Everything you need to remember about Gavin and Stacey before the finale-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro

It’s time to say goodbye to Gavin and Stacey (Picture: BBC/ Toffee International Ltd./ Tom Jackson/ PA Wire)

There’s only one place to be on Christmas day at 9pm – sitting on the sofa, watching the final ever episode of Gavin and Stacey.

It’s now been 17 years since two families from Billericay and Barry Island first captured our attention, their stories will be drawing to a close, but not before creators Ruth Jones and James Corden give them the ultimate send-off with a 90-minute special.

It has been a long five years since they were last in our living rooms, so you’d be forgiven if the finer details of the series have evaded your memory.

In an ideal world, you’d watch the 21 episodes back-to-back as a reminder of exactly what happened so you’re fully ready to embrace the finale. However, it’s December, the diary is likely packed with festivities, and last-minute present buying, so that may not be possible.

No need to fret as we’ve got things taken care of. Here’s a reminder of what’s been occurin’, so there is no confusion on December 25…

The fishing trip

The fishing trip confusion could finally be resolved (Picture: BBC)

There’s a long-running joke that involves Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) and his nephew Jason (played by Robert Wilfort)’s fishing trip. The excursion took place far in the past, and we know very little details about what happened, aside from that being in the same room makes them both super uncomfortable.

On multiple occasions – including the most recent 2019 special – the audience came close to finding out what took place, but something always prevents the reveal. It has led to viewers coming up with their own theories, and Rob told Metro that people even ask him directly to share some information.

What we know so far is that they were both on their knees (could be metaphorical), they did it because it was cold, and there seems to be some sort of nudity involved. Uncle Bryn has also revealed that whatever they did is ‘legal in Wales’.

Those breadcrumbs could finally be made into a loaf with the synopsis teasing that we’ll finally get answers. ‘Join us on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip,’ it reads.

Gavin and Stacey have their own issues

Gavin and Stacey have had their ups and downs (Picture: Baby Cow)

To make us care about the Shipman and West families, viewers always needed to believe in Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). Gavin and Stacey’s adoration for each other has always been the core of the show, and the reason a cast of unique characters are put into the same rooms in the first place.

Their love story began when they began chatting through work from different sides of the country. Through long phone conversations they built an undeniable connection, and agreed to meet in London for a first date. They confessed their love for each other the following day, and after their first first weekend together, they became engaged.

While their bond is clear, it doesn’t mean that our favourite whirlwind romancers don’t have issues. They broke up briefly when Stacey struggled with homesickness in Essex, and last time we caught up with them the parents-of-three were missing some passion from their relationship. This was seemingly resolved with the pair taking time away from the group on Christmas Eve, and Stacey gifting Gavin some matchsticks that she took from their first hotel stay.

It seems the problem may come up again with the spouses of 17 years attempting to spice up their marriage in the upcoming episode.

James told Big Issue: ‘What people are going to see on Christmas Day is the culmination of a 20-year love story, which hopefully shows, if nothing else, that love is complicated and messy and for everyone.’

Nessa and Smithy’s complicated relationship

Nessa proposed to Smithy (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)

Aside from Gavin and Stacey, there has been another burgeoning love story but this one is much less simple.

Nessa (Ruth) and Smithy (James) are the best friends of Stacey and Gavin, so tagged along on their very first date. They ended up engaging in WooHoo as the Sims call it, while their mates fell in love.

Despite both claiming to be unattracted to each other, they couldn’t help falling into bed with each other whenever they reunited. All the love-making results in Nessa falling pregnant, which leaves Smithy rather shocked. After he overcomes the initial surprise, he becomes a very supportive co-parent, who takes any opportunity to spend time with his son, Neil the baby (Oscar Hartland). Smithy even proposes out of obligation rather than love but Nessa deems it unnecessary.

It would not be in Nessa’s nature to wait around for Smithy (who had a girlfriend called Lucy, who was never on screen) to see her worth so she became engaged to Dave Coaches (Steffan Rhodri).

However, on their wedding day Smithy ran into the church to stop the wedding. Rather than a huge romantic declaration he told her: ‘The weirdest thing is … a lot of the time you repulse me.’ Nessa said she felt the same, in that he disgusts her. Somehow, that was enough and Nessa left with Smithy.

Fans hoping they’d made a good go of their relationship were left disappointed in 2019 when it transpired that Smithy now had a new girlfriend called Sonia (Laura Aikman). However, things didn’t seem too peachy between them, with Sonia even deciding to leave early on Christmas day. Also, Smithy woke up in bed with Nessa so he’s hardly giving boyfriend of the year! This gave Nessa the chance to propose to Smithy, and we have since been left on the ultimate cliffhanger as the credits rolled before Smithy could answer.

How will this messy romance end? We’ll soon find out!

Gwen and Bryn have been on a journey

The Wests have supported Stacey through everything (Picture: BBC/ Toffee International Ltd./ Tom Jackson/ PA Wire)

Stacey’s widower mum Gwen (Melanie Walters) and Bryn enjoy their life in Barry Island, and their only wish is to always see their family happy.

Neither of them had any desire to change their cosy lives when we met them, however, their love for Stacey has led to them expanding their worlds. This included Bryn having a night out in Cardiff and converting his home into a bachelor pad for Gavin’s friends, and Gwen spending her first Christmas outside of Barry Island.

