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Apple TV's The Choir names guest stars Waddingham, McAvoy and Broadbent

Apple TV has revealed the cast of The Choir, the new series from Gavin & Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones, with Hannah Waddingham, James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent as guest stars.

4 outlets · 1L · 3C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Deadline
Image: The Independent
Image: Evening Standard
Image: Radio Times

1 / 4

The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2Hannah Waddingham, James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent will guest star in The Choir, a new Apple TV series from Gavin & Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones. Centre · 2Corden and Jones play estranged brother and sister Ben and Lisa, who have not seen each other for several years; Ben has lived abroad while Lisa stayed in their small English town. Mixed · 2When events take a sorry turn, Ben is forced back to what the synopsis calls a life he never wanted, a town he never liked and a family from which he is estranged; The Independent adds that the siblings try to mend their relationship and join a struggling choir.

Mixed · 2The ensemble includes Tom Davis, Rosie Sheehy, Susan Brown, Jason Watkins, Alexandria Riley, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Tom Edden, Gary Lamont, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Stephen Leask, Luiis Rouf, Jo Foster, Evie Jones and Farrah Abbassy; Deadline and The Independent also list David Harewood. Centre · 2The show is in production; Deadline says it will air next year and the Evening Standard says it will premiere in 2027. The Evening Standard describes it as an eight-episode comedy drama. Centre · 1Deadline reports that it is produced by I May Destroy You maker Various Artists Limited and Jones's company TidyTwo, unlike Gavin & Stacey, which was made by Baby Cow and Fulwell Entertainment among others. Phil Clarke, Jack Bayles, Jones and Corden are executive producers, and Jennifer Sheridan and Jim Archer are set to direct.

Left · 1The Independent says Corden and Jones created the show, and reports that last year they were said to have signed a multi-million-pound deal with Apple. Mixed · 2Coverage places the show against Gavin & Stacey, whose 2024 Christmas special was the UK's most-watched show of 2024. The Independent says Corden and Jones said at the 2025 Hay Festival that the programme was never coming back because they are "too proud" of the existing episodes.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Independent presents the show as a cosy reunion that "sounds every bit as wholesome" as Gavin & Stacey, with Gavin & Stacey history and the Hay Festival remarks.
Emphasis
Nostalgia, the Apple deal and Gavin & Stacey's record.
Leaves out or plays down
Producers, directors and production companies.
Charged language
“wholesome”“mega-hit”
For example
“it sounds every bit as wholesome as their mega-hit Gavin and Stacey” — The Independent

Centre3 outlets

Framing
Deadline leads with an exclusive casting and production report; the Evening Standard gives a straightforward announcement with career backgrounds.
Emphasis
Cast lists, production details, premiere timing, and the careers of Corden and Jones.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither mentions the Hay Festival comments; the Standard omits producers and directors.
Charged language
“highly-anticipated”“iconic British sitcom”“top caliber of guest star”
For example
“The show has attracted a top caliber of guest star.” — Deadline
“will reunite for their new comedy drama series The Choir” — Evening Standard

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.