James Corden was seen hilariously falling into water after standing on a sinking pontoon while filming in Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour. The Gavin and Stacey star was spotted on a shoot with his former co-star, Ruth Jones, for their Apple TV comedy series, The Choir.
The former talk show host emerged completely soaked before being given an overhead life vest and eventually joined in the water by Ruth. Despite Gavin and Stacey's record-breaking 2024 finale, the pair, better known to viewers as Smithy and Nessa, have tugged at fans' heartstrings, who are eager to see them reunite on screen.
Filming scenes for The Choir
The pair were shooting scenes for the upcoming comedy series, reportedly an eight-part show with an impressive line-up of stars, many of whom joined James in the water. The cast includes Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, X-Men's James McAvoy, The Crown's Jason Watkins, Paddington's Jim Broadbent, and West End sensation David Harewood.
In photos from the shoot, James, Jason and David Harewood were snapped singing on a pontoon on the water as it sank beneath them, before they all plunged into the marina. In the dramatic scenes, the cast were eventually rescued by the RNLI, with the Smithy star beaming with elation while drying himself off with a grey towel.
Storyline and inspiration
James and Ruth will star in the lead for The Choir, which will follow their characters, estranged siblings Ben (Corden) and Lisa (Jones), who haven't spoken for many years. It's understood that a personal connection inspired the storyline. The duo previously revealed that the idea stemmed from their own families' involvement with choirs, as James' mum and Ruth's sister were both singers in different musical ensembles.
As a video filmed by an onlooker from the harbour circulated on social media, fans were sent into a meltdown as the footage promised a long-awaited reunion. One fan was in disbelief and simply commented: "No way!" As another chimed in: "Nessa and Smithy OMG OH WHAT'S OCCURRING????"
Fan reactions and cast comments
One onlooker commented: "Saw this scene being filmed ... was absolutely brilliant." "Can't believe I missed this, my mum adores Smithy and Nessa," shared a regretful fan.
Earlier this year, the pair opened up about their new project, as Ruth shared: "We both feel that choirs, amateur choirs especially, bring people together in a way that maybe nothing else does." "There was just this idea to bring this group of characters together from different backgrounds, all sorts of different things going on in their lives."
During the final evening of their book tour in Cardiff, James added that they wanted "to try and make a show about community and the importance of community". "It's just about a group of people that come together every week and enjoy and sing, and it's really about the life that's within that."
