How BBC bosses convinced James Corden and Ruth Jones to turn down seven-figure Netflix bid for last ever Gavin & Stacey
James Corden and Ruth Jones are confident they made the right choice to stick with the BBC
A GAVIN & Stacey finale will be shown on BBC1 this Christmas Day, its co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones confirmed yesterday.
Netflix offered a multi-million pound deal to stream it — but the last-ever show of the much-loved comedy will be beamed to the whole nation instead.
A TV insider said: “They held conversations with Netflix who threw everything at them to land what is seen as a gem of British comedy.
“James, Ruth and the team were effectively offered a multi-million pound one-off deal, and were promised it would open the show up to a whole new international audience.
“Obviously it was tempting, but they felt Gavin and Stacey belonged to the BBC — and the nation, really.
“The optics wouldn’t have been great had they ‘sold out’ so they went with their hearts, not the cash.
“They’re happy the right decision has been made.”
James, 45, and Ruth, 57, delighted fans yesterday by posting a picture of themselves holding up the script for the festive episode.
James, who plays Smithy, wrote on Instagram: “Some news…it’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin & Stacey.
“See you on Christmas day, BBC One. love Ruth and James.”
Ruth will also return as Nessa — catchphrase “what’s occurring?” — with Matthew Horne as Gavin and Joanna Page playing Stacey.
The show, whose other stars include Rob Brydon and Alison Steadman, first aired in 2007.
More than 18million saw the 2019 Xmas special, which ended with Nessa’s proposal to Smithy, making it the most-watched TV comedy in a decade.
