Huge news for people who either love BBC comedies or were fans of James Corden before he started trying to out-sing actual music stars, the Late Late Show host has just confirmed his widely beloved pre-fame sitcom Gavin & Stacey will be returning to screens later this year after a nine-year absence.
Corden revealed on Twitter that he and series co-creator Ruth Jones have put together the script for a Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special that is set to air in England on Christmas Day this year.
Ruth Jones and I have been keeping this secret for a while… We’re excited to share it with you. See you on Christmas Day @BBCOne #GavinandStacey pic.twitter.com/gTRa3cp90t
— James Corden (@JKCorden) May 28, 2019
This will be the first full new instalment of Gavin & Stacey since its New Year’s Day finale in 2010; a broadcast that attracted a staggering 10.25 million viewers in England.
The full original cast of the series, which chronicled the long-distance relationship between the titular Gavin (from Essex) and Stacey (from Wales), is confirmed to return for the new Christmas episode. That includes both Mathew Horne (Gavin) and Joanna Page (Stacey), along with Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb, Melanie Walters, and Alison Steadman. Corden and Jones will also be reprising their cult favourite characters of “Smithy” and “Nessa” in the special.
In conjunction with the announcement, Corden and Jones issued a short statement through the BBC, asserting that they’ve “loved revisiting Barry and Essex again,” that “bringing the characters back together has been a joy,” and that they are “so excited to get the chance to work with our fabulous cast and crew once more and to give fans of the show a festive treat this Christmas.”
While the special will air in England on Christmas Day, there’s no word on any local Australian release at this stage. However, every episode of the show’s original run is currently available on Stan. So if you’re frothing for an announcement, that might be the place to keep an eye on.
