The warmth of friendship and creativity is on strong display in this reflective book about how the hit BBC series came to be as well as everything in between making the series.
What an absolute joy of a read this book is! As a huge fan of Gavin and Stacey, it is fascinating to read about how every aspect of the show came together to create something that became to be beloved by millions of viewers.
Taking the reader from how the pair met on the drama Fat Friends to sharing a story that would form the basis of what Gavin and Stacey became: a story of ordinary people going through life with little surprises and twists along the way. If you haven’t seen the show then it is recommended that you watch before reading as there are of course plenty of spoilers (although nothing is still revealed about the infamous fishing trip).
As with the tv show, this book has been extremely well written capturing James Corden and Ruth Jones’ friendship as well as their creative partnership. It is really fascinating to read how they put the show together – with aspects of the script in its draft form as well as ideas for various scenarios that could have formed part of episodes.
The cleverness in the writing is not only in the humour that the pair share, but also their passion for writing and how much care they have put into this show. Sitting and reading this book feels like you are in a room with them, reminiscing on all the fun that they have had over the years.
But it is also really lovely to read how they would encourage each other – in particular it is heartwarming to hear about their insecurities and how they would keep each other going through the tough times as well as the good. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that make the reader feel like they were there when it happened.
Yes at it is heart it is filled with nostalgia, but it also in many ways is also a great read for any aspiring writers looking to create and develop their own show. There are plenty of tips to take away from the pair’s experiences – both positive and challenging to achieve but as they prove the pay off when it works is massive.
Every story, every aspect of the way in which this book has been put together feels very natural and really well grounded in honesty that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged from start to finish. I finished this book extremely quickly (even for me!) as I was enjoying it so much.
Overall, When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything In Between is a wonderfully entertaining and warm read that will thrill fans of the show who miss it.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is available to buy now.