James Corden hits out at ailing TV business – and names the one present which represents the ‘future’ – as he admits his years working for US networks made him realise how a lot the BBC ‘must be protected’
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James Corden has hit out at the ailing TV industry and has praised Netflix‘s Adolescence as the future of TV during his speech at the Royal Television Society Awards on Tuesday.
The Gavin And Stacey star, 46, who recently moved back to the UK, also admitted he missed the BBC whilst living in Los Angeles.
On the night, RTS awarded James and his co-star Ruth Jones, 55, their prestigious Judges’ Award to the duo, in recognition of their roles as creators and writers of the beloved BBC sitcom.
During their acceptance speech, James reached out to TV writers of the future, admitting that it ‘seems almost unthinkable today that a pair of first time writers would ever be given such creative freedom.’
He said: ‘Right now as an industry we are facing so much uncertainty, budgets tightening, platforms consolidating and the sheer volume of content sometimes make you feel like you are shouting into the void. But I urge you not to let it dim your light.
‘We are blessed to live in a place that has the BBC and the National Theatre and these institutions are the pinnacle of this country’s creative output,’ James added, amid around 500 job losses at BBC to cut spending in its news division.
James Corden praised Netflix’s Adolescence as the future of TV during his speech at the Royal Television Society Awards on Tuesday
The actor then specifically mentioned hit Netflix show Adolescence, which has amassed 66.3 million views since its launch
James made reference to his years spent on US TV as he added: ‘After living away for so many years I cannot tell you how much these institutions need to be protected. But perhaps the challenges that we face today are not signals to retreat but a challenge to do the opposite.’
The actor then specifically mentioned hit Netflix show Adolescence, which has amassed 66.3 million views since its launch.
The drama has captivated audiences and critics with each episode filmed in a single continuous take and the show is already being tipped for a string of BAFTA nominations.
James said: ‘When you see the response to a show like Adolescence these past few days maybe it’s telling us that now might be the time to actually be bolder and to back the ideas that perhaps might scare you a little.’
Elsewhere, the Smithy and Nessa actors embraced as they posed for snaps on the blue carpet at the event, held at Grosvenor House hotel in London.
James was dapper in head-to-toe black, showing off some new glasses, while Ruth opted for a £95 emerald green Godiva dress with lace sleeves.
The comedy writers were nominated for best scripted comedy for the final Gavin & Stacey: The Finale which won critical acclaim when it was broadcast at Christmas and became one of the most watched scripted TV shows of the century.
But in a shock snub, the show lost out to BBC Three sitcom Things You Should Have Done, created and written by Lucia Keskin.
The Gavin And Stacey star, 46, who recently moved back to the UK, also admitted he missed the BBC whilst living in Los Angeles
The night ended on a high for Ruth and James though as the RTS awarded their prestigious Judges’ Award to the duo
The night ended on a high for Ruth and James though as the RTS awarded their prestigious Judges’ Award to the duo, in recognition of their roles as creators and writers of the beloved BBC sitcom.
James and Ruth were introduced by legendary director and writer Richard Curtis who called Gavin and Stacey the ‘greatest romcom of all time.’
Ruth then opened their joint speech with a Nessa impression, delighting the crowd as she said ‘my husband and I are very touched.’
According to official Barb ratings figures, Gavin & Stacey the finale had been seen by 20.9m viewers.
That beats the last special in 2019 which at the same stage had an audience of 17.92m, rising to 18.49m after a month.
Gavin & Stacey brought in a whopping 12.3million viewers on Christmas Day, clinching the festive ratings top spot.
And in the weeks that followed it gained a huge boost to its audience, reaching 20.9million viewers after 28 days – breaking its own record from the 2019 Christmas special of 18.5million viewers in the same time period.
However its post-broadcast ratings have been gazumped by another BBC show, the iconic Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
The animation aired hours before Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day but came second place behind the sitcom for the most on-the-day viewers.
The 90 minute 2024 special resolved the cliff hanger from five years before, when Nessa asked Smithy to marry her.
The comedy writers were nominated for best scripted comedy for the final Gavin & Stacey but in a shock snub, the show lost out to BBC Three sitcom Things You Should Have Done
The series, which debuted back in 2007 concluded with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally declaring their love for one another and tying the knot, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
While fans tuned into the episode to see whether Smithy had accepted Nessa’s proposal from the 2019 Christmas Special, a five-year time jump revealed that he was indeed set to tie the knot, but all was not as it seemed.
It was revealed that Smithy had instead got engaged to his girlfriend Sonia, who failed to impress the Shipman/West clan when she met them in the last festive episode, with actress Laura Aikman’s return to the show kept a closely-guarded secret.
Fans were also treated to the surprise return of Sheridan Smith as Smithy’s sister Rudi, and Pam Ferris as his mum Cath.
