Gavin and Stacey’s James Corden has revealed he felt a lot of pressure to get the finale of the hit BBC sitcom right for fans.
The actor, 46, confessed that he had put his all in to the show and was excited for viewers to see it on Christmas Day.
But the talk show host explained that with the show being such a fan favourite, he felt there was a lot of expectation to deliver, according to The Sun.
James told the publication: ‘We’ve thrown absolutely everything at this to try to make it be as satisfactory as it can be for a big audience.’
He went on to say that it’s ‘nuts’ that 20 years on from the first episode, the show means more to people than when it first started.
And that was why James felt that he and Ruth Jones had taken on a huge task and likened the expectation to being called up to play for England in the World Cup.
Gavin and Stacey’s James Corden, 46, has revealed he felt a lot of pressure to get the finale of the hit BBC sitcom right for fans
The talk show host explained that with the show being such a fan favourite, he felt there was a lot of expectation to deliver
James felt that he and Ruth Jones had taken on a huge task and likened the expectation to being called up to play for England in the World Cup
He added: ‘I think it’s the closest you could get to being called up to the England team in terms of something meaning a lot to a lot of people.
‘You are representing your country right now in a sense, you know?
‘And so, it’s a lot… but we’ve really tried our absolute best.’
And the duo, who first met on the set of Fat Friends, have come a long way from their first episode which they wrote in a hotel near Selfridges before an appearance on This Morning.
Throughout it all the duo have remained firm friends with Ruth, who doesn’t have social media, even writing to reviewers who have been critical of her co-star.
And the love is reciprocated with the Yesterday star surprising Ruth on her birthday with a giant cake and interrupting a pub scene to sing Happy Birthday.
Despite their success, the pair have remained loyal to the show and reportedly refused a deal with Netflix and a chance to turn series in to a film.
James explained that he felt it was important to be grateful to the BBC for giving them the opportunity to make the show in the first place.
Tthe duo, who first met on the set of Fat Friends, have come a long way from their first episode which they wrote in a hotel near Selfridges before an appearance on This Morning
Throughout it all the duo have remained firm friends with Ruth, who doesn’t have social media, even writing to reviewers who have been critical of her co-star
James revealed he couldn’t imagine the characters on the big screen and said instead ‘they are people that belong in the corner of your living room on Christmas Day’
He added that the also couldn’t imagine the characters on the big screen and said instead ‘they are people that belong in the corner of your living room on Christmas Day’.
Ruth, who plays Nessa, added that it was the right time for the show to come to an end, if nothing else but for her feet.
The star revealed that she feels much older now, 17 years after filming first began and said she’s had to alter her character’s wardrobe.
The Stella star explained that during the first few episodes Nessa wore stilettoed high heeled boots but the actress said she struggles with heels and now has to use orthotics foot pads.
James’ confession comes after Joanna Page has revealed she found filming the final day of Gavin and Stacey Christmas special ‘traumatic’ as she opened up about the ’emotional’ last day on set.
The last ever instalment will air in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show begged for an end to the story.
Viewers are hoping the episode will tie up loose ends, including Smithy and Nessa’s love story – while finally answering what happened on Bryn and Jason’s fishing trip.
And during a new interview the Welsh actress, 47, who portrays Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning TV series, revealed filming the last-ever episode left her ‘hysterically crying and laughing’.
James’ confession comes after Joanna Page has revealed she found filming the final day of Gavin and Stacey Christmas special ‘traumatic’ as she opened up about the ’emotional’ last day on set
Joanna said: ‘Being on set for the last time with everybody for the last day was traumatic. I knew I was going to cry as soon as I walked on set.
‘I saw Steve’s face, our first AD, and I just burst out crying. Then I saw Sophie Hebron, our second AD, and I burst out crying again. So then I went into my trailer and Julia Davis came in and sat with me, and I couldn’t stop crying, because it just felt it was such a huge journey that was ending.
‘So I found it very emotional but then in between that, hysterically funny, because the last scene we filmed was a funny one, so I just alternated between hysterically crying and hysterically laughing.’
Recalling the final moments on set, she continued: ‘Right at the very end, on our last bit of filming, I just got this sense of calm wash over me.
‘I remember standing there and looking around at everybody and everybody’s faces, and I just remember smiling quite calmly to myself and thinking ‘wow, look where we’ve all come, look where we all are now’.
‘I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to, and the way that I needed to, and then when they shouted, “it’s a wrap” and then they clapped all of us goodbye and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying.’
