When Gavin Met Stacey details how a party brought about the finale

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This month’s TopMob Book Club, supported by Dr. Oetker Ristorante, is featuring a book about the making of a popular British comedy. It’s presented as a conversation between the show’s creators, James Corden (who played Smithy) and Ruth Jones (who played Nessa).

James always believed they should continue the show. By the end of the third season, they had a large audience of ten million viewers, and there was a strong feeling it could continue successfully. Fans consistently asked for another season.

Ruth: It was Mexico that clinched it.

For my 40th birthday in 2018, my wife, Jules, planned a surprise weekend trip to Mexico. She secretly flew in my best friend from school, Sheddy, and invited friends from all over the globe. It was a complete shock!

Julia texted me, asking if I’d be up for going to Mexico. It was a bit odd because we hadn’t talked much recently. I think the last time we saw each other was the previous Christmas when you were visiting from LA and staying in a London hotel. I remember going to see you there and being extra careful about what I said, because you were already so famous at that point.

It’s tough when things feel uneven, and that was definitely happening. Mexico really helped because that’s where we finally started brainstorming ideas for a new episode of Gavin & Stacey. Before that trip, I really didn’t want to revisit the show at all, and I think you felt the same way. While we were there, we had to be sneaky. We knew you’d be staying in this villa, so we all waited outside and had to put on sombreros. Then, each of us went inside one at a time.

It was really touching, and honestly, I don’t always realize how much you care about me. I kept wondering if you’d be more thrilled to see John Bishop or another comedian, but then you just started crying when you saw me! It was a total surprise and meant a lot that it made you so happy.

It was an incredible weekend! We always joked about you singing ‘Wild Thing’ at your wedding, so when we were at this restaurant with a band, you actually got up and did it! It was hilarious.

I just decided to do it impulsively. I knew I had to give it everything I had if I wanted to pull it off, and I couldn’t worry about the fact that there were professional singers in the audience. Harry Styles was even there – he looked pretty surprised, though I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or not.

It was a really great weekend. During that birthday celebration, I mentioned to you that maybe we should consider doing another series of Gavin & Stacey. I felt like the time might be right.

We’d talked about revisiting the show for years, not just in a spontaneous, impulsive way. I’d often said I wasn’t interested, but I definitely thought about it sometimes. I even used to jot down ideas and consider what a new episode might look like.

We also shared ideas back and forth through texts. Because we hadn’t been in touch for a while, finally connecting felt really solid and real. After the trip to Mexico, I left feeling determined to move forward with it.

Looking for a cozy midweek escape? Joanna enjoyed reading “When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between” with a slice of her favorite pizza – a Hawaiian from Dr. Oetker Ristorante. It’s a controversial topping choice, but just like the beloved characters Nessa and Smithy, it’s a winning combination!

Stay up-to-date with the RT Book Club! Visit The TopMob Book Club, sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante, for news, author interviews, Q&As, and reviews of past selections.

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2025-11-11 20:28