Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne says he feels “protective” over his co-star James Corden as he rejected rumours that they have fallen out in recent years.

The actors, who are returning as best friends in the hit BBC show as Gavin Shipman (Horne), and Neil “Smithy” Smith (Corden) for a Christmas special this year, were also part of the sketch show Horne and Corden as well as Lesbian Vampire Killers in 2009.

Since then, Corden has gone on to success as host of the US talk show The Late Late Show, which he departed in 2023, and starred in several Hollywood movies as well as presenting the Tony Awards and Grammys.

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Fans will be delighted to know that Horne, who has been a feature of the BBC comedy series Bad Education alongside comedian Jack Whitehall and is currently on stage in William Shakespeare play The Tempest opposite Sigourney Weaver, told The Times that it “wasn’t true” that he and Corden fell out.

He added that “no amount of protesting would have convinced people that it didn’t happen” as Corden went to the US.

Speaking about 2009, when Horne and Corden was poorly reviewed by critics, he said: “It was a hectic time and I really don’t want any more hecticness and chaos in my life.

“Honestly, I’m sick of talking about this for 15 years, it sapped my energy at the time and it’s not important.”

Horne also said that people are “jealous” of Corden’s success, and called The History Boys star and Gavin and Stacey co-creator a “phenomenally gifted actor and writer, and a brilliant working-class success story”.

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He added: “I am protective of him. But I think I’ve been silenced in discussing him because of this narrative that’s been imposed.”

Horne also said that him and Corden have discussed doing a play.

He also revealed that he used to find it a “bit offensive” when people said he was like Gavin, but added he is more grateful for the character following the covid pandemic.

“I was just overwhelmed with gratitude for having been part of that show,” Horne admitted.

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“It’s a wonderful thing to have done with my life. Everything that I thought was perhaps a little irritating was actually a really good thing.”

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale airs on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm.

It will follow the 2019 one-off festive special that ended on a cliffhanger when Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins, played by Ruth Jones, proposed to Smithy.