James Corden has spoken out about the struggling TV industry while praising Netflix’s Adolescence as the future of television during his speech at the Royal Television Society Awards.
The Gavin & Stacey star, 46, who recently returned to the UK after years in Los Angeles, also shared that he missed the BBC while living in the U.S.
Corden and his co-star Ruth Jones, 55, received the prestigious RTS Judges' Award for their work on the hit BBC sitcom at the ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
In his speech, the British star addressed aspiring TV writers, reflecting on how rare it is today for first-time writers to be given true creative freedom.
He said: “Right now as an industry we are facing so much uncertainty, budgets tightening, platforms consolidating and the sheer volume of content sometimes make you feel like you are shouting into the void.
“But I urge you not to let it dim your light.
“We are blessed to live in a place that has the BBC and the National Theatre and these institutions are the pinnacle of this country's creative output.”
Reflecting on his time in U.S. television, Corden emphasised the importance of protecting British broadcasting institutions such as the BBC, which is facing 500 job losses in its news division.
He continued: “After living away for so many years, I cannot tell you how much these institutions need to be protected. But perhaps the challenges that we face today are not signals to retreat but a challenge to do the opposite.”
The Into Woods actor went on to highlight the success of Netflix's Adolescence, which has been at the top of the most-watched programmes on the streaming website globally since landing on the platform.
The show has also sparked a national conversation as well as prompted questions in Parliament around the themes; incel culture, online misogyny, and the dangers of social media, explored in it.
Corden added: “When you see the response to a show like Adolescence these past few days maybe it's telling us that now might be the time to actually be bolder and to back the ideas that perhaps might scare you a little.”
Jones and Corden collected the judges’ award after the final episode of Gavin & Stacey aired on Christmas Day after a gap of five years.
Elsewhere, RTS gave a special award for television journalism to journalists in Gaza for “their courage and commitment as they face extraordinary danger”.
The BBC sitcom Alma’s Not Normal also picked up three awards while The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkelman was presented with the outstanding achievement award.
Creator Sophie Willan won both the female comedy performance and comedy writer awards, while Alma’s Not Normal also collected the comedy drama prize.
Musical drama This Town won the newly combined limited series and single drama award, one of 16 wins for the BBC which included coverage of the 80th anniversary of D Day in the live event category.
The leading actor awards went to Lennie James for his role in the BBC’s Mr Loverman and Anna Maxwell Martin for ITV’s true crime drama Until I Kill You.
So delighted to have won this award with Rose. Thank you RTS and to @channel4 for having faith in us. https://t.co/UVzKgTzs4L
— Clare Balding 💙 (@clarebalding) March 25, 2025
Danny Dyer was named best male supporting actor for his role in the Disney+ series Rivals, which also collected the best drama writer award for Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade, with Jessica Gunning winning best female supporting actor for Netflix’s Baby Reindeer.
Channel 4’s coverage of the 2024 Paralympics won both sports categories – best programme and presenter, commentator or pundit for Rose Ayling-Ellis and Clare Balding.
Loose Women won the daytime programme category while The Traitors was named best entertainment programme and Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly took home the entertainment performance for Saturday Night Takeaway.
Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour won the formatted popular factual prize while Casualty beat EastEnders and Hollyoaks to be named best soap and continuing drama.
