Ruth Jones has revealed that she and her former Gavin & Stacey co-writer and co-star, James Corden, still have a very close friendship.
The actress, 56, played the iconic Nessa Jenkins on the BBC comedy series alongside James, 44, who starred as the unforgettable Smithy in the series they penned together from 2007-2010.
The finale episode, which aired on New Year's Day in 2010 saw a record 10.25million tune in with the sitcom coming back for a Christmas special in 2019.
As fans hope and pray for a fourth series of the hit comedy show following James' relocation back to the UK, Ruth has now opened up on her relationship with her former writing partner and shared some insight into whether or not fans will ever be gifted with another series.
Putting any speculation of rivalry between them to bed, novelist Ruth - who has just penned her new book called Love Untold - said that she wouldn't fancy doing James' job as a chat show host, while he would get bored of writing novels like her.
Speaking on Times Radio, the Welsh actress said: "No, if you were rivals wouldn't you have to be in the same ballpark? James doesn't write novels. I don't present TV shows in America."
I think he [James] might get bored writing a novel, if I'm honest. He makes fun of me writing novels, because he'll sort of go, Oh, yeah. What's the sort of thing you'd write? The phone rings. She walks down the corridor to answer it, she picks it up. And she hears the voice. She cannot believe it. Chapter 23."
It comes a number of short months after James admitted to meeting up with Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth where they discussed a fourth series of the hit comedy.
At the time, the actor and TV presenter was in the midst of a move back to the UK after an eight year stint rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in Hollywood.
Gavin & Stacey first aired in 2007, with three series running until 2010 and, to fans excitement, the original cast reunited back in 2019 for a Christmas special which was watched by a whopping 11.6 million people.
Matt Horne and Joanna Page reprised their roles as the title characters, with James and Ruth playing the iconic Smithy and Nessa.
Yet, to the frustration of many viewers, the single episode ended on a nail-biting cliffhanger as Smithy proposed to Nessa – leading many to wonder if it would be returning for a fourth series.
Now, James has admitted to meeting up with Ruth since the special episode.
He revealed to The Sun : "In truth, Ruth and I met up at Christmas. And I know it will be a disappointment, but we didn’t talk about it in life-growing forms. It is whether we decide to get into a room together and honestly I could not tell you what the chances are of that. We both have to be ready and right."
Ruth has previously told the publication : "It is so complicated for me and James to get together to write.
"I do say never say never, as while we did make it work that was after three years of trying to find time when we could sit down and write it. Obviously with the way it ends, there is room for more.
"It's a shame we didn't have more time when we were writing so we could have written more, then have it all ready to go. But it was such a challenge to get that special filmed."
