BBC America Secures 'Gavin & Stacey'

BBC America has acquired the rights to comedy series Gavin & Stacey and will begin airing the BAFTA winner this summer.

BBC America secured the first two seasons – six half-hours for the first, seven 30-minute shows for the sophomore campaign -- of the series, and present its U.S. premiere in August, according to network officials.  

Written by, and starring, Ruth Jones (Nessa, NightyNight) and James Corden (Smithy), the series captures the essence of a modern romance.Gavin is an ordinary boy from England, while Stacey is a lass from Wales. The two are obsessed with each other, yet they’ve only ever spoken on the phone. They decide to make the journey to meet, but the peculiar personalities of their families and friends make it a rocky road to happiness.

Produced by Baby Cow and distributed by BBC Worldwide, Gavin & Stacey won best comedy performance (Corden) and the Sky+ Audience Award for Programme of the Year at this week’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. 

It also picked up three British Comedy awards in 2007 for best new British television comedy (scripted), best male comedy newcomer (Corden), and best female comedy Newcomer (Joanna Page as Stacey in the UK production).