Rob Brydon has openly expressed his thoughts on his Gavin and Stacey collaborator James Corden as the much-loved show is poised for its eagerly-awaited conclusion this Christmas Day.
Fans are gearing up for the grand finale of the BBC comedy, Gavin and Stacey, set to air later today in an extended 90-minute episode. The show hasn’t graced our screens since the 2019 festive special, which ended with a major twist when Ruth Jones’ character, Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins, popped the question to James Corden’s Neil “Smithy” Smith.
The beloved series has captured hearts since it first aired, depicting the cross-national romance between an Essex man and a Welsh woman over three seasons from 2007 to 2010, plus a Christmas treat back in 2008.
James Corden has skyrocketed in fame since he co-created Gavin and Stacey with Ruth Jones. Now a father of three, the 46-year-old actor’s career trajectory has been remarkable.
Besides starring roles in musical films such as Into The Woods and Cats, he gained critical acclaim for his performance in the West End and Broadway hit One Man, Two Guvnors, bagging a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, reports Wales Online.
Corden’s most standout achievement might be his significant breakthrough in the States as the host of The Late Late Show, beginning in 2015, where he initiated the global sensation ‘Carpool Karaoke’. This saw him belting out tunes alongside music legends like Adele, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Harry Styles, and Stevie Wonder.
Rob Brydon, the Welsh star known for his role in Gavin and Stacey, expressed that despite his impressive accomplishments, he’s underrated in Britain. On Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast, Brydon reflected on his career highs, saying his achievements were “unprecedented”.
Reflecting on the momentous final days of filming, Rob shared: “I thought it would feel emotional on the last day, which indeed it did, floods of tears. But, anytime we were doing a sort of communal scene, where there’s a bunch of us, I would sit there and I’d look and I’d see Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb.”
He continued with a touch of nostalgia: “I’d see Ruth and I’d see James, and I would think ‘wow, I have lived this experience with these people and it’s been 20 years since it began and we’ve all grown and changed’.
“We’ve all gone and done our different things. James I suppose most notably he went off and conquered America which he doesn’t get the praise for that he deserves. Unprecedented. I mean, who else has done that?”
Keen viewers are set to watch Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas special in hopes of uncovering the mystery behind what happened between Uncle Bryn, played by Brydon, and his nephew Jason on their notorious fishing trip.
Earlier in the conversation, the host of Would I Lie To You? hinted at the enduring mystery, responding to Jamie’s curiosity: “I’m not going to tell you. You wouldn’t really want to know, would you?
“I’m somebody who, if my wife has bought me a present, say at Christmas, and it’s under the tree, there is no part of me that wants to go ‘I wonder what it is’.
“No, no, no, I am for delayed gratification. Let’s wait, let’s enjoy it. And even when I’m opening it, I’m opening it slowly.”
The highly anticipated Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will broadcast on BBC One at 9pm on Christmas Day, with the episode also being available on BBC iPlayer.