Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas Day finale had fans reaching for the tissues as it delivered a heartwarming conclusion. According to BBC viewership figures, the final episode of the beloved sitcom, which aired on Christmas Day, achieved the highest Christmas Day ratings since 2008.
Overnight figures revealed that the emotional send-off, which saw characters Smithy and Nessa finally find their happily ever after, attracted an average audience of 12.3 million.
Despite the episode’s emotional depth, which finally resolved the suspense left by the 2019 special, fans did highlight some discrepancies throughout the 90-minute show. Observant viewers pointed out inconsistencies ranging from minor continuity errors to significant issues such as the revelation of Smithy’s real name.
The name game
A particular point of contention among fans was when James Corden’s much-loved character, Smithy, disclosed his full name at his wedding to Sonia – whom he subsequently abandoned at the altar. Just before reciting his vows, he unveiled his real name – Neil Noel Edmund Smith, reports the Mirror.
This revelation led to a flurry of confused fans taking to Reddit, discussing how that name was supposed to be his son’s, not his.
One viewer noted: “I noticed that Smithy’s full name at his wedding was revealed to be Neil Noel Edmund Smith. But that’s supposed to be Neil, the Baby’s name (named after Noel from Hear’Say and Smithy’s grandad Edmund). Not criticising Ruth and James for what is an incredibly minor nitpick, more a realisation that I probably watch the show too much.” (sic)
Fans have been discussing plot slip-ups on hit series, with one viewer commenting, “Yeah, I noticed this and remembered that Noel comes from Noel from Hearsay, as Nessa’s friend. Ruth once said in an interview on Brydon’s podcast about contradictions (I think it was about whether Nessa could drive) that they just sometimes forget what they’ve put in or where it’s come from so, prob an oversight and maybe they just wanted to get in one last joke about Noel Edmonds.” (sic)
“That is a pretty big oversight, to be fair – well spotted,” someone applauded while yet another commented, “I noticed that too. My head explanation was that he changed his name to match Neil The Baby because I’d rather not just have a dumb plothole.”
Missing in action
The absence of Neil the Baby became evident following the twist around his name when Smithy rushed out after his nuptials. The entire gang boarded a coach, attempting to reach Nessa before her departure for work.
While Smithy dashed to profess love to the mother of his child, viewers pointed out that Neil the Baby was left behind.
A fan insistent on clarification posed the query, “Oh .. why wasn’t Neil the baby on Dave’s coaches to go and get Nessa? Why did you leave him behind? “.
Viewers were quick to investigate the sudden vanishing act of Neil the Baby from a popular show, coming up with a range of theories and explanations. “I thought this! ” one exclaimed, whereas another agreed with a resonant, “Exactly… I wondered as well.”
Delving into a personalised resolution, someone commented, “I think he likely would have stayed behind to help out his Nana Cath and to be bought drinks by Rudi.”
Glass half full?
But beyond speculative character movements, an unmistakable blooper was spotted during a crucial scene. At Smithy’s stag celebration, Mick Shipman – portrayed by Larry Lamb – delivers an impacting speech about how Smithy filled a gap in his family following a disappointing personal revelation with Pam.
Yet, attentive viewers spotlighted a highly distracting continuity blip. As Mick hoists his pint glass during the toast, its contents magically fluctuate from brimming to partly full, then revert to full capacity, all without a sip taken or a new round fetched amidst his discourse.
Social media didn’t miss a beat when pointing out the hiccup. A TikTok user highlighted the blunder.
Echoing this sentiment, comments flowed in, saying things like, “My daughter spotted it straight away,” while another voiced the common frustration: “Continuity errors are so irritating because you can’t unsee them.”
You can catch up on Gavin & Stacey on BBC One and iPlayer