The BBC are airing the comedy’s final episode in full on Christmas Eve
The Gavin and Stacey finale was the most watched TV show of 2024 in the UK(Image: Tom Jackson/BBC/PA)
Gavin and Stacey fans are continuing to demand more episodes of the iconic BBC sitcom, but what have the series’ stars said about a new series after last year’s Christmas finale.
For those who haven’t seen it, the programme follows an Essex man and Welsh woman as they try to navigate their long distance romance. Created by Ruth Jones and James Corden, the programme initially ran for three seasons after premiering in 2007.
Starring Mathew Horne and Joanna Page as the titular couple, Gavin and Stacey also features the likes of Ruth, James, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Rob Brydon in its ensemble cast.
In what was a Christmas event for households across the UK, last year’s series finale, which was its first episode since 2019, was watched by 19.11 million people tuned in to watch it within the first seven days of its premiere. Airing on the same day as a new Wallace and Gromit film, the final episode was a resounding success.
While the answer to what happened on the fishing trip remains a mystery, fans got to spend time with the characters who are among the most loved in UK television. The final episode followed Smithy ahead of his wedding to Sonia, the titular couple trying to spice up their marriage and the gang reuniting for a boozy party.
Despite fans getting the answer to Smithy and Nessa’s complicated love story and seeing Gavin and Stacey continuing to be perfect for another, there’s no escaping that a new season would be welcome with open arms.
When it comes to who is the best person to trust when it comes to Gavin and Stacey’s future, Ruth and James have both shut down speculation about more episodes. James said after writing the finale: “We’ve finished writing, we will never write anything that Pam [Alison Steadman’s character] says again…We will never come up with an interesting thing that Bryn [Rob Brydon’s character] has done.
The cast from Gavin and Stacey: The Finale(Image: PA)
“And we just looked at each other and we were just like, ‘Ah, isn’t that amazing?’ To even have the luxury of deciding to end it and to be in a position where people still care. It’s inconceivable to us – all of it. I just feel very emotional by all of it; everything.”
While Ruth told Woman and Home magazine: “You don’t really want to see Smithy and Nessa in that domestic set-up. The whole joy of them was that kind of ‘will they, won’t they?’ and, you know, do you really want to see Nessa and Smithy talking about putting the bins out? You don’t really.”
However, Ruth recently reprised the role of Nessa for Ruth And Steve: From Porthcawl With Love. Ruth donned her iconic wig in a special series where she showed her friend and fellow actor Steve Speirs around her hometown on the Welsh coast, indicating that she may be open to more episodes.
Former EastEnders star Larry Lamb has been one of the more vocal stars about Gavin and Stacey’s future. In spite of the Mick Shipman actor appearing to confirm his retirement, Larry is open to working with Ruth and James again.
He told The Sun: “You hear all sorts of things that James [Corden] and Ruth [Jones] are going to do something again – which doesn’t surprise me because the pair are absolute geniuses. So it would always depend if there was a part where Mick Shipman stood up and didn’t have anything to say. I’d look seriously at a little job like that. I’d consider it, if I didn’t have any lines. You never know.”
Larry added: “The time it took them to write the stuff, develop it, relight it, gather the people together. I’m pushing 80, I might be pushing 90 by the time they got that together. They’ve got other fish to fry. Those two have got so much talent that I’m sure what they’ll be doing is writing new stuff.”
It was announced earlier in the month that Mathew and Joanna are joining forces for a new six-part Christmas series. Titled How to Say It with Food, the programme sees them solve some of the nation’s most common Christmas quandaries with food.
According to Mathew, it was a thrill to work with Joanna again. He teased: “It’s become a Christmas tradition. We’re very familiar with the classic Christmas conundrums, but there’s nothing that some good food can’t fix. If I haven’t eaten it all first! Jokes aside, food really is the perfect way to show your love this festive season.”
Joanna added: “You thought you’d seen the last of us! Well, we’re back and what fun we had. I love food, so it was such a treat working with Mat and Waitrose on this new mini-series. From a delicious turkey pie to a mouth-watering mushroom wellington, food is what brings people together over the festive season.”
Despite neither of the Gavin and Stacey actors addressing reprising their roles, Alison Steadman, who plays Pam, recently expressed her desire for a movie based on the series, meaning that fans’ hopes may not be in vain after all.
Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday newspaper, Alison said: “I’d love it if a film of ‘Gavin and Stacey’ came up. If it did I’d definitely be up for that. I think it would work as a film, too. Ruth Jones and James Corden are such brilliant writers. I’m sure they could make it work.”
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale airs on Wednesday, December 24, at 8.25pm on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer