James Corden has confirmed his iconic TV show Gavin and Stacey will return for one final episode.
In a new interview, the screen star, 42, revealed the future instalment ‘will really be the last, final part’ of the programme, but admitted he doesn’t plan on producing the new series soon as ‘it’s too much pressure at the moment’.
Fans of the BBC series were left on the edge of their seats when Nessa (Ruth Jones) proposed to her on-off love interest Smithy (James) on last year’s Christmas special, which ended on a cliffhanger.
‘The next one will really be the last’: James Corden has confirmed his iconic TV show Gavin and Stacey will return for one final episode (pictured with Ruth Jones in last year’s special)
The comedian told Metro: ‘I don’t know, is the answer. I honestly don’t. We’re all on a WhatsApp text group. All of us and Matt [Horne] and Jo [Page] did a special radio show for BBC Wales the other day that will go out on Christmas.
‘And we all contributed to that somewhat. And we’re always talking, all of us, and Ruth [Jones] and I talk all the time. I hope so much we do it. The next one will really be the last, final part.
‘And that is a little too much pressure for my chest to take at the moment, if I’m honest, in amongst the anxiety of 2020. If I had any notion of trying to make another Christmas special I don’t think I’d be able to breathe.’
Show creator Ruth had previously dashed hopes of a comeback as she admitted the show ‘may never return to Barry’.
Candid: In a new interview, the screen star, 42, revealed he doesn’t plan on producing the future instalment anytime soon as it brings ‘too much pressure at the moment’
A hit: Fans of the series were shocked after Nessa (Ruth) proposed to her on-off love Smithy (James) on last year’s Christmas special (pictured with Joanna Page and Mathew Horne)
The Welsh writer, 53, said on This Morning last month: ‘There aren’t any plans to write anything. Obviously James is in America and I’m in Wales.
‘The joy of our last special is that if we never go back to Barry, we’ll always wonder what happened next. I quite like leaving it hanging. I’m sorry I don’t have any better news.’
Viewers won’t need to wait long to see their favourite characters reunite, as Joanna and Mathew are set to team up for a festive show on BBC Radio Wales.
The pair – who play Gavin and Stacey on the much-loved sitcom of the same name – were back on screen last year as the married couple for the first new episode in a decade.
Actress Joanna, 43, is the host of the station’s Sunday Morning With Joanna Page series and said of the seasonal edition: ‘I absolutely love Christmas and I’ve been having a fantastic time doing my show on BBC Radio Wales.
‘So when it came up that we could do a Christmas day show I knew that if there was anybody I’d want to share that with, it’s Mat. I love working with him, he’s so much fun.’
Fellow thespian Mathew, 42, welcomed the idea of working with his on-screen spouse again as he added; ‘I jumped at the chance to do this show with Jo. I love working with Jo, I love Wales and I love doing radio.
Legendary: The comedy series ran for two seasons from 2007 until 2008, before airing one-off specials in 2009, 2010 and 2019
‘Christmas day is a special day and, particularly this year, it’s been very challenging for a lot of people, so it’s nice to feel like we might be bringing a little bit of joy.’
The comedy series ran for two seasons from 2007 until 2008, before airing one-off specials in 2009, 2010 and 2019.
Meanwhile, James recently confessed he initially had doubts about signing on for The Late, Late Show.
The producer, who relocated to America with his family prior to filming the talk show in 2015, explained how he was concerned the new gig would end his acting career.
He told News Corp Australia’s The BINGE guide: ‘I was worried it would end my career as an actor, taking on the Late Show.
‘I asked my dad about it and he said, “If you build a show where people can see all the different things you can do, provided you don’t stick around too long, it could only enhance your career as an actor.”’
Exciting times ahead: Viewers won’t need to wait long to see their favourite characters reunite, as Joanna, 43, and Mathew, 42, are set to team up for a festive show on BBC Radio Wales