After 17 years and 22 episodes, it’s time for Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page) and their many family and friends to say goodbye.
Ruth Jones and James Corden created the series, wrote every episode together and included roles for themselves in the wonderful ensemble of characters.
Jones is Welsh lass Stacey’s best friend Nessa and Corden Essex boy Gavin’s closest mate Smithy , who are both on hand at the eponymous couple’s first date.
Gavin and Stacey have a whirlwind romance in series one while Nessa and Smithy have son Neil the baby together, despite not getting on. The lead couple then have tumultuous times in Essex during early marriage life in season two.
A Christmas special sets up another wedding in season three where the lead duo move down to Barry in Wales.
By the second Christmas special (2019) over a decade later, the main couple have three children and Smithy is dating the unlikable Sonia (Laura Aikman).
However, as that episode comes to an end Nessa proposes to Smithy and the credits roll – leaving a nation in suspense.
Now, five years on, the show has come to an end with a 95-minute feature length finale that packs a lot in.
Questions all get answered, bar what happened on the fishing trip Stacey’s brother Jason (Robert Wilfort) and her uncle Bryn , portrayed by the exceedingly funny Rob Brydon, went on 30 years earlier.
All the characters get a good send-off: Gavin’s parents Pam (Alison Steadman) and Mick (Larry Lamb) are more happy than ever; Stacey’s mum Gwen has found a new romance with a familiar face; Neil the baby (Oscar Hartland) is 16 and setting off into the working world; Pete (Adrian Scarborough) and Dawn (Julia Davis) have taken some big steps in their rocky relationship; and we see most of Gavin’s quirkily named crew of friends for am awkward stag do that includes a touching speech by Mick .
And special mention to Aikman for committing to her thankless turn.
Often finales disappoint but this was a satisfying and emotional end to a truly amazing show.
The cast are incredible and you can tell they all enjoyed filming together as they have cracking camaraderie.
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● Gavin and Stacey The Final is available on BBC iPlayer now.
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