James Corden has described his least favourite episode of Gavin & Stacey as a 'very, very, very bad half hour'. The actor, who co-created and starred in the hit BBC comedy, made the remarks at the BBC Comedy Festival in Liverpool.
The episode in question is the second of the first series, which revolves around a phone call misunderstanding between Gavin and Stacey, forcing Gavin to drive to Wales. Corden explained that he and co-writer Ruth Jones had 'backed ourselves into a corner' after ending the first episode with a romantic proposal.
Co-creator Jones and series director Christine Gernon echoed Corden's criticism. However, Corden noted that the episode introduced audiences to the bickering married couple Dawn and Pete Sutcliffe, played by Julia Davis and Adrian Scarborough, which he described as a positive.
Speaking more broadly about the show's success, Corden attributed it to luck and timing. He urged commissioners to treat comedy differently, suggesting they should commission two series from the outset to give shows time to connect with audiences.
The final episode of Gavin & Stacey aired on Christmas Day 2024, attracting overnight ratings of 12.3 million. Corden rose to fame playing Smithy opposite Jones's Nessa in three series and three Christmas specials from 2007 to 2024.
