Gavin and Stacey mystery solved 15 years after ‘infuriating’ joke was made-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Owain Hughes’ opening joke has baffled fans for years (Picture: BBC)

Gavin and Stacey fans have been going mad for 15 years now after a baffling joke.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know the classic sitcom is returning on Christmas Day for one final episode four years after the last festive special.

The show first aired back in 2007, showing us Stacey (Joanna Page) and Gavin (Mathew Horne) navigating the ups and downs of their long distance romance.

Fans still can’t stop quoting its iconic one liners, and some parts of the show – what really did happen on that fishing trip? – remaining a mystery.

Thankfully, one of those has been solved after fans spent decades scratching their heads over Owain Hughes.

Steve Meo’s character appeared in the first episode of the third series as Gavin’s new Welsh colleague, introducing himself by saying: ‘Owain Hughes, and before you ask… No I don’t!’

Since Gavin and Stacey, Steve has starred in the likes of The Pembrokeshire Murders (Picture: ITV/Warren Orchard /Rex/Shutterstock)

Owain and another colleague find his joke hilarious, but Gavin was as confused as we were.

Even Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) understand, as he quipped: ‘Owain Hughes! And do you?’ as Owain teased ‘No I don’t’.

Smithy (James Corden) doesn’t have the answer either, but actor Steve has finally offered a bit of insight into the whole thing.

‘It is a red herring designed to infuriate and spark debate,’ he insisted during a chat with BBC.

Gavin and Stacey is back this Christmas for one last episode (Picture: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

Even he didn’t get what was happening at first, as he admitted he grilled James’ co-writer Ruth Jones about it when he went to land the role.

Funnily enough when I first went in for the audition that’s the first thing I asked Ruth,’ he said. ‘”There isn’t a joke is there, because I’m going mad?” ‘

So there we have it – the joke was, there was no joke. Something tells us fans won’t be happy with that explanation though.

Fans are hoping a few mysteries are solved (Picture: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

Even Steve’s own mother will be disappointed, as she’s been bugging him to tell her the secret too.

Opening up about a phone call from his mum, he added: ‘She said, “Right, you’ve got to tell me. The manager has just said over the tannoy now that if anyone can tell him what the joke means they’ll get a free bottle of wine.”

‘I said “sorry mam, I’m contractually obliged not to tell you.” ‘

Steffan Rhodri (Dave Coaches) has given a hint about the final ever episode (Picture: BBC)

Meanwhile, Steffan Rhodri – best known as coach driver Dave ‘Coaches’ Gooch – recently gave Metro a preview of how the show’s last-ever scene will come together.

‘My character Dave is a bit of an outsider,’ he explained. ‘But they planned it so that with the last scene we did, which is the ending, we were all together and it was very touching.’

He added: ‘I can’t tell you anything about the Christmas special other than I’m in it. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I didn’t do the one five years ago so it’s 17 years since I’ve done it.’

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.

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