James Corden, the beloved actor and comedian, recently opened up about his least favorite episode of his hit BBC sitcom, Gavin & Stacey. In a candid reflection at the BBC Comedy Festival, Corden revealed his least favorite episode, Season 1 Episode 2, and the reasons behind his strong negative reaction.
Corden and co-creator Ruth Jones faced a creative challenge when they decided to have Gavin propose to Stacey at the end of Episode 1. This romantic setup, while effective, left them with a dilemma for the next episode. They wanted to maintain the romantic tension but also keep the audience engaged. As Corden explains, "It had this very romantic end, so you can’t do another romantic proposal [in the next one]."
The result, according to Corden, was a less-than-stellar second episode. "It’s a very very very bad half hour," he said. "It’s an awful episode."
The issue, Corden and Jones realized, was their initial approach. They had envisioned a sitcom, but what they delivered was more of a comedy drama. "We were conscious of this half-hour comedy thing and I don’t think we trusted that actually the characters will be the thing that will be funny," Corden said. "We tried to instead say we needed something funny in the scenes so we had Gavin jump the barriers when proposing, and be covered in lasers. In our head we were making a sitcom but we weren’t, we were making a character-driven story."
Jones added humor to the situation by joking that there was "very little Nessa" in Season 1 Episode 2, which contributed to the episode's failure. However, Corden did find a silver lining, praising the introduction of the iconic characters Dawn and Pete, played by Julia Davies and Adrian Scarborough, as well as Pam, played by Alison Steadman. These characters, he said, were possibly their greatest creation.
Corden used his appearance at the Comedy Festival to advocate for comedy commissioners to take bigger risks and greenlight double-season orders. He questioned the current approach to comedy commissioning, suggesting that platforms need to believe in the potential of a show and give it time to develop. "How do platforms today crack comedy?," he asked. "I feel like the only way is to commission two series and say, ‘We believe in this and it’s going to take time and you can’t rely on overnight ratings’. There is an element of ownership and discovery to comedy that we the audience want to find comedies and share them with our friends."
Corden also highlighted the importance of timing and luck in the success of a comedy series. He noted that Gavin & Stacey's success was tied to its timing, mood, and cultural context. "If [Gavin & Stacey] came six months earlier or later there’s a chance it doesn’t work," he said. "We are so programmed to think about success but success is about timing, mood, culture, and there is such an element of luck in it."
Despite the challenges, Gavin & Stacey went on to become a massive hit, with its finale becoming the most-watched TV show in the UK in 2024, attracting an audience of more than 20 million people. Corden and Jones have since moved on to other projects, including The Choir for Apple TV, where they star as brother and sister Ben and Lisa.
In conclusion, James Corden's reflection on Gavin & Stacey's least favorite episode provides a fascinating insight into the creative process and the challenges faced by comedians and creators. His advocacy for risk-taking and long-term commitment in comedy commissioning is a valuable perspective in an industry that often seeks instant success.
