A Story of Love and Friendship

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between

From the BAFTA award-winning co-creators Ruth Jones and James Corden, discover the story behind the story of one of our most beloved shows. 
 
'Gavin & Stacey’ is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators 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, Ruth and James 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’ 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.

James Corden

Several rungs above most showbiz autobiographies... [I] have been won over by his candour and charm

Chatty, funny, hugely engaging ... an endearingly honest account of his life so far...

Witty with bursts of Smithy-style sincerity - it is distinctively Corden.

It'll make you lol but is also full of poignancy in classic Smithy Style

Strong accounts of his highs and lows... [the book] lays bare the distorting lens of modern celebrity.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
So... the story of my life. 
 
I've often thought about this moment, about what it would be like to write my memoirs. I always thought it would make me feel important. It doesn't. If anything it makes me feel a little strange. 
 
The truth is, I should never have been this famous guy. I wasn't the cool, clever, good-looking boy at school. But I always dreamt of it, hoped for it, longed for it: throughout school when I was disruptive, in my teens when I tried to form my own boy band and through hundreds of auditions for parts which were met with constant rejection. Until finally I co-wrote Gavin and Stacey. And my whole life changed... 
 
This is that story. The story of how I found myself here, talking to you.

James Corden

Praise for May I Have Your Attention Please?

Several rungs above most showbiz autobiographies... [I] have been won over by his candour and charm

Shocking and hilarious

A propulsive read

Several rungs above most showbiz autobiographies... [I] have been won over by his candour and charm

Shocking and hilarious

A propulsive read

Several rungs above most showbiz autobiographies... [I] have been won over by his candour and charm

Shocking and hilarious

A propulsive read

Books by James Corden

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