’

Producer David Peet added: ‘We're over the moon that Patrick is joining the cast of Stella for series 3. Ruth and I are huge fans of his and we're hoping he finds a big warm welcome in the heart of Pontyberry.’

Baladi, who has also appeared in Bodies, Mistresses and No Heroics, is also a member of the band Grow Up, along with Keith Allen.

The new series of Stella, which includes a Christmas special, will air on Sky1 in 2014.

Published: 9 May 2013