The BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey delivered a 90-minute emotional rollercoaster to fans, culminating in an ending that co-writer James Corden described as “I just wanted it to feel satisfying”.
The finale began with a shock for viewers as a wedding unfolded, but not between the anticipated couple Neil “Smithy” Smith (James Corden) and Vanessa Shanessa “Nessa” Jenkins (Ruth Jones).
Instead, the plot twist revealed Smithy was set to wed his pretentious girlfriend Sonia who had secretly joined the set to maintain the surprise element.
The drama peaked when Smithy’s mate Gavin intervened to halt the wedding mid-ceremony, leading to Smithy abandoning Sonia at the altar to prevent Nessa from leaving on a ship, setting the stage for their own nuptials.
However, even the second proposal faced hurdles as Smithy encouraged Nessa to propose once more – echoing her move in the 2019 Christmas special – only for her to decline reports the Mirror.
In a moment that tugged at the heartstrings of viewers, Smithy earnestly declared: “It’s okay. Nessa, wait! Look, I don’t know what it is or why it is or when this thing that was nothing became something. And right now it’s everything. But it did. And I know it’s been messy and not perfect. But that’s because we’re messy and not perfect. But I love you, Nessa. I always have. I mean, not always, but most of the time. And I get it. You don’t have to ask me. I’ll ask you. Nessa, I love you. Will you marry me?”
The couple then tied the knot in a cosy ceremony, with the reception – filmed on the sitcom’s final recording day – showing the emotional cast enjoying a karaoke session at a bar before the credits rolled. At a screening for the finale, Ruth shared: “I’m feeling a bit drained. It was so lovely to watch it with an audience. I hope we did you proud. It was just lovely to hear all the reactions. To hear that very initial response, it’s just gorgeous.”
An emotional James added: “I just wanted it to feel satisfying really. What was really interesting is after the 2019 special, all people would say to us was, what does he say? They would never say who did he choose.
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“I called Ruth and I was like, I wonder if we could trick everybody into thinking that for the first six or seven minutes that they’re just going to watch a wedding between Nessa and Smithy. I remember so vividly having that chat with Ruth going, ‘oh, I wonder if we could pull that off. I feel like we did’.”
Corden applauded the efforts and secrecy maintained by actress Laura, who was rumoured to be the surprise bride of Smithy in the anticipated reunion. He revealed: “She stayed in different hotels. She was going into places in the dead of night. She’s not part of any of this, such is her want to try and protect it. She actually promised to try and film her parents on Christmas Day. She hasn’t even told them! And she’s hoping to film her parents’ reaction. She hasn’t even said she’s in it.”
Ruth, who also co-writes the show, disclosed an interesting twist on the filming schedule for the cast’s last scene. She elaborated: “That was lovely. Actually, if you look at the script, it is literally just the montage, isn’t it? And so we had a whole day. It was quite a luxury because normally, you know, you’re watching the clock and you’re up against it.
“And we were so blessed that everyone in production that made this happen so that we could have the luxury of having a final day where everybody was there and that all we had to do, we didn’t really have any lines. We had karaoke. We all learned to karaoke, which of course you never get to hear.”
She added: “Rob Brydon was warming up his voice! But it was lovely because it did feel like a real wedding, didn’t it? Like a real wedding, sort of pub reception. And we were very grateful for being indulged, for being able to do that because it made such a world of difference that we did that last shot.”
Corden echoed the sentiment, adding: “Tears all around. It was probably the most emotional film set I’ve ever been on and it was kind of wonderful. So many of our crew have been with us from the start and so it’s a wonderful way to close it all out on a Monday in Barry.”
Despite many reveals, one plot point stayed under wraps—the true events of ‘that fishing trip’ involving Stacey’s uncle Bryn, portrayed by Rob Brydon, and her brother Jason, played by Robert Wilfort.
Robert declared: “I’d like to say now and forever, the joke has always been you don’t find out what happens on the fishing trip. I’m sorry everybody, but that has always been the joke and it always will be because it’s funny. It’s funnier that way. And I was so pleased that we didn’t reveal it – because we’ve never known what it is.”
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