Gavin & Stacey star says he is ‘hugely fond’ of James Corden despite widespread criticism

Gavin & Stacey star Rob Brydon has come to the defence of the show’s creator James Corden. Former US talk show host Corden has found himself the source of numerous reports about his alleged off-screen behaviour in recent years.

But Brydon, who plays Uncle Bryn in the returning BBC comedy series, has said that the version of Corden reported on by the press differs from the one he knows personally. He told The Times: “The James Corden I know is not the person I sometimes see people reported on. He gets a lot of stick.

“I’m hugely fond of him. I’d never heard of him when we met on a show in 2002, but I vividly remember saying to myself, ‘Oh I’ve got to pull my socks up here; this kid is really good.”

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In 2022 restaurant owner Keith McNally, who owns Balthazar in New York, described Corden as “a tiny cretin of a man” for allegedly making nasty comments and demands of his workers on two occasions. At the time McNally said he had “86’d” the comedian from the restaurant and Corden was no longer welcome there. After Corden admitted that he made “a rude, rude comment”, adding that “it was never my intention” to upset the staff, McNally lifted the ban.

Earlier this year Sharon Osbourne, while featuring on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother, complained about Corden for his name-dropping habits. She told her fellow housemates: “I tell you who does that: James Corden – he does that all the time. I go to him, ‘I really like your shoes,’ and he goes, ‘Yes, Stella McCartney,’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t ask you who made them.’ He constantly, constantly throws out names.”

In May 2024 it was confirmed that Gavin & Stacey would be making its long-awaited comeback to screens for one final Christmas episode. The news, which had been leaked earlier in the year, was confirmed by Corden who posted a picture of him and Ruth Jones holding a script titled ‘Gavin & Stacey: the finale’.

The latest episode of Gavin & Stacey aired on Christmas Day 2019. It ended with Corden’s character Smithy being proposed to by Jones’ Nessa. Fans of the show are eagerly awaiting his answer.

Gavin & Stacey returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.