Horne And Corden is a new six-part character comedy sketch show for BBC Three, written by and starring Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey, Catherine Tate, Roman’s Empire) and James Corden (Gavin & Stacey, History Boys, Fat Friends).

The pair are fast becoming the UK’s favourite young comedy double act.

Horne And Corden follows a traditional entertainment format, with the guys hosting the show as themselves in front of a live studio audience.

They also play a wide selection of original characters that are innovative, provocative and always entertaining.

Characters include: Xander, an old boarding-school chum, who is the most hideous, foul-mouthed, but well meaning man to ever rear his head from a person’s past.

Xander specialises in turning up at inappropriate times to remind people of embarrassing moments they’d rather forget.

Tim Goodall, a gay TV journalist, who’s more interested in sipping Pina Colada and discussing how fit the soldiers are in Basra than delivering breaking news.

Jonny and Lee Miller, two very flamboyant “magicians”, whose magic is left to the audience’s imagination, while their dance routines are magnificent.

Superman and Spiderman “know each other’s work”, but when it comes to socialising they’re a bit awkward.

Mat and James also present a range of characters from “Ricky Gervais doing some serious acting”, to an annoying office colleague who’s always got a better story from the night before.

And there’s always someone looking for a mobile phone charger at inappropriate moments.

Accompanying the series will be six exclusive webisodes, offering a candid look behind the scenes of Horne And Corden.

The show is directed by comedy legend Kathy Burke (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Harry Enfield And Chums).

Gavin and Stacey co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones have announced there will be a third series of the hit comedy show.

from bbc news

Wednesday 24 December
10.00-11.00pm BBC ONE

It’s Christmas Eve and the Wests join the Shipmans for one of Mick’s famous turkey dinners, as the award-winning Gavin & Stacey comes to BBC One for a special festive episode.

Smithy can’t wait to spend his first Christmas with baby Neil, but doesn’t count on Dave Coaches tagging along and playing happy families with Nessa. Jason and Bryn, meanwhile, have a heart-to-heart about “that” fishing trip and Gavin and Stacey’s revelation to Pam and Smithy doesn’t quite turn out to be the Christmas present they were expecting.

Mick is played by Larry Lamb, Smithy by James Corden, Dave Coaches by Steffan Rhodri, Nessa by Ruth Jones, Jason by Robert Wilford, Bryn by Rob Brydon, Gavin by Mathew Horne, Stacey by Joanna Page and Pam by Alison Steadman. Melanie Walters also stars as Gwen.

Gavin & Stacey is simulcast on BBC HD – the BBC’s High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD provides exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special a truly cinematic TV experience.

Thursday 25 December
11.30pm-12.00midnight BBC THREE

BBC Three gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special, which features interviews with all of the cast including Ruth Jones, James Corden, Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Melanie Walters.

This documentary also features footage from on and off the set, from the read-through to the wrap, and shows viewers all the fun that happened along the way.

There is another chance to see the Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special before this documentary at 10.30pm on BBC Three.

Nessa (Ruth Jones) goes into
labour a month early

Stacey returns to Essex to sort things out with Gavin, but things are not looking good, as the acclaimed comedy written by Ruth Jones and James Corden concludes.

Over in Barry, meanwhile, Nessa goes into labour a month early and it throws everyone into panic mode. Mick and Pam drive Stacey to Barry, but no one can get hold of Smithy. Gavin stays behind and frantically goes searching for him, but will he make it in time for the baby’s birth?

Stacey is played by Joanna Page, Gavin by Mathew Horne, Nessa by Ruth Jones, Mick by Larry Lamb, Pam by Alison Steadman and Smithy by James Corden. Rob Brydon and Melanie Walters also star.

Gavin (Mathew Horne) is in
Essex without his wife

Following Stacey’s shock announcement, Gavin is in Essex without his wife and Stacey is in Barry without her husband, in the penultimate episode of the acclaimed comedy written by Ruth Jones and James Corden.

Smithy aims to cheer up Gavin by planning a boys’ night out, while Stacey goes to the bingo. But has living separate lives finally taken its toll on love’s young dream?

Stacey is played by Joanna Page, Gavin by Mathew Horne and Smithy by James Corden. Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb, Ruth Jones and Melanie Walters also star.

It’s Gwen’s birthday and Bryn has arranged a special surprise treat, although the stress of organising it is starting to get the better of him and arouse Gwen’s suspicions, as the hit comedy series continues. Then, an uninvited guest turns up and Stacey tells Gavin of her big decision.

Gwen is played by Melanie Walters, Bryn by Rob Brydon, Stacey by Joanna Page and Gavin by Mathew Horne. James Corden, Ruth Jones, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb also star.

Mick becomes a minor celebrity for the night and Stacey and Gavin start house-hunting, as the acclaimed comedy written by Ruth Jones and James Corden continues. Nessa visits Stacey and shows the others a thing or two at the bowling alley, but tensions between the newlyweds come to a head at the end of the night, and the embarrassed friends take solace in some corn on the cob.

Larry Lamb stars as Mick, Joanna Page as Stacey, Mathew Horne as Gavin, Ruth Jones as Nessa and James Corden as Smithy. Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon and Melanie Walters also star.

Stacey’s getting used to being an “Essex wife” but it’s not as exciting as she’d hoped, as the acclaimed comedy written by Ruth Jones and James Corden continues. She bucks up at the weekend, though, as it’s time for a visit to her family home in Barry, South Wales. Whilst there, Smithy goes with Nessa for her scan and they see their little bundle of joy for the first time.

Stacey is played by Joanna Page, Nessa by Ruth Jones, Smithy by James Corden and Gavin by Mathew Horne. Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb and Melanie Walters also star.

It’s back to Billericay for the second episode of Gavin & Stacey, written by Ruth Jones and James Corden.

Devastated by the news that he’s to become a father, Smithy goes AWOL. Gavin, Bryn and Mick finally track him down, but can he be persuaded to do the right thing? And Stacey is shocked to hear of Gwen’s new domestic arrangements as the prospect of living in Essex finally hits her.

Gavin is played by Mathew Horne, Stacey by Joanna Page, Nessa by Ruth Jones and Smithy by James Corden. The cast also includes Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb and Melanie Walters.