Mathew Horne

Gavin & Stacey stars Mathew Horne and James Corden feature in their own six-part sketch show, shot unnecessarily in front of a live audience. It's mostly good, with Horne (very funny) sporting a variety of haircuts and Corden making rather too much of a show of his ample belly. Highlights include the offensive old boarding-school chum (Corden) and a Superman/Spider-Man routine.

Two stars of Gavin and Stacey, Mathew Horne and James Corden, now have a show of their own. Like so many sketch shows, it is a wildly mixed affair. The best of it is the quality and variety of their acting, which is spectacularly accomplished - these guys are very, very good. One sketch in particular, in which Corden plays a seedy, down-at-heel wastrel who embarrasses an old schoolfriend in front of his family, is a masterpiece of loathsome observation. The downside is that much of the material is crude and horribly unfunny. It is no surprise to discover that the series was directed by Kathy Burke, who was never likely to add a lightness of touch. In one sketch, two teachers give a joint lesson to a class on how to draw penises; in another we meet a gay news reporter; elsewhere, Corden pulls up his shirt and rolls his stomach in front of a burger bar as a form of consumer complaint. Nice.

Mathew and James Interview

Mathew Horne and James Corden, the stars of Gavin & Stacey have graduated to their own comedy sketch show. They talk about how the series is the most 'gay friendly' around plus the critic's response to their hosting of The Brits.

Next week national comedy treasures, Gavin & Stacey wunderkinds James Corden and Mathew Horne, serve up a gay war reporter played by Horne, who greets viewers with a "Hiya", notes that the war "is mental, it's all going off", that it looks like "we're winning", that he's about to go and do karaoke outside Fallujah, our boys are being "well looked after", and then the camp, screechy signoff: "Don't do anyone I wouldn't do.";

In another sketch, mocking a fashion advertisement, the two men breathily enter a near-naked embrace. They open their lips to kiss. The screen freezes. No kiss. They can mock the idea of gay romance, but no tongues. That would be too 'gay'. Imagine the justifiable outrage if blacks or Asians or women were treated so insultingly on TV now. But homophobia, gay stereotypes, anti-gay humour and backchat - unlike racism and sexism - has become acceptable. It isn't.

James: I've got Horne for Matty

Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Mathew Horne are set to shock fans by sharing a full-on snog. The lads play best mates in the hit sitcom - but take the friendship to another level in their new sketch show.

This hour-long special is destined to become a classic - as James Corden and Mathew Horne confirm they'll be making another series.

The whole tone is perfect, crammed with great character acting and brilliantly observed humour, as the entire Barry contingent converge on Billericay.

The devil is in the detail - with the merits of Mint Baileys, EastEnders, Battleships, and talc all discussed. Watching Smithy singing along to Feed The World breaking into bouts of road rage is hilarious. While his attempts at coping with a future without Ness, his baby, and his best mate are genuinely touching.

Gavin's Gag Over Joke

James Corden and Mathew Horne revealed the BBC banned songs about Jesus on their new sketch show after the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand prank row.

The series about how a nice boy from Essex and a sweet girl from Barry in south Wales fell in love and married has been an astounding success and won a stash of prestigious awards for writers James Corden and Ruth Jones, who also star in the show as Smithy and Nessa.

Following its BBC3 airing this year, BBC1 is giving fans and those who missed this comedy gem first time around the opportunity to view the second series in which newlyweds Gavin and Stacey (Mathew Horne and Joanna Page) return from honeymoon to a big welcome from both families and adjust to married life.

Horne and Corden On-Set Interview

Radio 1 interview with the stars on the set of their new show.

Review of warm-up tour

A review of one of Horne and Corden's live warm-up trials of material for this TV series.