You know the ones—where your hair is a disaster, and you’re wearing that outfit you thought was cool in 2007. Corden is basically doing that with his acting career. He’s looking back at a 2007 episode—specifically the moment where his character, Smithy, has a weirdly intense argument about a sausage sandwich—and he’s cringing. “I watch it now and I think, ‘What was I doing?’” he said in a recent interview. It’s the same feeling you get when you find your old Facebook status that read, “Ugh, so bored. Life is hard.”
We’ve all been there. You write a text, send it, and then instantly think, “Why did I use that emoji? That was weird.” Corden’s criticism is just that, but on a national TV scale. He’s not hating on the show—he’s hating on his twenty-something self, who was still figuring out how to act naturally in front of a camera.
Why should you even care?
Because it’s human. And also, because it’s a gentle reminder that nobody is perfect, not even the guy who sang with Adele in a car. Think of your own early work emails. Remember that one where you called your boss “buddy” by accident? Or the school presentation where your voice cracked on the word “synergy”? Corden’s confession makes him feel like a regular bloke, not some Hollywood hotshot. It’s like your mate admitting they still have nightmares about a job interview from 2011.
Plus, here’s the warm and fuzzy bit: the episode he’s criticizing is actually beloved by fans. In the UK, Gavin and Stacey is practically a national treasure. People quote Smithy’s lines at Christmas dinner. So when Corden says, “It feels a bit forced, like a school play,” it’s hilarious because we all loved it anyway. It’s like when your grandma says, “That pie is a bit dry,” but you’ve already eaten three slices. You don’t care. The pie is still good.
James Corden has revealed the final ever Gavin and Stacey episode will
This whole thing also shows us something about growth. You’re not the same person you were a decade ago, right? You’ve learned to fold a fitted sheet (sort of), you no longer wear hair gel like it’s glue, and you’ve stopped using the word “random” in every sentence. Corden’s criticism is a sign that he’s grown too. He’s a better actor now, a more relaxed performer. But that early, awkward Smithy is the reason we fell in love with the character in the first place. The roughness made him real.
What’s the takeaway for your Tuesday?
Here’s a little story. My mate Lisa once spent four hours making a lasagna for a dinner party. During the meal, she apologized twice for the “soggy bottom.” Everyone was too busy eating seconds to notice. That’s exactly what Corden is doing. He’s apologizing for something nobody asked him to apologize for. But we love him for it. It makes him approachable. It reminds us that self-criticism is a sign of humility, not weakness.
Gavin & Stacey star addresses James Corden feud…
So, next time you’re beating yourself up over a clumsy email or a burnt toast, remember James Corden and that sausage sandwich scene. We are all works in progress. Even the people who seem to have it all—like a BAFTA and a late-night talk show—have moments they’d rather delete from the DVR. The key is to laugh, maybe share it with a friend, and then move on. Because honestly? That early episode still makes me smile. And I bet it makes you smile too.
So raise a glass (or a cup of tea, if you’re British) to flaws, growth, and the sausage sandwich that started it all. Corden can criticize all he wants, but for the rest of us, Gavin and Stacey remains a warm, funny hug of a show. And that’s something to be grateful for.
