Gavin & Stacey creators announce ensemble cast for new Apple TV comedy-drama The Choir
James Corden and Ruth Jones are reuniting for their first collaboration since Gavin & Stacey with an eight-part Apple TV comedy-drama titled The Choir, set to premiere in 2027. The ensemble cast includes Jason Watkins from Line of Duty and Tom Davis from King Gary, with guest appearances from Hannah Waddingham, James McAvoy, and Oscar winner Jim Broadbent. The series follows estranged siblings Ben and Lisa who reconnect after years apart, with Ben returning from abroad to their small hometown.
James Corden and Ruth Jones, the creative partnership behind the hugely successful BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, are bringing their talents to streaming television with this new venture. Their previous work achieved remarkable cultural prominence, culminating in a 2024 finale that drew nearly 20 million viewers—a testament to the lasting appeal of their writing style and character-driven storytelling.
The Choir represents a significant shift in format and platform, moving from traditional broadcast to premium streaming while expanding from sitcom to comedy-drama. This transition allows the creators to explore different narrative structures while maintaining the ensemble approach that defined their earlier success. The project's production timeline suggests Apple TV is investing considerably in the series' development and scale.
The reunion of Corden and Jones may generate considerable interest among audiences nostalgic for Gavin & Stacey while potentially attracting new viewers to Apple TV's service. The involvement of established actors like Watkins and Broadbent could enhance the platform's prestige offerings, though the shift to comedy-drama rather than pure comedy represents an artistic evolution that audiences may receive variably. The 2027 release date positions the series within a competitive streaming landscape where audience attention remains fragmented across multiple platforms.