Neil The Baby returns in Gavin & Stacey Christmas special episode

The actor who plays Smithy and Nessa’s son in the new Gavin & Stacey is one of the original babies from the show, the cast have revealed.

Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones) had a child, known as Neil The Baby, before the sitcom came to an end.

Neil will be 12 years old in the hotly-anticipated Christmas special.

Corden told The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show: “When we shot the last series, Nessa and Smithy had had their baby.

“So, on the set, we had two babies who would be Neil The Baby. If one of them was crying we would switch it out for the other one.

“The actor who is playing Neil The Baby is one of those babies.

“Oscar Hartland is absolutely fantastic. He is one of the babies that was the baby in series three.”

Another of the former babies, Ewan Kennedy, was also involved as he “came to the set to say hello as well,” Corden said.

Co-star Rob Brydon, who plays Uncle Bryn, quipped of Hartland’s appearance now: “When you see him you’ll totally accept that he’s the child of Ruth and James...”

He teased Corden and Jones:

“I don’t know what you were doing 12 years ago... but there is nobody more (like you).”

Jones told the Radio 2 show: “Alison Steadman said that to me yesterday. She said, ‘Are you sure it isn’t yours and James’s love child?”’

Corden said of the return of the BBC One show: “It feels incredibly emotional for all of us.

“I hope the viewers receive it in the manner that it’s always been made, an absolute labour of love about friends and family.”

The Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special airs at 8.30pm on BBC One tomorrow night.

Ruth Jones and James Cordon as Nessa and Smithy.