Gavin and Stacey stars promise different second series

Mathew, James, Ruth and Joanne from Gavin and Stacey

Newsbeat has been given an early preview of series two of BBC 3's award-winning comedy show Gavin And Stacey.

Although the second series doesn't air until 16 March, Newsbeat joined the cast to see the first two new episodes of the hit show in London.

Talking afterwards, co-writers Ruth Jones and James Corden, who also star in the show as Nessa and Smithy respectively, said they'd been amazed at how well the first series had done.

However, Corden said that they didn't feel under pressure to emulate its success second time around.

He told Newsbeat: "It's the show that we wanted to make. If people like it, they like it, if they don't, they don't. That's a nice feeling, that's quite freeing."

Joy of Essex

Co-writer Jones explained how the new series differed from the first.

She said: "Series one had a very specific storyline to it, boy meets girl and it ends in a wedding. We don't have the same type of storyline in the second series.

"It's now girl lives with boy's parents in Essex and the joys that might entail."

Take a trip

Corden said there was more depth to the characters this time round.

He said: "There's more of a journey and more of a story. We hope the viewers will feel like they've been taken on a little trip by it."

Corden also talked about his recent role co-presenting the 2008 NME Awards with Gavin, aka actor and comedian Mathew Horne.

He said they'd been surprised at how well they'd done, considering what a notoriously tough gig the NME Awards can be.

Corden said: "We had a great time, a really great time. The bands were a lot warmer and nicer then we thought they'd be, especially Klaxons and The Manics. And Nicky Wire said Gavin and Stacey was genius. How cool is that?"

The second series of Gavin And Stacey starts on 16 March on BBC Three.