Tidy .... Gavin & Stacey return sees BBC win biggest audience in decade
A “TIDY” audience of 12.3 million viewers tuned in to see the latest instalment of sitcom classic Gavin & Stacey – and star James Corden even flew in to watch the show alongside co-writer Ruth Jones.
As an average of 11.5 million viewers tuned in, the show’s pair of creators posed up together in front of a Christmas tree, telling festive viewers the special episode had been a “labour of love”.
The comedy was the most watched show on Christmas Day for more than a decade with a huge 49.2 per cent share of the audience.
James, 41, who plays Smithy but spends most of the year in Los Angeles where he hosts The Late Late Show on CBS, said: “We had to be together to watch it go out.
Incredible
“Gavin & Stacey is a show about friendship and family. Tonight’s show has been a labour of love… happy Christmas from us both.”
It was a bumper day for the BBC, which had the seven most popular programmes including 7.7 million for the Queen’s Christmas Message.
Director of BBC content Charlotte Moore said it had “brought the nation together”.
She added: “We delivered something for everyone with the seven most-popular programmes that cap off an incredible year for BBC One celebrating British talent.”
Gavin & Stacey was well received leaving fans desperate for a fourth series to discover Smithy’s response to Ruth’s character Nessa’s proposal.
They also want to know what happened between Uncle Bryn and nephew Jason that they were unwilling to discuss.
Ruth, 53, has said: “The thing is, hand on heart at the moment, there is no plan, no mapping out. But I think, obviously, there is room for it to move on so all I’m going to say now is, who knows?”
Last night, a fourth series was an odds-on bet with bookmakers.
Nevertheless, the sitcom drew complaints. Ex-Bake Off contestant Michael Chakraverty described hearing Bryn sing the word “faggot” in Fairytale Of New York as a “gut punch”, writing: “The word has been used as a weapon against both me and those I love.”
Ruth said its inclusion “stayed true to the characters… they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct”.
THE child actor who played Nessa and Smithy’s son sacrificed a family holiday in Florida to film the special – and couldn’t care less.
Oscar Hartland, 10, reprised his role as “Neil the Baby” – nearly a decade after appearing in series three.
Oscar, who was one of two babies used for the role as Neil Noel Edmunds Smith – was delighted to land the part.
But the family summer holiday to Florida clashed with filming in Barry,
South Wales last July. Oscar said: “I would rather film. I didn’t feel I missed out at all. I missed them, but I didn’t feel like I missed out.”
For his audition he was given a caroling scene to do.
“I had to knock on the door and act really not bothered about it.
“I thought I was playing that small part, but then my mum said I was playing Neil… I couldn’t contain myself. It’s so cool. Meeting everyone was the best part and working with them was just as good.”
But Oscar said he formed his tightest bond with his on-screen mother Nessa, played by writer Ruth Jones.
“It’s really believable that we are a family,” Oscar said. “Joanna Page [Stacey] was laughing about it.”
Now Oscar is dreaming of a film role: “StarWars.That would be top.”