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Mathew Horne has hit back at claims he bitterly fell out with co-star James Corden after the Gavin and Stacey creator found fame in America.
The pair, who portrayed Gavin and his best friend Smithy on the hit BBC show, were once inseparable and would frequently be spotted together.
Since Gavin and Stacey first aired in 2007, James, 46, had gone onto find fame in the States and fronted his very own successful Late Late Show chat show.
However, Mathew has since rubbished claims he ever fells out with James and hinted he is frustrated that confronting the claims in the past had the opposite effect of trying to cool off the speculation.
Speaking to The Times, Mathew said: 'This notion of us falling out in 2009 — it wasn't true, but I couldn't really do anything about it. Because James then went off to the States, that was the narrative and however much I said that we didn't fall out, no amount of protesting would have convinced people that it didn't happen.'
Mathew Horne has hit back at claims he bitterly fell out with co-star James Corden after the Gavin and Stacey creator found fame in America
The pair, who portrayed Gavin and his best friend Smithy on the hit BBC show, were once inseparable and would frequently be spotted together - both professionally and personally as friends
He continued: 'It was a hectic time and I really don't want any more hecticness and chaos in my life. I just want to be grateful and enjoy the things that I'm so fortunate to have. Which is a really interesting, fun career and a beautiful family. Honestly, I'm sick of talking about 15 years of this, it sapped my energy at the time and it's not important.'
Defending James from trolls who target him for his success, Mathew added: 'The root of all of the flak that he takes — and it's beyond flak — is jealousy. He is a phenomenally gifted actor and writer, and a brilliant working-class success story. So yeah, I am protective of him. But I think I've been silenced in discussing him because of this narrative that's been imposed.'
Gavin and Stacey is set to return for the last ever episode this Christmas and Mathew has said he was thrilled to reunite with James and the rest of their cast.
It comes after James insisted that you 'can't fake these friendships' he has made with his Gavin and Stacey co-stars over the past 20 years.
The actor and TV presenter, who created the show with pal Ruth Jones, said there is 'so much warmth and love' between the stars after insiders spilled all on the 'strained relationships' on set.
Discussing why he believes the show is still so popular with fans after it was first released nearly 20 years ago, James said the group are like family.
He said: 'It’s difficult for me to say why the show is popular and loved. I think fundamentally the show is about love and about people who like each other.
'It's about family and friendship. There’s just so much warmth and love within them as a group. None of that is faked, that’s all there in our relationships as a cast really.
Since Gavin and Stacey first aired in 2007, James, 46, had gone onto find fame in the States and fronted his very own successful Late Late Show chat show
He said: 'This notion of us falling out in 2009 — it wasn't true, but I couldn't really do anything about it. Because James then went off to the States, that was the narrative'
He added: '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 15 years of this, it sapped my energy at the time and it's not important'
'I think there’s something very pure about watching people who get on and love each other without conflict. I hope people feel that on Christmas day.'
James continued and gushed that he is 'proud' of what he and Ruth have created as it has 'changed his life'.
He said: 'Gavin & Stacey is just a huge part of my life, it changed my life in every way. The thing it means to me most, is my friendship with Ruth.
'To have an idea with a friend in a hotel in Leeds 20 years ago and then be sat here today with what it’s become… if you think about it too much you could really just start crying all the time. I love her so much and I’m so proud of what we’ve done.'
James stars in the British sitcom alongside Ruth as Nessa, Mathew and Joanna Page as Gavin and Stacey, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon portrays Stacey's uncle Bryn.
Filming for the series finale first began on September 2, and since then the cast have been pictured in a string of locations, including the famous Barry Island in Wales, which takes centre stage in the iconic comedy.
One of the main plot points that's emerged appears to be Nessa's wedding, which could provide an answer to the cliffhanger that ended the 2019 special.
Ruth and James were said to be filming scenes for a wedding in October.
However, the cast themselves have yet to confirm if Smithy and Nessa will indeed get their happy ending.
The cast recently confirmed that they had finished filming scenes on the famous Trinity Street, which acts as the backdrop for the homes of both Stacey and Gavin, her mother Gwen and uncle Bryn.
Defending James from trolls, Mathew added: 'The root of all of the flak that he takes is jealousy. He is a phenomenally gifted actor and writer, and a brilliant working-class success story'; pictured James with Adele
It comes days after James insisted that you 'can't fake these friendships' he has made with his Gavin and Stacey co-stars over the past 20 years
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will hit screens at 9pm on Christmas Day
'You haven't seen anything because we've been indoors, which shows you're true committed fans of the show and we hope that you won't be disappointed on Christmas Day, when all will be revealed,' Ruth told fans.
'This is our farewell now to Barry and to Trinity Street, so you won't be seeing us here anymore but we've had a wonderful 17 years, it's been fantastic.'
James added: 'Thank you very much to everyone, we'll see you soon.'
Ruth has since told The Big Issue: 'I keep telling people this finale might not be what you are expecting. And I guarantee we will definitely not be coming back.'
James added: 'What people are going to see on Christmas Day is the culmination of a 20-year love story, which hopefully shows, if nothing else, that love is complicated and messy and for everyone.'
It will be the first episode of the BBC sitcom since the last Christmas special in 2019.
That episode, which was watched by 12 million viewers, ended on a cliffhanger with Nessa down on one knee as she proposed.
The pair eventually marry, while their respective best friends Smithy and Nessa have a son, Neil, who is now 15 and will also return for the final ever episode.
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer and Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell will air at 7pm on New Years Day on BBC One and iPlayer.
English (US) ·