Gavin & Stacey star Alison Steadman has spoken about the forthcoming final ever episode of the BBC sitcom.
News of the upcoming finale was first reported in February this year, with co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones later confirming the last episode in May. “See you on Christmas Day,” they wrote at the time.
The cast officially started filming the finale in September before it was finally wrapped up last week.
Speaking to The Guardian, Steadman, who plays Gavin’s (Mathew Horne) mother Pam, said: “We’ve just been filming the last-ever Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, and it’s honestly been the best fun ever.”
She continued: “I feel really proud. I mean, the last Christmas special got a huge audience. People stop me now in the street all the time: ‘Can’t wait. Can’t wait for Christmas Day!’ I hope we don’t let them down!”
Matthew Horne and Joanna Page in ‘Gavin & Stacey’ CREDIT: BBC
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival (via BBC News), Steadman also said it was difficult keeping the final scenes of the show under wraps because “the paparazzi were everywhere”.
“They [the directors] thought it was a nightmare, and there were people at the end of the street,” she added.
“Ruth [Jones] and James [Corden] were saying to everyone ‘we don’t want to spoil it for you. We want Christmas Day to be a surprise’.
“And once you know a bit of secret or a story, then you’re going to spoil it. They want it to be a surprise, and that is what I want too.”
Steadman also spoke about the last day of filming on set.
She added: “When we finished filming the other day, I got this lovely card from Mat Horne, and he just said, ‘I’m so, so proud to think I’ve had you as my mum in the series’. It was just so lovely. It’s been such a great show to do.”
Gavin & Stacey ran for three seasons between 2007 and 2010, and returned for a Christmas special in 2019. The latest episode ended on a cliffhanger; Nessa (Jones) proposed to Smithy (Corden), with the scene concluding before he could give an answer.
In a five-star review of the special, NME wrote: “Corden and Jones have crafted a near-perfect celebration of everything that made the show so great in the first place. Die-hard fans might have minor quibbles with a lack of character progression, but it’s clear Corden and Jones have resurrected their beloved baby with hugely successful results.
“Time will tell whether a more permanent return to Barry is on the cards, but without saying anything else, we certainly wouldn’t rule it out. All will become clear.”
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