Joanna Page, the Welsh actress best known for Gavin and Stacey, says she was groped by a television host during filming after a female producer warned her about the man’s hands-on behavior. Page describes the moment as jarring and frightening, saying she defended herself by striking the host’s hands and telling him to stop. She recalled the incident as feeling like being mauled at a zoo, a comparison she used to convey how overpowering the moment felt. The encounter occurred during a project that she did not identify, citing the producer’s caution about making accusations public. Page has said that the episode was not a singular incident in a career she says has involved navigating a climate in which inappropriate behavior was sometimes rationalized or overlooked.
Page, 48, is best known for her breakout role as Stacey in Gavin and Stacey, the BBC comedy that wrapped its long run with a final episode last year and has since attracted renewed attention after a National Television Award for comedy earlier this month. In interviews tied to the publication of her memoir, Lush: My Story - From Swansea To Stacey And Everything In Between, she recounts her ascent in show business and the challenges she faced along the way. The memoir, which goes on sale September 25, traces Page’s journey from her home city of Swansea to stardom, and it frames the balance between fame and personal experience in a way that she says readers will recognize.
The project’s release comes as Gavin and Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones reportedly signed a seven-figure deal for a follow-up series that will move away from the original BBC format. According to sources, the new project will air on Apple TV+, feature a 10-episode run with an all-British cast, and be written and produced with Corden and Jones also starring. The series will focus on new material rather than the beloved characters fans met in Smithy and Nessa. Shooting is planned to begin next year, with the show not expected to land until 2027. The arrangement marks a fresh chapter for the duo as they pursue material that preserves the warmth and humor fans associate with their work, while expanding beyond the Gavin and Stacey universe.
The focus on new material comes as the original Gavin and Stacey universe has remained a touchstone for fans and industry observers alike. The show’s Christmas Day finale last year brought a long-awaited resolution for the on-and-off couple Smithy and Nessa, who finally declared their love and tied the knot. In a later documentary about the special, James Corden reflected on why the series could not continue in its existing form, noting that the ending felt messy and not perfect—an assessment that has colored talk of future iterations and potential crossovers but has not deterred high-profile collaboration elsewhere. The decision to pursue a new project with AppleTV+ underscores how the duo is seeking to craft stories that retain the heart of Gavin and Stacey while exploring new formats and settings for contemporary audiences.
Page’s memoir, Lush: My Story - From Swansea To Stacey And Everything In Between, is positioned as a candid account of her path to stardom and the personal experiences that shaped her as an actor and public figure. The book is scheduled to hit shelves on September 25, and Page has indicated that she hoped her story would offer both resilience and humor in the face of industry challenges. The juxtaposition of her personal account with the ongoing conversation around accountability in entertainment has drawn broader attention to the culture surrounding television production and the dynamics of power within the industry.