Joanna Page: Podcasting Better Than Therapy for Couples

Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page has admitted parts of her 26-year marriage to husband James Thornton have been 'rubbish' - revealing she spent four years sleeping in a separate bed.

The actress, 48, made the confession in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail following the launch of her podcast Lush! last December, which she frequently co-hosts with James, 50, the father of their four children.

Best known for playing lovable Welsh firebrand Stacey in the hit sitcom, Joanna said the couple have 'massive arguments' and refused to sugarcoat their relationship, blaming clashes between his 'Northern, measured' temperament and her 'manic, impulsive and fiery' nature - meaning they are rarely 'lovey dovey.' 

She even suggested they might not have survived had they adopted the less patient approach she believes some younger couples take - in an apparent nod to the likes of and , who recently ended their marriages after only a few years.

Yet despite its flaws, the marriage has lasted, and the couple are now preparing to offer a warts-and-all insight into their life together on the podcast, where they will also dispense advice to other couples.

So what is Joanna's secret to sustaining such a long and successful union?

She said: 'If you're going through 26 years of marriage like me, it's not always going to be wonderful, it's going to be pretty rubbish, and sometimes, you end up hating each other, you get bored of each other, they will really annoy you, and suddenly it will be wonderful again.

'You can't be with someone for 26 years and it be wonderful all the time. These days, people say, it's not working, let's just split up, and to go through 26 years, we're lucky because we have grown on the same path so we still have the same thoughts and opinions. 

'Yes, we do disagree with each other, we have massive arguments, but we have grown on the same path. We bicker all the time, we're not all lovey dovey. He's quite slow, and northern and measured, and I'm very manic and hysterical next to him and very impulsive and fiery.

'Be prepared, you have to work at marriage, don't give up at the first sign of hard work. Always be kind and have a good sense of humour.'

Joanna met fellow actor James on the set of the BBC costume drama David Copperfield in 1999, and they married four years later.

They have since welcomed four children, Eva, 13, Kit, 10, Noah, nine, and Boe, four, and are now navigating life with a teenager at home.

Joanna admits Eva's hormones are 'all over the place' and says that witnessing her daughter's mood swings firsthand has given her fresh sympathy for James, having displayed similar behaviour herself during their marriage.

She explained: 'I'm like, 'Oh my God, is this what it's been like living with me all these years?' because it's probably been quite difficult. 

'She stormed up the stairs, her emotions were flying everywhere, halfway up the stairs, she turned around and gave me the finger. There's been plenty of door slamming.

'I think, this must be what it was like for my husband James, premenstrual and I turn around at him screaming because he hasn't cut an apple the right way. And two seconds later I'm completely fine.'

Now Eva is a teenager, Joanna says she is finally old enough to watch Gavin & Stacey - a milestone that has led to some awkward viewing at home.

In particular, she admits cringing during scenes in the opening episode when her character Stacey first meets love interest Gavin, played by Mathew Horne, which culminate in the pair spending the night together in a London hotel.

Joanna said: 'It's funny because now Eva is turning 13, it's the first time she has sat down and watched it.

'My God, there were bits especially in the first series that I really had to fast-forward, 'Oh mummy is just in a hotel room now, doing a bit of kissing' - it was quite racy in the first series.

'But now it's become our thing and she loves watching it, it does keep going through new generations. I will always be remembered now as a 29-year-old cute little blonde and that's fantastic, that's fine by me.'

The beloved sitcom concluded in 2024 with a blockbuster finale that saw Smithy and Nessa, played by creators James Corden and Ruth Jones, finally tie the knot.

More than 18 million viewers tuned in to watch the last episode of Gavin & Stacey, cementing its status as a television event.

Its huge success fuelled rumours of a reboot with a new cast, but Joanna has all but dismissed talk of a spin-off, admitting she cannot imagine anyone else stepping into Stacey's shoes. 

