When Gavin Met Stacey - A Window into the Development Process

This week I started listening to When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between by James Corden and Ruth Jones. At first, I pressed play purely as a fan of the show - but I ended up finding value in it for an entirely different reason.

What I didn’t expect was how much the book would resonate from a development perspective. It’s an invaluable window into the creative process behind one of the UK’s most beloved sitcoms - and, more broadly, into what it really takes to get a project commissioned.

Of course, Corden and Jones had a somewhat unconventional route. Both were rising actors on the BBC comedy scene with direct access to commissioner Nick Andrews, and they were surrounded by a pool of established talent - from Alison Steadman to Rob Brydon.

Yet, even with those connections, their story offers powerful insights into the process itself: the late nights, the endless rewrites, the self-doubt, and the sheer persistence required to bring an idea to life.

What struck me most is how open and unfiltered they are. They’re honest about everything - the creative tensions, the insecurities, even moments they felt sidelined or uncertain. Ruth’s admission that she felt pushed out during Series 1 filming, and James’s struggles with his move to the States, bring a raw human dimension to the journey.

It’s emotional, relatable, and genuinely inspiring. For anyone working in development, this audiobook is gold dust. Not every project takes off as seamlessly as Gavin and Stacey, but this story is a reminder that with enough talent, tenacity, and heart - sometimes things are simply meant to be.