What’s occurring? A new Gavin and Stacey Christmas special... that’s what
GAVIN & Stacey could return for a Christmas special – five years on from a dramatic cliffhanger.
Created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, the BBC sitcom followed the two main characters, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, as they pursued a relationship across Essex and Wales.
The show ran for three series from 2007 to 2010, returning in 2019 for a festive special that ended with a shock marriage proposal.
As Nessa would say, “What’s occurring?” It could finally answer the question millions were asking: Did Nessa, played by Ruth, marry Smithy (Corden) after she got down on one knee to propose – though viewers did not get to hear his response?
Accolades
The characters had an on-off relationship and even a baby together.
The show also starred Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin’s mother Pam and father Mick while Melanie-Walters and Rob Brydon portrayed Stacey’s widowed mother Gwen and her eccentric uncle Bryn.
During its time it graduated from BBC Three to BBC One and picked up multiple accolades including both Bafta and British Comedy Awards. The Christmas special in 2019 picked up 10 years after the previous instalment and revealed that Gavin and Stacey had three children, while Smithy and Nessa were successfully co-parenting their son, Neil.
It scored the highest overnight Christmas ratings in 12 years, attracting an average audience of 11.6 million, making it the biggest festive special since Christmas Day 2008. By the New Year, it had been viewed by 17.1 million, making it the biggest scripted show of the decade at the time. The special also went on to win the impact award at the National Television Awards in 2020.
US outlet Deadline has reported that a new episode will be filmed over the summer and will air at Christmas, five years on from the last special.
It claimed the series is in a preproduction stage and will be produced by Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow venture, Jones’ Tidy Productions and Fulwell 73, co-owned by Corden.
The BBC declined to comment.