GAVIN and Stacey fans were overjoyed last night at the prospect of the classic sitcom returning – after the latest episode left them in awe.
Co-writers and stars James Corden and Ruth Jones are finalizing the script and have full cast support for the one-off Christmas special, The Sun can reveal.
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Cult BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey is the subject of an intense bidding warCredit: BBC
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The series, written and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones, first aired in 2007, pictured with co-stars Mathew Horne and Joanna PageCredit: Alamy
Sources said last night that mega-valuable streaming giant Netflix is fighting to steal it from the BBC, which has been broadcasting it since 2007.
It comes more than four years after the festive special in 2019 saw a record 18 million viewers watch dashing Welsh trucker Nessa propose to Essex boy Smithy.
Last night a source told The Sun: “On a dreary February morning, this is the news every Gavin and Stacey fan wanted.
“Ruth and James have always said they would only bring the show back if they were 100 per cent happy with the script – and they’re almost there.
“They called individual cast members to pitch the idea of a one-of-a-kind special, and every single person was excited and agreed.
“To be clear, no agents were invited and no one but James and Ruth saw the script — but there’s a lot of goodwill here.
“Obviously the show has a special history with the BBC, and this feels like its natural and obvious home. Chief content officer Charlotte Moore spoke to them and made it clear that she wanted the show to stay, but Netflix also made it very, very explicit that they wanted to air it.”
The streaming company’s chief executives, Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, say they are “extremely excited” about the prospect of landing the show, which takes place in Barry, South Wales, and Billericay, Essex.
It is considered a guaranteed ratings winner and would secure a whole new audience across North America and Europe, with subtitles for the actors’ accents.
The source continued: “Netflix’s interim offer, which comes from a global conglomerate, dwarfs anything the Beeb could offer — but for Ruth and James, it’s not about the money.
Gavin and Stacey are ‘returning’ after five years off screen
“They just want to give fans the best possible viewing experience and, essentially, get as many bums in the seats as possible to watch their baby.
“It would be a huge coup for Netflix to steal this top British comedy from the BBC and indeed, there may be a world where that happens.”
Deadline – which bills itself as a “Hollywood entertainment news” site – revealed yesterday that the sitcom will return for a Christmas special.
Filming is expected later this summer.
Crucially, Mathew Horne, who plays Smithy’s best friend Gavin, and Joanna Page — his wife Stacey and Nessa’s friend — have agreed to return.
An insider said last night: “You can’t just have a show called ‘Stacey’ after all.”
Other cast members said to be involved include Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb (Gavin’s parents Pam and Mick), as well as Rob Brydon (Stacey’s uncle Bryn).
Julia Davis, who plays Pam and Mick’s friend Dawn, and Sheridan Smith (Smithy’s sister Rudi) could also return.
Breaking records
The Bafta-winning series focuses on the lives and loves of the title characters and their close family and friends.
After starting out as a niche BBC Three sitcom, it grew in popularity through word of mouth and moved to BBC1, where it became a huge success, winning a number of awards.
The third and last series ended on New Year’s Day 2010.
If the last one-off remains on the BBC, the corporation will be hoping for a much-needed boost after a few empty festive seasons.
The most watched show last year was The King’s Christmas Message, with less than six million viewers, followed by the Strictly Come Dancing special which attracted just over five million.
Gavin and Stacey’s 2019 Christmas special was the most watched comedy in 17 years.
It ended with Nessa — known for her catchphrases “lush” and “what’s going on?” — getting down on one knee and asking Smithy to marry her.
The extreme ending left fans desperate for more amid wild speculation about the possible outcome.
Last night an insider said Ruth and James had a “magical” conclusion in mind – but urged caution.
They said: “While this is all very exciting, it’s important to stress that filming dates have yet to be set — and getting all of the incredibly busy cast in one place at the same time is a logistical nightmare. Additionally, there is so much love and devotion from the cast and crew that there is a sense of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’.
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Festive Special 2019, fiery Welsh trucker Nessa proposes to Essex boy Smithy
“Ruth and James came up with a pretty magical cliffhanger ending to the previous episode. So we hope the new Gavin & Stacey will be on our screens by the end of 2024 — on the BBC or Netflix.”
Ecstatic fans greeted the news, with one, Clare Searles, writing on X/Twitter: OH MY CHRIST. . . It’s Pancake Day and they’ve announced another Gavin & Stacey Christmas special. What a time to be alive.”
Another posted: “Gavin & Stacey are back? OMG SUDDENLY I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!”
Last year James, 45, returned to the UK from LA after quitting The Late Late Show.
It meant he was free to take on new ventures – as well as return to writing with former Nightmare star and acclaimed author Ruth, 57.
In November, the pair were pictured strolling through central London’s Soho after having lunch together.
Huge speculation
On Monday night, Welsh star Joanna hinted at a possible comeback.
She told The Sun at the TV Choice Awards: “It’s going to be a very busy year.”
When asked about the return of Gavin and Stacey, she added: “I think we would all love that. We all had such a fantastic time, but Ruth and James are the only ones who know what’s going on. So if there’s ever going to be another one, I think I’d hear about it at the same time as everyone else.”
She even speculated about what might happen to Ness and Smithy, and it didn’t involve Barry or Billericay.
She said: “I think they’re probably in Spain, followed by Gavin and Stacey because they’re like family! That would be quite a pleasant job, wouldn’t it?”
A true TV icon
Rod McPhee, TV editor
WORDS like “iconic” and “phenomenal” are being thrown around these days to absurdly overshadow various mediocre television duds.
But in the case of Gavin & Stacey, no review can be too glowing and no praise can be too exaggerated.
The sitcom has entered that rare group of modern television programs – from Line of Duty to The Traitors – that have truly captured the nation’s imagination.
But what the BBC show also did when it launched in 2007 was consistently tug at Britain’s collective heartstrings, series after series.
Then they achieved the feat of leaving us wanting more with the 2019 Christmas special.
So let’s raise Mint Baileys on the news that it’s back with another festive release that will hopefully answer some of the questions raised five years ago.
The main one is: why can’t anyone else make comedy this iconic and phenomenal?
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