James Corden reveals Gavin & Stacey cast hasn't read script for Christmas special

James Corden has revealed his Gavin & Stacey co-stars haven't read the script for the upcoming Christmas special yet.

The comedian and Ruth Jones, who created the sitcom and played the characters Smithy and Nessa, announced in early May that it was returning to screens this Christmas for one last episode.

Sharing an update on BBC Radio 2's The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Thursday, the former talk show host revealed that they were still working on the script so their co-stars hadn't seen it yet.

"We'll be shooting in around September/October time. It's going to be tight to get it in and delivered," he said. "Building that show is like building a Jenga puzzle, cast availabilities and all that. It'll be OK, yeah. Once I open the play in a couple of weeks, Ruth and I have to do one last pass and clean up of it really.

"The cast are like, 'When can I read it?' We don't want to really give it to anybody if we feel like we have to make a few trims and adjustments but I'm really excited to share it with people."

James is starring in The Constituent play at London's Old Vic from Thursday until 10 August, while Ruth leaves Sister Act the Musical on 3 August.

During an appearance on their co-star Rob Brydon's podcast this week, Ruth revealed that she's been giving fans fake details about the special at the stage door of her West End show.

"So, I go, 'There's going to be a helicopter crash, most of the cast are going to get killed' and I just make stuff up!" she joked.

Gavin & Stacey, which stars Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, ran for three seasons between 2007 and 2010 before returning for a Christmas special in 2019.

By the time the upcoming episode airs, fans will have waited five years to find out how Smithy responded to Nessa's marriage proposal.