Ruth Jones & James Corden Are Writing A Gavin & Stacey Book

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air on Christmas day, signalling the final end to one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms. Created back in the early noughties by comedians Ruth Jones and James Corden – who met while working on Fat Friends – the show originally aired from 2007 to 2010, with a new Christmas special in 2019. Fast forward five years, and we have another Christmas special – and this time we are sadly reassured it is the last.

However, it isn’t the very end of the road. Come autumn 2025, we will be able to relive some of the magic all over again thanks to a new book penned by Jones and Corden. Here’s what you need to know.

James Cordon & Ruth Jones in Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell. (BBC/Fulwell 73 UK Limited/Tom Jackson)

When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between

Flashing back to the early 2000s and tracing every moment of Gavin & Stacey from the show’s initial idea to the 2024 finale, When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is an upcoming book penned by series creators Ruth Jones and James Corden. In it, they tell the full story of how their small idea was transformed into a cultural phenomenon, recalling the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced – and the flourishing of their real-life friendship. The book will also feature plenty of revelations, recollections and never-before-heard stories from the writers’ room to filming on set.

‘We’re so excited to be sharing the story behind the story of Gavin & Stacey,’ Corden and Jones share. ‘The show has played a huge part in our twenty-five-year friendship and we hope this book will give readers a fresh insight into how it all came about.’

‘What a huge privilege it is to be working with James and Ruth,’ adds their publisher, Susanna Wadeson, at Transworld. ‘It is incredibly exciting to hear directly from them all that happened along the way from the first spark of an idea to three series and two Christmas specials. And it is particularly special to be given an insight into their creative partnership and how their friendship has grown while Nessa and Smithy, Gavin & Stacey becoming ever-increasingly important to all of us.’

‘We are so excited to be publishing this joyous book,’ adds Bill Scott-Kerr at Transworld. ‘Seeing the creative chemistry between Ruth and James up close is an inspiration in itself and a real insight into the fission which made Gavin & Stacey the cultural phenomenon that it is. It’s also inspiring to see how a friendship can translate into something which feels so wonderfully universal and profoundly true.’

Release Date

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between by James Corden and Ruth Jones will be published in hardback, ebook and audiobook on 16 October 2025. Pre-order your copy here.

Is Gavin & Stacey Based On A True Story?

Yes, the initial idea for Gavin & Stacey was inspired by a true story. The idea came to Corden during a wedding reception for his real best friend Gavin who met his wife over the phone at work. The two arranged to meet and fell in love – just like in Gavin & Stacey, which begins with the core couple meeting for the first time in central London after a six-month phone friendship. Stacey works for the supplier for Gavin’s workplace, so the two would talk over the phone about work topics, which, over the course of six months, devolved into friendship, flirting and chatting about their lives.

WATCH

All episodes of Gavin & Stacey are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One on Christmas Day.