Sheridan Smith puts on a leggy display in glamorous thigh-high split gown as she performs on stage in Manchester amid speculation she's set to return for Gavin and Stacey's final episode

Sheridan Smith looked sensational as she took to the stage for Manchester At The Musicals at the city's Co Op Live Arena on Friday evening.

The award winning actress and singer, 43, slipped into a figure-hugging black velvet gown for the show as she belted out a whole host of musical theatre classics. 

It's a busy Christmas for the actress who will reportedly appear in the last ever episode of Gavin & Stacey, after filming scenes earlier this year.

Sheridan's dress boasted a plunging neckline, sheer sleeves as well as a racy thigh high split which showcased her toned and tattooed legs. 

She accentuated her features with glam make-up and added extra sparkle with a diamond necklace and matching chandelier earrings.

Sheridan was later joined on stage by fellow singer Alfie Boe, 51, and confetti fell from the ceiling during the show's spectacular finale.

Sheridan is said to be joining the iconic cast for the Christmas special as James' on-screen sister Rudi Smith, which will mark the finale of the beloved sitcom.

A source told The Mirror at the time: 'The script for Gavin & Stacey: The Finale includes all of the show's major players - including Smithy's sister Rudi. Nothing has been signed and conversations are still very much ongoing - especially as the filming date has not been set,' the source told the publication.

'But all of the stops are being pulled out to make sure the whole cast are there, and in the coming weeks the production team hope to pin down everyone's availability.

'Sheridan and James are still friendly - they recently bumped into each other at the Variety Club Awards and got on really well. So the hope is that she will be able to be part of it.'

The source added Sheridan did not appear in the Christmas Special episode in 2019 because her character was 'not part of the storyline', although this time it is a 'different story'. 

MailOnline has contacted both Sheridan and BBC's representatives for a comment. 

Sheridan played Ruth 'Rudi' Smith, known for her tumultuous relationship with James's character Smithy, plus their impromptu raps, and is a cult favourite with fans. 

The actress dated James for two years between 2007-2009 and the pair are believed to be on good terms.

They both attended The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards at the end of April where James was the recipient of the Outstanding Global Achievements in Broadcasting, Acting and Comedy accolade. 

It comes after James fought back tears on The Graham Norton Show on Friday as he discussed the very last line of the Gavin and Stacey finale. 

During Friday's instalment of the BBC One chat show, the comedian, 46, and his co-star Ruth Jones, 58, joined host Graham Norton, 61, to discuss their Christmas special and revealed their sweet plans for Christmas Day. 

Towards the end of the show, Graham turned to James, who plays Smithy in the BBC sitcom, to ask him what filming the end of the show was like. 

He asked: 'What was it like at the end? Did it feel like the end? Were you all crying? Was it really emotional? or is it gonna hit you later on that it's over?'

Reminiscing on the last day of filming, James looked emotional, and without spoiling the ending for fans he replied: 'It was a very very special day, we really kind of scheduled the show so that the very last line that we'll ever hear in the episode is the last thing we shot.' 

He joked: 'Which anyone will tell you is so rare that you ever do. Normally your last day you're out on a motorway on your own in a car and people go "well done" and you go "bye then".' 

'But we really felt like we wanted everybody to be there at the very very end and it was just a lot of tears.' 

James also playfully joked about how his co-star Joanna Page, 47, couldn't contain her emotions on set during their last six weeks of filming.  

He added: 'There was lots of people crying, Joanna Page, she plays Stacey, basically cried every day.'

'You know anytime that you might want to feel like oh I'm just enjoying us being together, Joanna would come up and go "oh my god can you believe this is the last time we're ever gonna be at Gwen's",'  

"I just realised it's the last time I'm ever gonna wear Stacey's shoes", "Oh my god are you gonna cry when they call wrap." And that was basically it for six weeks, but It's been a lot of goodbyes.' 

He also mentioned how they had a special screening of the finale earlier this week and there were 'lots of tears'.  

James said: 'We had a screening two days ago, which is the first time anybody has seen it, and that was a lot of tears, and it's been a very very emotional thing to do really.' 

Graham proceeded to end the interview by asking the pair whether or not they plan to watch the episode over the Christmas period, he said: 'Are the two of you going to watch it on Christmas Day?' 

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will air on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.