The creators of ‘Gavin & Stacey’ are getting the band back together, although this time there’s an actual choir involved. Apple TV has announced ‘The Choir‘, a new eight-episode comedy drama written by and starring Ruth Jones (‘Gavin & Stacey’) and James Corden (‘Gavin & Stacey’), which is now in production ahead of a global premiere in 2027.
The series marks the pair’s first project together since the record-breaking ‘Gavin & Stacey: The Finale’, bringing them back on screen as a brother and sister whose relationship could use a little work. And possibly a decent warm-up exercise.
‘The Choir’ follows Ben, played by James Corden, and his sister Lisa, played by Ruth Jones, who haven’t seen each other for several years. While Ben has been living abroad, Lisa has stayed in their small English town, a place where nothing ever happens.
However, when events take a sorry turn, Ben is forced to return to a life he never wanted, a town he never liked and a family from which he’s estranged. That is quite a collection of reasons to avoid going home, so rebuilding bridges with his sister is unlikely to be straightforward.
The potential route to reconciliation comes through a struggling local choir and the people who turn up each week to sing their hearts out. Whether joining in can help mend the siblings’ relationship is the question at the centre of a series about family, friendship, love and music.
There’s a substantial ensemble joining the two leads, giving that choir plenty of voices. The cast includes Tom Davis (‘Wonka’), Rosie Sheehy (‘The Custom of the Country’), Susan Brown (‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’), Jason Watkins (‘Dirty Business’) and David Harewood (‘Homeland’).
They are joined by Alexandria Riley (‘Silo’), Sylvestra Le Touzel (‘Intelligence’), Tom Edden (‘Mr. Turner’), Gary Lamont (‘Rivals’) and Emily Lloyd-Saini (‘Wicker’).
Rounding out the ensemble are Stephen Leask (‘Mother’s Pride’), Luiis Rouf (‘Sunlight’), Jo Foster (‘Into The Woods’ at the Bridge Theatre), Evie Jones (‘Truckload’) and Farrah Abbassy. Apple hasn’t revealed their character details yet, so we’ll have to wait to discover who is keeping the choir in tune and who might need a little encouragement.
The guest cast also brings some familiar faces, with Hannah Waddingham (‘Ted Lasso’), James McAvoy (‘Split’) and Jim Broadbent (‘Iris’) all set to appear. Their roles are also being kept under wraps for now, but that’s quite a trio to add to an already busy cast list.
Behind the camera, the series is produced for Apple TV by Various Artists Limited and TidyTwo. Phil Clarke and Jack Bayles executive produce alongside the two creators.
Directing duties will be handled by Jennifer Sheridan, whose credits include ‘The Other Bennet Sister’, and Jim Archer, known for ‘Big Boys’. With an estranged family and a local musical group at its heart, ‘The Choir’ gives its creators a new setting for the combination of comedy and relationships that made their previous collaboration such a hit.
‘The Choir‘ premieres globally in 2027 on Apple TV. An exact premiere date has not yet been announced.
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