Gavin & Stacey is a British romantic situation comedy that follows the long-distance relationship of Gavin (Mathew Horne) from Billericay in Essex, England, and Stacey (Joanna Page) from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The writers of the show, actors James Corden and Ruth Jones, also co-star as Gavin and Stacey's friends Smithy and Nessa. Other prominent cast members include Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb, who play Gavin's parents, Pam and Mick, and Melanie Walters and Rob Brydon, who portray Stacey's mother, Gwen, and her uncle, Bryn.
The show was produced by Baby Cow Productions for BBC Wales. It ran for a total of 21 episodes, broadcast from 13 May 2007 to 25 December 2019, comprising three series and two Christmas specials. Initially, the series was shown on BBC Three, but a growing following meant that it was subsequently moved to BBC One. The final two episodes of Series three formed a significant part of the prime time BBC seasonal programming, and were broadcast on Christmas Day 2009 and New Year's Day 2010. In May 2019, it was confirmed that a new seasonal episode was to be created which was broadcast on Christmas Day 2019. It attracted more than 18 million TV viewers.
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 13 May 2007 | 0.58 | |
Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page) decide to meet for the first time in London after talking on the phone for some time, bringing along their best friends, Neil "Smithy" Smith (James Corden) and Nessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) for support, and the two pairs end up in a hotel together for the night. Afterwards Gavin drives to Stacey’s home in Barry Island and confesses his love to Stacey. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 13 May 2007 | 0.55 | |
Gavin and Stacey are happy and in love, until a misunderstanding over the phone turns their lives upside down. With Stacey refusing to talk to him, Gavin travels to Barry Island for a second time to make up with her. However, when he arrives, Stacey's uncle Bryn West (Rob Brydon) is convinced he is a Jehovah's Witness. Stacey goes to stay at Gavin’s for a couple of nights and he proposes to her at London Marylebone station just as she’s about to head back home. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 20 May 2007 | 0.55 | |
Gavin and Stacey prepare to tell their friends and families about their surprise engagement. Gavin's parents, Mick (Larry Lamb) and Pam (Alison Steadman), are over the moon, while Stacey’s family have some very big concerns over the announcement, and Smithy refuses to even talk to Gavin. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 27 May 2007 | 0.54 | |
The Shipmans travel to Barry Island for a wedding fair. At the wedding fair, Smithy is completely mesmerised by Jammy the stag organiser (Matt Lucas), Bryn is totally sold on a magician for the wedding, and Gavin has to decide whether to go with the horse and carriage Stacey wants for the wedding or the Bentley he wants instead. Meanwhile, Nessa fears she may be pregnant. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 3 June 2007 | 1.74 | |
It's Gavin and Stacey's stag and hen nights. Stacey is delighted when her brother Jason (Robert Wilfort) returns home but there's bad history between him and Bryn. Meanwhile, Gavin finds out that Stacey has been engaged five times before, and Nessa is in two minds about whether to tell Smithy she may be pregnant. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 10 June 2007 | 1.83 | |
The wedding day has finally arrived, with Gavin having forgiven Stacey's revelation. Nessa is unable to reveal her pregnancy to Smithy, who makes a fool of himself whilst performing the best man speech. |
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 16 March 2008 | 1.89 | |
Newlyweds Gavin and Stacey return from their honeymoon to a big welcome from both families. However, when Smithy joins them for a celebratory meal out, he seems none too happy with his best friend. As Nessa makes a shocking confession, a tearful Stacey realises she's about to leave home and Pam's friends Dawn (Julia Davis) and Pete Sutcliffe (Adrian Scarborough) are distraught over their threeway situation, the entire evening slowly relocates to the restaurant toilets. | |||||||
8 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 16 March 2008 | 1.86 | |
Smithy goes AWOL after hearing that he is going to be a father, so Gavin, Mick and Bryn attempt to track him down and persuade him to do the right thing. Meanwhile, Stacey is not pleased to hear of her mother Gwen's (Melanie Walters) new living arrangements, and begins feeling homesick before her life at the Shipmans has even begun. | |||||||
