Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special: Filming Is Underway
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4 months ago
Fancy an omelette?
We’re officially getting a new Gavin & Stacey Christmas special this winter – and filming is about to commence. To confirm the news after months of whispers, James Corden shared a picture on his Instagram in May 2024, showing himself and co-creator Ruth Jones holding a script titled: ‘Gavin & Stacey: the finale. Written by James Corden and Ruth Jones 2024.’ The caption for the post is: ‘Some news…It’s official! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James.’
Here’s exactly what to expect from the special episode.
Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2024: Plot, Cast, Release Date
When the 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special aired, it attracted a whopping 18.5 million viewers (that’s more than a quarter of the UK population, fyi) and was the most watched non-sporting events in a decade. Five years later, we’re being treated with another trip to Barry Island – for the very last time…
What Will Happen?
Those who have watched Gavin & Stacey will be familiar with its plot: it’s a British romantic comedy TV series that revolves around the relationship between Essex-dweller Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Barry-based Stacey (Joanna Page), following their long-distance romance, cultural differences and the dynamics of their family and friends. The series also follows the relationship between their two close friends, Smithy and Nessa, who have several one-night stands – and, eventually, a baby – together, despite disliking each other.
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We can only assume that the new Christmas special will follow on from what happened in the last instalment of the show, all the way back in 2019. In the episode, the Shipman and West families come together in Wales for Christmas. Gavin and Stacey, now parents, face the challenges of raising their 10-year-old child. Smithy is committed to his fatherly role, visiting Barry regularly to see his twelve-year-old son who he co-parents with Nessa.
@bbc CRAIG DAVID 💀 #GavinAndStacey #iPlayer #GavinAndStaceyChristmasSpecial #Nessa #Christmas #Funny ♬ original sound – BBC
The episode famously ended on a cliffhanger, with Nessa getting down on one knee to propose to Smithy – but audiences never got to hear his response.
The 2019 special picked up over 10 years after the series finished, with the episode also set further down the line to reflect the passage of time (hence all the new children). That could mean that the 2024 Christmas special will follow a similar route, and will be set five years after the last instalment – although what happened during the time between still remains a mystery.
Who Will Star?
While the official cast list has yet to be announced, we’re hopeful that much of the main cast will be making an appearance in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special. See the full cast list below:
- Matthew Horne as Gavin Shipman
- Joanna Page as Stacey Shipman (née West)
- James Corden as Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith
- Ruth Jones as Vanessa Shanessa ‘Nessa’ Jenkins
- Larry Lamb ad Michael ‘Mick’ Shipman
- Alison Steadman as Pamela Andrea ‘Pam’ Shipman
- Rob Brydon as Brynfor ‘Bryn’ West
- Melanie Walters as Gwen West
And following on from the last Christmas special, which aired in 2019, we also expect to see Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa’s children:
- Oscar Hartland as Neil ‘The Baby’ Noel Edmond Smith
- Gabriel Mitell as Harri Shipman
- Martha Tregonning as Caitlin Shipman
- Maddison Belle Platt as Megan Shipman
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Where Was Gavin & Stacey Filmed?
The show itself was filmed largely in Wales – specifically Cardiff (which acted as parts of Gavin’s home in Billericay, Essex), Barry and the surrounding areas of Dinas Powys, Sully and Penarth. Filming for the 2024 Christmas special is about to commence in Barry Island, with Ruth Jones spotted by fans, and suspicious road closures hinting the stars are about to descend on the small Welsh town.
@mrjamesrowe Oh my Christ! #gavinandstacey #ukmemes #britishhumour #fyp ♬ original sound – MrJamesRowe
Is There A Trailer?
Not yet, but watch this space for updates.
Release Date
The Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special will air on Christmas Day: 25 December 2024.
Will There Be A New Season?
No new season of Gavin & Stacey – in fact, the 2024 Christmas Special is expected to be the final ever instalment in the series. Get ready for a fond farewell to our faves, then.
Where To Stream Gavin & Stacey
You can stream all episodes of Gavin & Stacey on BBC iPlayer – it’s expected that the 2024 Christmas special will be available on this platform too upon its release. bbc.co.uk
Featured image: Matt Frost
