James Corden and Ruth Jones have shared that Gavin and Stacey almost took a very different turn, with a storyline that saw Gavin cheat on Stacey.
The co-creators and stars, who played Smithy and Nessa in the beloved sitcom, revealed that an early draft of the 2019 Christmas special included the shocking twist, but they ultimately decided it didn’t feel right for the show.
Discussing the idea, Corden said: “We had a sort of weird idea for the 2019 special, didn’t we?” to which Jones replied: “Oh, about Gavin having an affair.”
“Yeah, or that he wasn’t having an affair but there was someone at his work who he liked,” Corden explained further.
According to The Sun, the actress explained they scrapped the plot because it “wasn’t true” to the heart of the series or its characters during a special fan event, When Gavin Met Stacey, at the London Palladium on Monday.
First airing in 2007, Gavin and Stacey ran for three seasons before returning for two Christmas specials in 2019 and 2024.
The final episode, which aired last year, drew more than 20 million viewers and was widely seen as a fitting end to the show.
Jones said the duo had also considered turning the final story into a feature film but felt the series belonged on television.
Despite calling the 2024 episode the final one, Corden and Jones are reportedly in talks over a new seven-figure deal for a follow-up.
They’ve reportedly signed a major new deal that will see their next project move from the BBC to streaming giant Apple TV+.
According to a source close to the production, the pair are set to create and star in a 10-episode series featuring an all-British cast.
Filming is expected to begin next year, with the show slated for release in 2027.
While the new series will reunite Corden and Jones both on and off-screen, it won’t revisit the much-loved Gavin and Stacey characters.
An insider told The Sun: “In what has unquestionably been a pretty miserable year for Brits, there is finally something to cheer — a new James and Ruth co-production. As you might expect, it is uplifting, gentle and very funny.”
According to the report, casting is yet to begin, but the new project is said to be separate from the Gavin and Stacey universe.