9 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 23 March 2008 | 1.49 | |
Stacey is still adjusting to life as an Essex wife but perks up when it is time to go home to Barry Island, as Nessa and Smithy see their unborn baby for the first time. Meanwhile, Gwen's neighbour, Doris (Margaret John), makes a surprising proposition to Gavin. | |||||||
10 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 30 March 2008 | 1.79 | |
Gavin and Stacey start house-hunting while Mick becomes a minor celebrity for the night after he was interviewed for a TV news report after he found a dead body on his way to work. Nessa visits Stacey, and the pair of them, along with Gavin and Smithy, go bowling, where tension between the newlyweds starts to bubble over. | |||||||
11 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 6 April 2008 | 1.60 | |
Bryn has arranged a special treat for Gwen's birthday, but he can't handle the pressure and Gwen starts to get suspicious. Stacey tells Gavin a decision that will change their lives forever: she's moving back to Barry Island. Elsewhere, Nessa seems to have rekindled her romance with Dave Coaches (Steffan Rhodri) | |||||||
12 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 13 April 2008 | 1.40 | |
While Stacey stays in Barry Island, Gavin goes home alone to Essex. Smithy takes Gavin for a boys' night out while Stacey goes to the bingo, but their mutual feelings become evident. Meanwhile, Bryn fears his fishing trip secret will be revealed as Dave, who he confided in whilst drunk, continues to charm Nessa, and the situation is made worse by Jason's presence in the house. | |||||||
13 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 20 April 2008 | 1.35 | |
Stacey returns to Essex to sort things out with Gavin, but things are not looking good. Over in Barry Island, Nessa goes into labour a month early, leaving Gavin to find Smithy and get him to Barry Island in time for the birth. |
No. overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | "Christmas Special" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 24 December 2008 | 7.19 | |
It's Christmas and the Welsh contingent have been invited to celebrate the festive season with the Shipmans. So with the help of Dave and his coach, Nessa and the Wests head east. Meanwhile, Gavin has secretly been in Wales to interview for a promotion based in Cardiff. After being offered the job, he agrees with Nessa that he and Stacey will move into Gwen's house. In Essex, Mick's preoccupied with the new love of his life – a handsome Norfolk turkey – and Smithy can't wait to spend his first Christmas with baby Neil, but begins to feel sidelined by Dave's presence. Gavin announces his move and the ensuing argument culminates in Pete punching Dave after he makes a comment about Dawn. Bryn and Jason talk about the fateful fishing trip but are interrupted by Dave before any details are revealed. At dinner, Pam realises that everyone apart from Gwen knows she is not really a vegetarian. Dave proposes to Nessa, which she accepts, but Smithy privately tells her he thinks it would be a mistake. Mick plays "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on his new keyboard as they all sing together on Christmas night. |
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 26 November 2009 | 6.41 | |
Gavin starts his new job in Cardiff and Stacey is thrilled to be at home again. Smithy and Pam grieve for Gavin, while Nessa is adjusting to life in Dave's caravan down in Sully. The weekend brings with it a big reunion, as everyone meets up for the christening of baby Neil, where Gavin and Stacey decide to try for a baby themselves. Nessa's father, Neil Jenkins (Ifan Huw Dafydd), makes his first appearance, at the christening. | |||||||
16 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 3 December 2009 | 6.04 | |
Following her and Gavin's decision to try for a baby, Stacey attempts to get a new job to earn extra money and is given a tough mock interview by Bryn. Meanwhile, Nessa takes baby Neil to see Smithy in Essex, which angers Dave who is left at home with Nessa's father. After a drunken night of beer and curry at Mick and Pam's, Smithy and Nessa wake up in bed together. | |||||||
17 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 10 December 2009 | 6.53 | |
Smithy and his friends travel to Wales for a weekend of fun with Gavin, leaving Bryn's house overcrowded. Meanwhile, Stacey fears she may not be able to have children. | |||||||
18 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 17 December 2009 | 6.68 | |
Gavin and Stacey visit the doctor where they learn that Gavin has a low sperm count. Pete and Dawn renew their vows with Smithy giving Dawn away, and Smithy offers to have sex with Stacey in order to be a sperm donor. Smithy and Dave have a confrontation at the reception, and Smithy tells Dave that he slept with Nessa. | |||||||
