Friends Reunited; Ruth Jones and James Corden Are Responsible for One of This Country's Most Successful Comedies. but How Much Effort Goes into Writing Gavin & Stacey? and Who's in Charge of the Typing? Hannah Jones Is Granted an Audience with the Dynamic Duo

THE third series of Gavin & Stacey nearly didn't happen. Not because of some alternative grand plan, the unavailability of its stars and writers, or the fact the nation seemed to get it into its collective consciousness that last year's Christmas special was the last ever episode.

It nearly didn't make it because Ruth Jones got new sofas. "Can you believe it?" asks James Corden, her co-writer who plays Smithy in the Barry-based series.

"We can't do a minute of our little show apart. Most of series one was done in this room," he says, opening one eye and surveying Ruth's front room in her lovely Cardiff semi.

"No it wasn't," argues his friend, looking down on a tired James whose head is resting on her right arm, feet tucked up and under him on the controversial new gold sofa they're now sharing.

"Yes it was," he counters, playfully argumentative. "Most of this series was done in this room, and the second series. You may be right saying series one wasn't.

"How it works is like this," James continues. "Ruth would want to start writing about 9.30am but we'd end up doing it later, about 10.30am, because of me, and eating breakfast and stuff and talking.

"There was a desk over there," nodding to a now empty space, "and we'd plan an episode or try to until it was lunch time.

"But, man, that settee. It was lovely; cream it was." Ruth: "It's upstairs now."

James: "What good is it up there? I loved that sofa. It was so comfortable. There have been times in my life where this house has been like a rehabilitation centre for me.

"One time, when I came round, Ruth put me on that cream sofa and put me to bed at 7pm..."

Ruth: "...with a glass of squash...." James: ".... and put a nice blanket over me. I was out like a light. I don't have the same temptations (in Cardiff). Then I walk in one day and, and, and, and.... it's gone! I was actually panicked."

Ruth: "He wouldn't sit on the new one. It was like his mojo had gone."

James: "I'm okay now though. If anything, it's super comfy."

Ruth: "So he sits on the sofa, I'm in charge of the laptop. He's tried to do it but he can't be trusted."

And with that, they start laughing, Ruth allowing her much younger partner in comedy - he's 31, she's 43 - to cuddle back in to her again, like a surrogate mother who fully indulges his prodigious talent, and inability to stay fully focused. Ruth suffers with it too and reminds James that she's also prone to procrastination.

"We went to a hotel in London to do this one (series three) and it was pounds 4 for a boiled egg. pounds 4!" she says incredulously.

"So we decided to go to Selfridges for some eggs. We didn't have a …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Friends Reunited; Ruth Jones and James Corden Are Responsible for One of This Country's Most Successful Comedies. but How Much Effort Goes into Writing Gavin & Stacey? and Who's in Charge of the Typing? Hannah Jones Is Granted an Audience with the Dynamic Duo. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: November 21, 2009. Page number: 4. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale Group.

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