James Corden Criticizes Episode of Gavin and Stacey
James Corden, star of the popular series Gavin and Stacey, has openly expressed his dislike for a particular episode of the show, describing it as "awful." The 47-year-old actor, who co-wrote the series alongside Ruth Jones, specifically singled out the second episode of the first series, calling it a "very, very, very bad half hour."
The episode's storyline centered on a misunderstanding caused by a phone call between the main characters, which led to Gavin making a trip to Wales in an effort to mend their relationship.
Speaking at the BBC Comedy Festival in Liverpool, Corden explained that the romantic proposal featured at the conclusion of the pilot episode had constrained the writers creatively, putting them "into a corner." Both co-writer Ruth Jones and series director Christine Gernon shared Corden's critical view of the episode.
Despite the criticism, Corden acknowledged a positive aspect of the episode was the introduction of the quarrelsome couple Dawn and Pete Sutcliffe, portrayed by Julia Davis and Adrian Scarborough respectively. However, he reiterated his negative opinion by stating,
"It's an awful episode."
Corden's Role and Series Overview
James Corden gained widespread recognition through his role as Neil "Smithy" Smith, who develops a romantic relationship with Vanessa "Nessa" Jenkins, played by Ruth Jones. Gavin and Stacey aired over three series, supplemented by three Christmas specials, spanning from 2007 to 2024.
The final episode, which was broadcast on Christmas Day 2024, featured the wedding of Smithy and Nessa and achieved overnight viewing figures of 12.3 million.
Factors Behind the Show's Success
Corden attributed the show's overall success to a combination of factors including luck and timing. He remarked on the unpredictable nature of comedy series finding an audience, stating,
"Shows can be brilliant and not necessarily find that audience, particularly comedy."
He further elaborated on the elements contributing to success:
"Success is about timing, it's about mood, culture. There is such an element of luck in it."