She explained: 'I don't think it will ever happen. This is the only time that I have been 100 per cent, that is it, it's completely ended. I don't think it will ever be happen.

'It would be really strange, and I'd find it quite weird because I am so wedded to that character now. I started playing Stacey when I was 29 so it would be really strange - I couldn't see anyone else playing the part of Stacey.

'I think that's really, really weird, I don't think I would like it, I am so territorial around all of that.

'They really are like family. I don't think we would ever do anymore, I would happily do a special every single year, even just to meet up and have a party with all of my friends.'

But with a shiny new podcast to work on, Joanna has more than enough on her plate to keep herself occupied.

And now hubby James has become more relaxed in his new-found role of podcast co-host, the actress believes fans are really going to enjoy hearing about their lives - as well as their bedroom secrets - which she has compared to 'couple's therapy.'

She said: 'At first he was quite weary and nervous because he's never done anything like this before, and he was really worried he wouldn't think of anything to say but we were in the studio for two hours just chatting, we went in on an argument, we actually weren't even speaking, and I just said 'Right come on' and it was like couples' therapy. 

'We are like ships passing in the night sometimes because there's so much going on with the children that we don't have time to sit down and talk to each other. We talked and talked and talked and when it finished, he was like a new man, he was buzzing, and full of life and we really connected.   

'During one episode, we talked about all the things that are better than getting back into my marital bed after four years of sleeping with Boe.

'We know everything about each other, but it's quite liberating talking about those things and delving into those things.

'There are loads of different things that have happened to us over the years but sitting in a room and talking about our opinions, and asking our listeners, like we have had a whole debate about the heating.

'There's nothing off the table at all. We have been together for 26 years now, so there are no topics off limits.'

Joanna has partnered with this year's National Lottery Open Week campaign, which from March 7–15 will give ticket holders free entry and exclusive discounts at hundreds of venues across the UK.

The initiative shines a spotlight on the nation's 'hidden gems', perfect for families to discover, something Joanna understands all too well as a mother of four.

She explained: 'The National Lottery raises £32million every single week to good causes, through different communities with arts, sports, and heritage projects all across the UK. 

'It's a really big thank you to all the players who helped to raise the money - as a thank you The National Lottery are going to be offering free entry and special offers to a range of different venues. It isn't just the big iconic landmark venues like The Eden Project - there are going to be some brilliant little hidden gems as well.

'You don't need a brand-new lottery ticket or to buy one, you just need to have any National Lottery ticket, a scratch card or an Instant Win Game, it could be one you have had in a drawer for ages. You go to the venue, present the ticket, and you get free entry.' 

Joanna's collaboration with The National Lottery comes as new research reveals people are increasingly seeking out unique experiences, shunning viral hotspots in favour of more authentic discoveries.

Analysis of online conversations across forums such as Reddit shows mentions of 'hidden gems' and 'micro adventures' have surged by 125 per cent since 2021. More than four in five people (83 per cent) say they want to balance visits to iconic landmarks with exploring unusual, lesser-known destinations. 

Joanna added: 'There are some lovely ones in Wales like Dyffryn Gardens, and you can take the family there, get free entry, to see the beautiful flowers. Hopefully the rain and the awful weather will leave soon. I'm a big family and usually going to places like that cost an absolute fortune.

'There's also Hay Castle, I was there over Christmas turning on the lights and for the book festival, and it's so gorgeous. I'm also looking forward to The Food Museum because they're going to be doing their school dinners exhibition which will feature all the food that delighted and disgusted us in school. That's free adult entry.

'There are lots of different community things as well - to find all the hidden gems that are going on, you just visit the website. In Newport, for example, there's Newport Cricket Club, they are going to be offering free taster sessions for 5–11-year-olds, which is adorable.'

• To thank players for raising £32 million a week for good causes, National Lottery Open Week runs 7–15 March, with free and discounted entry at hundreds of UK venues with any National Lottery ticket. Details at nationallotteryopenweek.com