By Robin Cottle

Copyright walesonline

Actress Joanna Page admitted “it is sad and frustrating” as she criticised the perception some have of Gavin & Stacey co-star James Corden. The pair first collaborated together when the Welsh actress was cast as one of the titular characters in the hugely popular sitcom in 2007. The show concluded with a highly-anticipated finale on Christmas Day last year as it became the most-watched scripted show in over two decades. Since creating Gavin & Stacey almost 20 years ago Corden went on to find huge success in the US as he fronted chat show The Late Late Show with James Corden from 2015 to 2023. A director on A League of their Own later described Corden as “the most difficult presenter” to work with. Speaking on YouTube Craig Duncan said: “The most difficult and obnoxious presenter I have ever worked with was James Corden. “I was asked by his production company would I be willing to direct a challenge that was gonna be part of their A League of Their Own show. It was season seven, episode three. And I’ll never forget it.” Speaking to The Times, Joanna refuted the suggestions aimed at her former co-star. She said: “It’s quite sad and frustrating when you know a side of someone like I know with James, who’s so kind and lovely to work with, when other people haven’t seen it. But that’s the business, you have to have a thick skin.” Gavin & Stacey has proved so successful since it first aired on the BBC that Joanna has been able to turn down most other work to focus on her children, two dogs and four guinea pigs. The actress had taken on a job in a London shoe shop when the script for the sitcom came in. She felt she was perfect for the role as she added: “It was sacrilege if it went to someone else who was putting on an accent.” It comes after Joanna addressed a “difficult” family dilemma in a bid to quit England for life in her native Wales. The 48-year-old actress admitted that she had the thought after taking up surfing and feeling incredibly invigorated by the experience, leading to thoughts about whether she should move her away from England. Joanna and fellow actor husband James Thornton share four children – Eva, Kit, Noah and Boe. Speaking about the situation with woman&home, Joanna recalled: “Over the summer, I did my first-ever surfing lesson in Wales. I came home so invigorated, I wanted to move to Saundersfoot, thinking, ‘It’s about time I went back to Wales. I want to surf and live on the beach.’ “Then trying to put that into action with four children who’ve never lived in Wales and are very settled into their school is difficult! Now I just want to continue surfing whenever I can. It’s good for the mind as well as fitness.”