James Corden has singled out one Gavin & Stacey episode as “very, very, very bad”.
The star, who co-created and starred in the sitcom alongside Ruth Jones, reflected on the show during an appearance at Liverpool’s BBC Comedy Festival.
The first series’ second episode sees a misunderstanding occur during a telephone call between couple Gavin Shipman and Stacey West that leads to the former to desperately try and fix their relationship.
However, Corden admitted he found it a “very, very, very bad half hour”, with the romantic proposal at the end backing the writers “into a corner” (via BBC News).
Jones and director Christine Gernon agreed, Corden adding that while the episode introduced popular characters Dawn and Pete Sutcliffe, the instalment was “awful” overall.
Gavin & Stacey concluded at Christmas 2024, the episode breaking the record for the most-watched scripted show across broadcasters and streamers since records began in 2002. Jones has also confirmed that the show “will definitely not be coming back”.
Last year, Corden revealed how Sir Paul McCartney saved the finale by helping to clear the use of The Beatles’ song ‘Blackbird’, which is used in a pivotal scene where teenager Neil the Baby (Owen Hartland) plays at the wedding of dad Smithy (Corden).
Revealing that The Beatles sit outside of a BBC licensing agreement and that it was expensive, Corden wrote to McCartney.
“I wrote just telling him that I felt this was a pivotal moment in the show and that I would never request anything if I thought it was going to be in any way derogatory,” he recalled in book When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between.
“He said in his email that he was so touched and honoured, and he would love nothing more than this to happen, and they’d do everything in their power to make sure it could. Then, within 20 hours, it was done, and we had clearance to use the song.”
In other news, Corden and Jones are teaming up once again for a new Apple TV sitcom, which is said to be “uplifting” and “full of heart”.