The idea for It’s My Day came to the pair in a Leeds hotel bar during the filming of ITV comedy Fat Friends. “It was also weird because we were in the Crowne Plaza in Leeds and at any point you could go to this mezzanine floor and someone from Fat Friends would be there,” Corden says, “But for some reason it was just us two that night. If another member of the cast had popped out for a club sandwich, we’d never have talked about it.”
Jones and Corden also reflect on the highs and lows of their 20-year friendship, including the period where Corden lived in the US. “When we got back together around the time of [James’] 40th, we realised our friendship was really strong,” Jones reflects.
“My wife organised a surprise birthday party for me in Mexico,” Corden says. “Lots of my friends walked in with a mariachi band playing. Then my wife said, there’s one more person here. Ruth walked into the room and I just burst into tears. I couldn’t believe she was there. It was so special.
“It’s that strange thing, isn’t it? If you haven’t seen someone for a while and they walk in, you’re suddenly aware of what you mean to each other. I can’t tell you how we’ve changed. But I know we have changed a lot.”
“We are kinder to each other now,” Jones adds. “We’ve grown up a bit.”
Corden agrees. “I can only speak for myself, but I treasure our friendship more today than I ever have. And I value it even more than [Gavin & Stacey].”
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