Gavin and Stacey begins filming for final ever episode as hit BBC show takes over Welsh streets
FILMING has officially begun for the final ever episode of Gavin and Stacey, and the cast are taking over iconic Welsh streets that fans of the show know and love.
In preparation for the much-anticipated shoot, road closures have been announced throughout September.
Temporary traffic lights will mark out the areas where Welsh residents can no longer drive on Trinity Street, where Stacey’s mum Gwen lives, and Laburnam Way, home to Gavin’s parents, Mick and Pam.
Fans have been buzzing with anticipation since earlier this year when the creators of Gavin and Stacey confirmed the show’s return.
Deadline broke the news that James Corden and Ruth Jones secretly worked on a brand new episode.
James confirmed that filming would take place in September and October 2024, with the special set to air at Christmas.
The BBC’s media centre added to the excitement, releasing a statement saying: “Something’s occurring this Christmas on iPlayer and BBC One,” cleverly incorporating Smithy’s iconic takeaway order: “We’ll have a chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey!!!”
The sitcom first aired in 2007 and ran for three series until 2010.
It then made a triumphant return for a Christmas special in 2019, which saw Nessa get down on one knee and propose to Smithy.
His answer was left as a cliffhanger and fans have been desperate to find out what he said ever since.
As filming kicks off, residents are being asked to accommodate temporary road closures while scenes are shot on location.
Rob Brydon, who plays Uncle Bryn on the BBC show, admitted he cried when reading the script for the final ever episode of the sitcom.
He shared: “Do you know what? I was moved to tears, because it’s emotional.”
When Chris Evans asked how excited he was to reunite with the cast, Brydon replied, “I really am, because I know this will be the last time we’ll all be together.
“We all get on so well. And I think it has been 17 years since we started, which is crazy.”
James Corden himself also previously struggled to hold back tears as he recalled the feeling of finishing the final Gavin and Stacey script with Ruth.
Gavin and Stacey's Best Moments
With the news that the show is set to make an exciting return to screens, let's take a look at some of the comedy programme's biggest and best moments...
- Smithy and Rudi’s American Boy rap – No one will ever forget when James Corden and Sheridan Smith rapped perfectly word for word the Kanye West and Estelle hit American Boy as they walked across the car park on the phone to Gavin.
- Pam’s Vegetarian faux pas – Despite loving a cheesburger, Pam found herself caught up in a web of unexpected lies when she claimed to be Vegetarian. She is forced to keep up the secret throughout the entire show and uses hubby Mick to help her scoff meat. She is later rumbled when Stacey catches her in the act as she scoffs ham in the kitchen. Stacey says to her: “Is that ham, Pam!?… “I’ve seen you, Pam. A scotch egg here, a bit of bacon there, putting those regular sausages into the Linda McCartney box”.
- THAT fishing trip – It remains one of the biggest mysteries in Gavin and Stacey history as to just exactly what did happen on the ill-fated fishing trip. Bryn appears to be hiding a secret as to an occurance between him and his nephew Jason which has left relations fractures. Ness’ on-off boyfriend, Dave, is the only other person to know the whole truth. Bryn did appear to allude to him and Jason lying together naked to keep warm as he said to Dave: “We’re going to have this out, once and for all, man to man, you may know what happened, David, but you don’t know why it happened! It was freezing cold, it was! And when you are that cold…”
- Islands in the Stream – No one can ever forget the classic Karaoke performance of Islands in the Stream. Nessa and Bryn performed the track in front of all their nearest and dearest. It saw the whole pub burst into some line-dancing as they enjoyed a boozy night out.
- The Xmas special proposal – In 2019, fans were left overjoyed when the show made a comeback but it ended on the ultimate cliffhanger. Nessa asked Smithy if she would marry him as she finally laid bare her feelings for him. Fans were gutted as the show then cut straight to the credits as they never found out just how Smithy answered. Will all be revealed in the brand new episode?