James Corden and Ruth Jones, the duo that starred in and co-created Gavin & Stacey, are to write, star, and executive produce a new show, The Choir, marking their first major project together since the beloved sitcom came to an end.
The news first emerged in September last year, when it was reported that the duo had signed a multi-million-pound deal with the streaming platform. Now, Corden and Jones have officially confirmed the project as part of their book tour for When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between in Cardiff.
According to Deadline, The Choir will see Corden play Ben and Jones portray Lisa, estranged siblings who haven’t spoken in years. Ben has been living overseas, while Lisa has remained in their quiet English hometown, where life ticks along at a gentle pace. But when unexpected circumstances force Ben to return, he finds himself confronting the town he never truly felt at home in, and the family ties he left behind.
Little else is known about the show beyond this, with additional cast members still to be confirmed, but filming is expected to begin next year.
Corden and Jones have been close collaborators for decades, having first met on the set of Fat Friends, and have frequently spoken about how naturally they work together.
Speaking at the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards, Jones hinted she wasn’t ready to stop writing with Corden, even after Gavin & Stacey reached a definitive conclusion.
“I love working with James Corden,” she said. “We do do a lot of napping, but we do write as well, when we get going!”
The pair revealed the inspiration behind the series is rooted in real life. Jones explained that both her sister and James’ mother are members of amateur choirs. “We both feel that choirs, amateur choirs especially, bring people together in a way that maybe nothing else does,” she said.
Jones added that the show will explore “a group of characters from different backgrounds, all sorts of different things going on in their lives,” united through music.
With the Gavin & Stacey finale pulling one of the UK’s biggest scripted hits since records began (in a staggering 20.9 million viewers in its first 28 days), it’s no surprise their next collaboration has already sparked major excitement.
The Choir is expected to arrive on Apple TV+ in 2027.
Words by Joseph Jenkinson
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.