British Comedy Guide

James Corden and Ruth Jones write Gavin & Stacey book

Friday 20th December 2024, 10:04am

Gavin & Stacey. Image shows left to right: James Corden, Ruth Jones

James Corden and Ruth Jones have written a new book going behind-the-scenes on their hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship is set to be published on 16th October 2025 in hardback, eBook and audiobook formats.

The book's blurb explains: "Gavin & Stacey is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators James Corden and Ruth Jones tell the full extraordinary story of how they turned their little show into a full-on cultural phenomenon. As they recount the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way to giving birth to their beloved comedy creation, James and Ruth also explore the flourishing of their own real-life friendship.

"While their now legendary on-screen characters Nessa and Smithy had a profound awkwardness to negotiate, culminating in that marriage proposal in the 2019 Christmas special, Ruth and James forged a magical relationship of mutual support based also on a deep, shared sense of subversive fun. Here, from their tentative initial pitch to the emotionally overwhelming final day of filming, the duo detail what's occurred every step of the way, bouncing off each other in inimitable style. Full of revelations and never-before-heard stories, this is a one-of-a-kind book about a show that's already gone down in history."

Gavin & Stacey. Image shows left to right: Smithy (James Corden), Gavin (Mathew Horne), Stacey (Joanna Page), Nessa (Ruth Jones). Credit: Tidy Productions, Fulwell 73 Productions, BBC, Tom Jackson

The duo say: "We're so excited to be sharing the story behind the story of Gavin and Stacey. The show has played a huge part in our twenty-five-year friendship and we hope this book will give readers a fresh insight into how it all came about."

Susanna Wadeson from publishers Transworld comments: "What a huge privilege it is to be working with James and Ruth. It is incredibly exciting to hear directly from them all that happened along the way from the first spark of an idea to three series and two Christmas specials. And it is particularly special to be given an insight into their creative partnership and how their friendship has grown while Nessa and Smithy, Gavin and Stacey becoming ever-increasingly important to all of us."

Publisher Bill Scott-Kerr adds: "We are so excited to be publishing this joyous book. Seeing the creative chemistry between Ruth and James up close is an inspiration in itself and a real insight into the fission which made Gavin & Stacey the cultural phenomenon that it is. It's also inspiring to see how a friendship can translate into something which feels so wonderfully universal and profoundly true."

Gavin & Stacey. Image shows left to right: Bryn (Rob Brydon), Gwen (Melanie Walters), Jason (Robert Wilfort), Smithy (James Corden), Gavin (Mathew Horne), Stacey (Joanna Page), Nessa (Ruth Jones), Mick (Larry Lamb), Pam (Alison Steadman), Pete (Adrian Scarborough), Dawn (Julia Davis)

The final episode of Gavin & Stacey will be broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Day at 9pm. Speaking on tonight's episode of The Graham Norton Show, Corden says: ""It's very hard to talk about because there are so many spoilers but when people watch it on Christmas, they will see why it will be, without question, the last time you will see these characters."

DVD box set Gavin & Stacey - The Complete Collection will be released on 3rd February.

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship is available to pre-order now. It's been confirmed that Corden and Jones will read the audiobook version themselves.

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love and Friendship

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love and Friendship
By James Corden and Ruth Jones

Gavin & Stacey is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators James Corden and Ruth Jones tell the full extraordinary story of how they turned their little show into a full-on cultural phenomenon.

As they recount the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way to giving birth to their beloved comedy creation, James and Ruth also explore the flourishing of their own real-life friendship. While their now legendary on-screen characters Nessa and Smithy had a profound awkwardness to negotiate, culminating in that marriage proposal in the 2019 Christmas special, Ruth and James forged a magical relationship of mutual support based also on a deep, shared sense of subversive fun.

Here, from their tentative initial pitch to the emotionally overwhelming final day of filming, the duo detail what's occurred every step of the way, bouncing off each other in inimitable style. Full of revelations and never-before-heard stories, this is a one-of-a-kind book about a show that's already gone down in history.

First published: Sunday 16th November 2025

  • Published: Thursday 16th October 2025
  • Publisher: Bantam Press
  • Pages: 228
  • Catalogue: 9780857507440

BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

  • Published: Thursday 16th October 2025
  • Publisher: Transworld

BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

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