19 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 25 December 2009 | 10.00 | |
When Pam and Mick arrive in Wales, everyone hits the beach. Smithy makes an unexpected appearance and declares a truce with Dave regarding Nessa. Gavin and Stacey decide that they will keep trying for a baby until the New Year, and if they are unsuccessful they will look into other options. | |||||||
20 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 1 January 2010 | 10.25 | |
Nessa and Dave's wedding day arrives. Stacey has some exciting news for Gavin – she's pregnant at last. Smithy walks in on the wedding and tells Nessa that she should not marry Dave because he knows the only reason she wants to marry Dave is so Neil has a father, which he's already got in Smithy. Dave admits that he knows Nessa never loved him. The two of them shake hands, and Dave leaves the church. The episode cuts to 6 months later, where we see that Stacey is heavily pregnant, and Smithy is living in Barry Island with Nessa and Neil. |
No. overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [3] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | "Christmas Special" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 25 December 2019 | 18.49 | |
Ten years on, the families prepare to celebrate Christmas together in Barry. Gavin and Stacey are now parents to three young children, and live next door to Gwen following Doris's death. Stacey worries that the excitement has gone from her marriage, and Nessa warns her to keep the flame alive. Smithy has a secure routine of visits to Wales to see Neil; these used to include casual sex with Nessa, but for the previous year he has been in a new relationship with Sonia. Gavin has been in Essex for a work event, and before the Shipmans leave for Barry Smithy informs him of his plans to propose to Sonia, whom the families will meet for the first time over Christmas. Bryn has taken on the task of cooking Christmas dinner, which encompasses the three kitchens of his, Gwen's, and Gavin and Stacey's houses. Pam and Mick resolve Pete and Dawn's latest marital crisis and the four then take cannabis together, which leads Pam to forget to bring the Christmas puddings, and the replacement supermarket stock is left in the pub on Christmas Eve. Stacey reminds Gavin of the history of their relationship. Nessa and Smithy wake up together on Christmas morning, and Nessa confirms to Stacey that they had sex. Bryn and Jason narrowly avoid revealing all about the events of the fishing trip. When Sonia arrives, Smithy acts formally around her and she makes offhanded comments about his weight, as well as failing to understand the dynamics of the two families. Ultimately, she insists on leaving early, but Smithy remains to be with Neil. Nessa tells Smithy he doesn't have to change for anyone, then shocks him by declaring her love and proposing. |
On 3 May 2024, Corden announced via his social media channels that he and Jones had completed writing the final episode of the show, which will air on Christmas Day 2024 on BBC One.
No. overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [3] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 | "The Finale" | Christine Gernon | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 25 December 2024 | TBD | |
Five years later, the Wests are invited to Billericay. Gavin and Stacey want to bring excitement back to their marriage, Neil prepares to begin an apprenticeship with Smithy, Mick has retired and Gwen is behaving strangely. [4] |
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Series | Episode number | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
1 | 0.58 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.54 | 1.74 | 1.83 | – | |
2 | 1.89 | 1.86 | 1.49 | 1.79 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.35 | |
Special (2008) | 7.19 | – | ||||||
3 | 6.41 | 6.04 | 6.53 | 6.68 | 10.00 | 10.25 | – | |
Special (2019) | 18.49 | – |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
"The Outtakes" | David Lambert | James Corden & Ruth Jones | 1 January 2010 | |
Stars and writers Ruth Jones and James Corden look through the best outtakes from all three series and the 2008 Christmas Special. |
BBC Three is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes for a 16 to 34-year-old target audience. It covers all genres including particularly new comedies, drama, LGBTQ+ programmes, music, fashion, documentaries, brief news, adult animation, and drama series. The television channel closed down in 2016 and was relaunched in 2022 after being replaced by an online-only BBC Three streaming channel. The channel broadcasts daily from 7:00 pm to 4:00 am, timesharing with CBBC.
