Barry, booze and baubles

We’ll not reveal exactly what they’re up to now (it would be like unwrapping gifts before the big day). But there’s drama for Dawn and Pete in Billericay, before everyone heads off for Christmas in Wales, where Bryn is cooking for more than a dozen mates. What’s occurring? We ask the cast: Ruth, did you and co-writer James Corden (Smithy) worry about bringing Gavin & Stacey back? Ruth Jones (Nessa): “We wanted to be sure it was good. We didn’t want to risk people going, ‘Oh, it’s not like it was’. But James and I have always secretly texted ideas for characters. One time I changed the entire lyrics to Adele’s Hello and made it a Barry version and started, ‘Alright?’ and sent it to James.” Joanna, what was it like when the script arrived? Joanna Page (Stacey): “I almost didn’t want to read it. Then I sat in a car park for a couple of hours reading it and sending emails to Ruth and James, saying, ‘I love this, I love this!’ After the excitement came the nerves, Oh s***. Can I even act any more?” Mathew, we gather you did Gavin and Stacey’s biggest scene at the end of the first day of filming. What was that like? Mathew Horne (Gavin): “That scene was so crucial to the characters, and to the episode as well, so there was a lot of pressure, particularly with it being on the first day and that time of night. Trying to film an intimate scene on Barry Island on a Friday night at 1am is not easy.”

We gather it wasn’t easy filming Christmas in the summer Rob?

Rob Brydon (Bryn): “We filmed in July, it was a heatwave. Bryn’s clothes are 100 per cent polyester. I was sweating.”

Melanie, do people recognise you from the show and call you Gwen?

Melanie Walters (Gwen): “Yes. It was three times on Saturday in Cardiff Central station. The greeting is always, ‘Oi Gwen, make us an omelette’.”

Robert, you must be delighted that Stacey’s brother Jason is back?

Robert Wilfort (Jason): “I was thrilled. I got a missed call from Los Angeles and it was James. I thought it was a scam, like a Nigerian prince or something.”

Alison, was it fun playing the legendary Pamela again?

Alison Steadman (Pam): “When I’m in the character of Pam, I feel so happy. I’m in the right skin. We just click into these characters. They all love each other. It just warms your heart. I had a lump in my throat watching it.”

Larry, how did it feel watching the finished show?

Larry Lamb (Mick): “Extraordinarily overcome with emotion. To watch the whole thing, with all the bits that you didn’t see being shot…and just to realise this is every bit as good as you could ever dreamt it might be, and probably a bit better.”