James Corden couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he was spotted leaving the BBC studios on Thursday morning.
The actor, 46, was joined by his Gavin and Stacey co-star Ruth Jones as the countdown to the series finale inches closer with less than a week to go.
After celebrating the final episode at the special screening at The Ham Yard Hotel on Wednesday, the duo returned to do more press ahead of the Christmas Day episode.
James, who plays Smithy in the comedy, looked dapper in a plaid shirt and a stylish black winter coat.
She accessorized the look with a pair of black-framed glasses and completed the ensemble with blue jeans and white sneakers.
Meanwhile, Ruth, 58, who plays Nessa, appeared makeup-free as she was bundled up in a gray turtleneck and a fur-hooded coat.
James Corden smiled as he joined Gavin and Stacey co-star Ruth Jones on the BBC on Thursday as the week’s countdown to the final episode begins.
After celebrating the final episode at the special screening at The Ham Yard Hotel on Wednesday, the duo returned to do more press ahead of the Christmas Day episode.
The Christmas special will pick up five years after Nessa’s shocking proposal to Smithy, which the duo thought would be the show’s final scene.
The supposed “final installment” will air in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show called for the story to be ended.
And James and Ruth will also take over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday 23 December ahead of the final episode.
It comes after James and Ruth revealed that Gavin and Stacey fans will be treated to a lot more Smithy and Nessa in the final episode, reflecting that their characters’ ‘messy’ relationship is the beating heart of the BBC show.
Appearing on the podcast table manners Featuring Jessie and Lennie Ware, the actors and writing partners teased the Christmas special, saying fans will discover a lot more about Ruth’s character Nessa’s past, as well as her future with Smithy.
“Nessa has had an incredible, eventful life and you’ll find out more about that in this special – some really fun bits we wrote,” James explained.
He reflected that the reason fans have taken Smithy and Nessa to their hearts is because ‘oOn television or in the movies, you rarely see people who look like Ruth and me and fall in love.’
‘You just don’t do it. I would leave a TV to Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones and Ruth it would be like working in a newsagent when someone buys a newspaper.
Ruth, 58, appeared makeup-free as she was wrapped in a gray turtleneck and a fur-hooded coat.
James, who plays Smithy in the comedy, looked dapper in a plaid shirt and a stylish black winter coat.
Gregg James teased that the pair would appear on his BBC Radio One show on Friday, suggesting that James and Ruth were in the studios to film some pre-recorded material.
James and Ruth will also take over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday 23 December ahead of the final episode.
The Christmas special will pick up five years after Nessa’s shocking proposal to Smithy, which the duo thought would be the show’s last scene.
‘What I like about the show is that it’s very messy and complicated and they clearly have fantastic sex. “I really enjoy that trust.”
However, Ruth added that in the early days, the writing partners were unsure how to present the unique relationship, explaining:
“The first time they had sex was in the first episode and I think because we didn’t really know what the show was, we were probably being quite comedic about it.”
“We were there, just the two of us, on that journey that had meant so much to us and I, like Ruth, was looking at my dear friend James and when I said, ‘I loved you with all my heart,’ I was speechless. I can’t tell you you (James),” Ruth recalled.
Even though the pair now promise that the upcoming special is actually the end, there has been a flurry of speculation from fans that there could be more to come.
However, James insists this is it and gives an ominous warning to viewers when he said: ‘It can’t continue. When you see it, you will know.
The pair are not saying no to working together again with James promising: “We don’t know if we have another idea in us, but I can honestly say that if we didn’t try and even explore the idea of writing together, then I would be very disappointed.”
The supposed “final installment” will air in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show called for the story to be ended.
James insists this is it and gives viewers an ominous warning when he says, “It can’t go on.” When you see it, you will know.
‘I couldn’t stand it. “I love being in the room with James, it’s so much fun,” Ruth added.
Strictly Come Dancing gave viewers an early Christmas treat with an exclusive world first look at Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas special on Saturday night.
The new episode, which will air on Christmas Day, will pick up the dramatic cliffhanger from the 2019 special, in which Nessa got down on one knee and proposed to Smithy.
The 2019 episode, which ended with Nessa’s surprise proposal, became the most-watched TV comedy show since Only Fools and Horses in 2002.
The trailer begins with Stacey (Joanna Page) talking on the phone with her husband Gavin (Mathew Horne) while he is at work, bringing back memories of their early days together in the 2000s.
‘Oh, I’m absolutely thrilled, I am. A whole weekend away, just you and me!’ Stacey says excitedly.
‘Well, yeah, except it’s not just you and me, is it?’ Gavin responds, just before some more familiar characters make their entrance.
Enter Smithy (James Corden), cheekily nicknaming Gavin ‘Gaviscon’, while Pam (Alison Steadman) and Mick (Larry Lamb) rush to set the table for a festive family feast.
Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One from 9pm on Christmas Day and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.