Robert Brydon Jones is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. Brydon gained prominence for his roles in film, television and radio. Brydon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours in 2013 for services to comedy and broadcasting, and for charitable services.
The Catherine Tate Show is a British television comedy sketch programme written by Catherine Tate and Derren Litten featuring a wide range of characters. The Catherine Tate Show aired on BBC Two and was shown worldwide through the BBC. Collectively, the show has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards, two British Comedy Awards and an Emmy Award, and it has won two Royal Television Society Awards, two British Comedy Awards and a National Television Award since its debut in 2004.
New Tricks is a British television police procedural comedy drama, created by Nigel McCrery and Roy Mitchell, produced primarily by Wall to Wall, and broadcast on BBC One. The programme originally began with a pilot episode on 27 March 2003, before a full series was commissioned for 1 April 2004; New Tricks concluded after twelve series on 6 October 2015. The show had an ensemble cast, of which Dennis Waterman was the only constant over all twelve series; the cast variously included Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman, Denis Lawson, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tamzin Outhwaite, and Larry Lamb. Waterman, who's been known as a vocalist alongside his acting work, additionally sang the program's theme song.
Joanna Louise Page is a Welsh actress and presenter, known for portraying Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning television series Gavin & Stacey. She played Dora Spenlow in the 1999 adaptation of David Copperfield, and featured as Just Judy in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually. She currently co-presents the BBC One consumer series Shop Well for Less. In 2023, Page joined Loose Women as a regular panellist.
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. She later co-wrote and starred in the Sky One comedy-drama Stella (2012–2017), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance and won the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Screenwriter.
Mathew Frazer Horne is an English actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and narrator. He is best known for appearing on several BBC sketch shows and sitcoms, most notably Gavin & Stacey, The Catherine Tate Show, Horne & Corden, and Bad Education.
Fat Friends is a British drama that aired on ITV from 12 October 2000 to 24 March 2005, consisting of 25 episodes over four series. Set in Leeds, the series explores the lives of several slimming club members, with a focus on the various ways their weight has impacted upon them.
James Kimberley Corden is an English actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, and former television host. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. In the United States, he is best known as the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, a late-night talk show that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2023.
Gavin & Stacey is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the eponymous characters Gavin and Stacey, while Corden and Jones star as Smithy and Nessa. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb star as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon plays Stacey's uncle Bryn.
Would I Lie to You? is a British comedy panel show aired on BBC One, made by Zeppotron for the BBC. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007, starring David Mitchell and Lee Mack as team captains. The show was originally presented by Angus Deayton, and since 2009 has been hosted by Rob Brydon.
Outnumbered is a British sitcom about the Brockman family, starring Hugh Dennis as the father, Claire Skinner as the mother and their three children played by Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez.
The Wrong Mans is a British comedy drama television series, produced by BBC Television and Hulu. It premiered on BBC Two on 24 September 2013 and in the United States on 11 November 2013. Considered a critical and ratings success, it was co-created and written by Gavin & Stacey alumni James Corden and Mathew Baynton as an attempt to combine the situation comedy format with the intricate plotting and storytelling tropes of an action-adventure series.
BBC Three was a British over-the-top internet television service operated by the BBC. It was launched on 16 February 2016 as a replacement for the linear BBC Three television channel, which closed down the same day but was later relaunched on 1 February 2022. The service produces and streams television and web series aimed at the demographic of 16 to 34-year-olds, with a particular focus on comedy and documentary programming.
A Christmas Carol is a 2019 British dark fantasy drama television miniseries based on the 1843 novella by Charles Dickens. The three-part series is written by Steven Knight with Tom Hardy and Ridley Scott among the executive producers. It began airing on BBC One in the UK on 22 December 2019 and concluded two days later on 24 December 2019. Prior to this, it aired in the US on FX on 19 December 2019, with all three episodes shown consecutively as a single television film.