The next series of Gavin and Stacey will be the last ever, according to the show’s creator, James Corden.
The comedy actor told Sky News’ Steve Hargrave that he is currently writing the third series with co-star Ruth Jones but said: “This is it. This will definitely be the last series. We have a point to which we are working to and that will be the end.
“It will be sad but it has been a great time for everyone involved”.
The final series will begin shooting in the Summer.
IT’S not the first time that Robin Gibb has teamed up with Barry.
But this time the Bee Gee has ditched his brother to team up with an unlikely pair from the Welsh town – Gavin and Stacey’s Uncle Bryn and Nessa.
The trio, along with Sir Tom Jones, have come together to record this year’s Comic Relief single, a cover version of the Bee Gees’ Islands in the Stream.
Bryn and Nessa – or their real-life counterparts, Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones – were yesterday at the London launch of the 2009 Red Nose Day campaign launch, along with co-star Joanna Page and a host of names from the world of comedy and music.
Sir Tom and Gibb serve as backing singers on the single, which will be available for download from March 8. They were thousands of miles apart when they laid down the tracks for the song, which was made famous by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, but more recently heard in the hit series as the characters performed at a barn dance.
Brydon and Ruth Jones travelled to the World Karaoke Championships in Las Vegas to film the video for the song and Jones admitted that recording the single had been something of a personal milestone.
The Porthcawl-born star said: “People really loved it when we did it in the series and they were saying ‘go and release it as a single’. We couldn’t quite bring ourselves to do it in all seriousness so we thought what a brilliant way to raise some money and do it for Comic Relief. We’ve none other than Sir Tom Jones appearing in our video.
“We filmed it in Vegas in November and it was one of the best experiences of my whole career. Recording a single with Tom Jones, it really doesn’t get any better than that.”
Brydon was just as starstruck, saying: “Tom Jones is just a legend. He’s on the single, he acts in the video. He acts really well. He’s like he’s in The Sopranos. He’s so cool. We were stood in the desert with him and he was telling us these stories about Elvis.
For Ruth and I it was just like we had died and gone to heaven. Quite seriously, it was the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done in my career.”
It would seem that Brydon’s impersonation of Tom Jones was so good, it fooled the man himself. “When we met him in Las Vegas he said ‘there was a tricky bit at the end (of the song) where they used you’,” said Brydon. “He thought that part of the song where he was singing was me. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Pontypridd-born Sir Tom has a lot to live up to with the previous Comic Relief singles, most of which have reached the number one spot, from the famous Tony Christie and Peter Kay’s “Is This the Way to Amarillo” to Hale and Pace and The Stonkers’ best-forgotten “The Stonk”. Sir Tom himself last had a number one single 43 years ago, with The Green Green Grass of Home.
“Part of me is waiting to disappoint – that’s probably the Welsh pessimism in me.”
This was Ruth Jones feelings at the Royal Court’s Young Writers Festival.
“We only have a short space of time to write it so the pressure is on,” she said. “People have been so lovely and kind about the series but I can’t help thinking nothing lasts forever.
We understand that she expects the scripts to be finished in March, which would suggest that series 3 would follow in the summer or autumn.
“It’s a good thing to know where you’re heading to, and knowing the characters so well makes it somewhat easier. It’s a really enjoyable process.”
We say, take your time, enjoy it and deliver when it’s ready.
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).
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.
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.
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.
The Porthcawl-born star said: “People really loved it when we did it in the series and they were saying ‘go and release it as a single’. We couldn’t quite bring ourselves to do it in all seriousness so we thought what a brilliant way to raise some money and do it for Comic Relief. We’ve none other than Sir Tom Jones appearing in our video.