They’ve been a comforting presence on-screen, whether it’s been Gwen’s omelette cooking in any situation, or Bryn’s love of Jame Blunt. We would expect more of their one-liners, Bryn’s ‘SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE’ lives rent-free in our minds, but Gwen has also hinted at perhaps something unexpected.

‘Our director Chris Gernon had warned me that there would be a moment that, when reading the script, I would scream out loud and she was right,’ she revealed. She is also expected to behave ‘most strangely’ in the new episode.

There’s tension between Wests and Shipmans

It’s not always happy families (Picture: BBC/ Toffee International Ltd./ Tom Jackson/ PA Wire)

The joining of two families has been far from smooth sailing, with Gavin’s mum Pam (Alison Steadman) being particularly vocal about any issues. She’s usually only calmed down by husband Mick (Larry Lamb).

Although she’s happy her ‘little prince’ found love, there’s always been an edge to our Pam. She was fuming that they wanted to get married in Wales, even calling Gwen a ‘leek munching sheep s*****r’.

Pam was then beyond angry when Gavin revealed that he was moving there permanently. In the first-ever Christmas special, a huge row erupts about their intended relocation and she ends up calling Gwen, Nessa and Stacey ‘the bitches of Eastwick.’

Last time we caught up with the gang, Pam keeps things cordial but she does make passive aggressive comments about Gwen’s old towels, and having to leave her home for Christmas. She also communicated how much she missed Gavin when he slept over just before Christmas.

As her grandchildren are growing up, there’s no way Pam is okay with missing out on so many milestones, so perhaps we could see tensions rise again.

The unique couple dynamics

Pete and Dawn are always on rocky terrain(Picture: BBC)

Pam and Mick regularly quibble, with their disagreements being nothing short of iconic (‘Three steaks Pam’ and ‘Do you want to fall out with me today Michael?’ come to mind). We can expect more of the same next week, with a newly-retired Mick getting under Pam’s feet. If you’ve forgotten about their back-and-forth, you may be concerned for their state of their marriage. However, no need to be alarmed because what’s always beneath it is an extreme love for each other.

What you do need to worry about are their friends – Pete (Adrian Philip Scarborough) and Dawn (Julia Davis) – who’s marriage has been on rocky territory since the moment we met them.

The last time we saw them Dawn accused Pete of being a drug addict after his younger colleagues gifted him a spliff in the secret santa as a joke. They were helped through the issue by Pam and Mick, who reassured her and then the group all got high together.

Smithy has a lively family too

Smithy and Rudi had a typical sibling relationship (Picture: BBC)

Although he spends a lot of his free time with the Wests and Shipmans, Smithy also has his own family full of unique characters. His mum Cath (Pam Ferris) and sister Rudi (Sheridan Smith) were part of some standout moments from the three previous series, and it’s rumoured they’ll be back again for the finale so it’s time to brush up on their dynamics.

Smithy has a rather volatile relationship with Rudi – the pair often revert back to their childhood selves whenever they’re in a room together, even getting into a physical scrap around the use of the nickname Smithy with both wanting rights.

The siblings also know each other very well – Rudi was the one who located Smithy at a driving range when he went missing after finding out about his impending fatherhood, and they know exactly how to compliment each other’s vocals on Kanye West and Estelle’s American Boy.

Cath is a little bit more of enigma, only making her first appearance in the third series. We know the single mother tends to fall asleep a lot (she says it’s due to narcolepsy, but Pam has decided it is because of heavy drinking), and she has dabbled with webcam chats, accidentally exposing herself to Nessa on one occasion.

So, now we’ve covered the basics you’re all ready for a (Nessa voice) Oh oh oh Merry Christmas.

Everything else to know…

When is the Gavin and Stacy Christmas special?

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer.

It will then be followed by the documentary Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell on 7pm on New Year’s Day on BBC One and iPlayer.

Who is in the cast?

All of the main cast members are returning (Picture: Ian West/ PA Wire)

The finale will see all of the cast reunited on screen for one last time, with the four main stars James Corden, Ruth Jones, Joanna Page and Matthew Horne reprising their roles.

They will be joined by Mick (Larry Lamb), Pam (Alison Steadman), Bryn (Rob Brydon) and Gwen (Melanie Walters).

What do we know about the story?

While James and Ruth have stayed tight-lipped on what will unfold in the last episode, the BBC recently offered fans an insight.

‘In Barry, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex,’ it said.

‘Soon enough, Gavin, Stacey, and the rest of their family and friends are seen in high spirits with another get together at Pam and Mick’s house.

Fans are counting down the days until the episode airs (Picture: PA Wire)

‘This time it looks like Bryn will be giving limbo a go. Clearly, Pam and Mick are playing host this time around, but why are they partying?’

It was also revealed that in Billericay Pam is ‘stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practising his golf swings in the living room and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship’.

Where was it shot? Filming locations revealed

The cast and crew of the series were first spotted on set in early September when filming for the finale began.

Cameras again rolled in Barry Island, in Wales, the main setting of the comedy.

The series is set between Essex, where Gavin is from, and Wales, where Stacey is from, however a majority of the scenes set in England were also previously filmed in Wales.

How many series are there and how to watch?

Gavin and Stacey ran for three seasons from 2007 until 2010, with a Christmas Day special also airing in 2019.

That episode was also the most-watched comedy in 17 years, attracting 18.49 million viewers.

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale airs on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

This article was first published on December 18, 2024.

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