Gavin & Stacey: Season 2

The acclaimed comedy Gavin and Stacey, written by and starring James Corden (The History Boys) and Ruth Jones (Little Britain, Saxondale) returns for a second season of romance...and more misunderstandings and run-ins between their hilarious families!
Season Two finds Gavin and Stacey just returning from their honeymoon. The happy couple plans to live with Gavin's parents in Essex until they can get a place of their own. However, while Gavin won't even consider moving to Barry, Stacey feels bad for leaving her family and wants to be there to support her newly pregnant best friend Nessa. And Nessa has a bombshell of her own when Smithy is the last person to find out that he is the father of the child she is carrying.

Episode 1-Newlyweds Gavin and Stacey return from their honeymoon to a big welcome from both families. But when Smithy joins them for a celebratory meal out, he seems none too happy with his best mate. And as Nessa makes a shocking confession, and a tearful Stacey realises she's about to leave home, the entire evening slowly relocates to the restaurant toilets.

Episode 2-Gavin and Stacey come back from honeymoon trying to adjust to life as a married couple but will Nessa's revelation change things?

Episode 3-Stacey is still adjusting to life as an Essex wife but perks up when it is time to go home to Barry and Nessa and Smithy see their unborn baby for the first time.

Episode 4-Gavin and Stacey start house-hunting while Mick becomes a minor celebrity for the night. Nessa visits Stacey taking her bowling while tension between the newlyweds starts to bubble over.

Episode 5-Bryn has arranged a special treat for Gwen's birthday, but Bryn can't handle the pressure and Gwen starts to get suspicious. Stacey tells Gavin a decision that will change their lives forever.

Episode 6-While Stacey stays in Barry, Gavin goes home alone to Essex. Smithy takes Gavin for a boys' night out while Stacey goes to the bingo, but is the distance too much for the young couple?

Episode 7-Stacey returns to Essex to sort things out with Gavin, but things are not looking good. Over in Barry meanwhile, Nessa goes into labour a month early, and can Gavin find Smithy and get him to Barry in time or will they miss the birth?

Directed by Christine Gernon
Written by James Corden, Ruth Jones
Produced by Ted Dowd
Executive Produced by Henry Normal, Lindsay Hughes
Original Music by
Cinematography by Doug Hallows
Film Editing by Liana Del Giudice
Costume Design by Claire Finlay, Marcia Stanton

"Gavin and Stacey is the nearest the BBC has come in years to a home-grown sitcom that is both modern and funny, yet inclusive in its appeal. Neither twee like the Vicar of Dibley nor as close to the bone as The Office, it may be the true successor to that 80s classic Only Fools and Horses ... this is not your off-the-shelf romcom. For a start there is no laughter track, nor gale-force gags, just gentle, telling observations about the way people really act and talk in the office or down the pub ... And rather than rely on outlandish characters and catchphrases (the standard tactics taxonomised so well by Ricky Gervais in Extras), it flourishes with an ensemble acting as naturalistically as primetime TV allows. The show-stealers are not the eponymous couple but their best mates, Nessa and Smithy - played brilliantly by James Coren and Ruth Jones. There are also star turns by Alison Steadman and Rob Brydon. Truthful without being sour, this is the sort of sitcom that could have been written by a cheerier Mike Leigh." Guardian

"...a welcome return ... Corden and Jones have admirably managed not to have their heads turned by the praise heaped on the first series and keep things as low key as ever here, with Rob Brydon the stand-out from the wonderful cast. ****" Financial Times

"...the series's mix of observational charm and broad humour is driven by the couple's best mates (a blokey Corden and in-your-face Jones), Stacey's Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) and Gavin's mum (Alison Steadman)." Observer

"Garlanded with awards and buoyed by critical acclaim, this excellent comedy returns with a series-launching double bill that maintains the established standards ... There is strength in the writing (by James Corden and Ruth Jones, who play Smithy and Nessa); and there is a terrific cast ... The show's warmth, realism, characterisation and comedic quality are reminiscent of The Royle Family, and it should soon find itself promoted to BBC1." Sunday Times

"...it's lovely that two relative unknowns should have scored such a success with comedy so good-hearted. And, yes, the series does have funny lines and a terrific cast ... some gags are very funny. I enjoyed Rob Brydon's performance as Bryn who struggled to get to grips with the concept of parascending, and Nessa's confession that she was still pregnant because she'd watched Vera Drake at the wrong moment struck me as ruefully truthful." Independent

"... a very welcome return for the Anglo/Welsh cockle-warmer ... Julia Davis returns as Dawn and is at the centre of possibly the funniest ‘we didn't expect to see you here' gag ever..." Guardian

"This comedy is less mild than it looks and even funnier than I remembered." The Times

"The two episodes were the fifth- and sixth-best rated shows on BBC3 since it launched five years ago." Guardian

"...if the performances stay this strong ... their show can only go from strength to strength." TV Scoop

British Comedy Awards 2007
Best New British Television Comedy (Scripted)
Best Male Comedy Newcomer: James Corden
Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Joanna Page
Nominations:
Best Television Comedy
Best Television Comedy Actress: Ruth Jones (for Gavin & Stacey and Saxondale)
Best Male Comedy Newcomer: Mathew Horne
Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Joanna Page
Broadcast Awards 2007
Best Multichannel Programme
Nominations:
Best Comedy
Best New Programme

Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2007/8
Best Comedy/Entertainment

BAFTA Awards 2008
Audience Award for the Programme of the Year
Best Comedy Performance: James Corden

South Bank Show Awards 2008
Best TV Comedy

Televisual Bulldog Awards 2007
Best Comedy
Televisual is the business magazine for the broadcast and production community and their annual awards (presented in May 2008) are voted for by the Televisual readers, giving a detailed picture of the programme makers' views of the top television shows of 2007.

Media Guardian Awards 2008
This is the newspaper's annual list of the most powerful people in the industry. Candidates are judged on three criteria: their cultural, economic and political influence in the UK. The list was takes in all sectors of the media, including broadcasting, publishing, digital media, advertising, marketing and PR.
Top 100 most powerful people in the industry: No 25: James Corden and Ruth Jones
Top 10 New Entries: No 10: James Corden and Ruth Jones
Top 10 Under-40: No 4: James Corden

GQ Men of the Year Awards 2008
Breakthrough Talent: James Corden

TV Quick and TV Choice Awards 2008
Shortlist:
Best Comedy Show

Edinburgh International Television Festival Channel of the Year Awards 2008
Best Non-terrestrial programme of the year

British Comedy Awards 2008
Best Television Comedy
Nomination:
Best Television Comedy Actor: James Corden

Broadcast Awards 2008
Nomination:
Best Comedy Programme