Gavin & Stacey creators say they ‘both had the same idea’ for final Christmas special
An emotional James Corden and Ruth Jones have said working on Gavin & Stacey has been a “privilege” and a “wonderful journey”, as they prepare to say goodbye after 17 years.
The beloved sitcom, which they created together, follows the love story of Gavin from Essex (Mathew Horne) and Stacey from Barry in Wales (Joanna Page), and the lives of their families and friends.
It ran for three seasons between 2007 and 2009, becoming one of the most successful British comedies of all time, before returning after 10 years for a Christmas Day cliffhanger episode in 2019.
More than 18 million people watched as Jones’s character Nessa got down on one knee and declared her love for Corden‘s Smithy, but never got to find out his answer.
Jones and Corden pictured at the Gavin & Stacey: The Finale launch event. Pic: PA
Now, the BBC show returns at Christmas once again for what Corden and Jones have said really will be the final episode, giving viewers the chance to see how their characters’ unconventional off-more-than-on romance pans out.
The co-writers introduced Gavin & Stacey: The Finale at a special screening in front of cast and crew members in London on Wednesday, with Jones becoming emotional as she told the audience that a “sense of love” had remained throughout the series.
“Love between friends, love between family members, conventional boy-meets-girl love stories, and unconventional relationships,” she said. “I think that’s kind of remained the same. And the lack of cynicism has remained the same – all the characters in the show really do love each other.”
Corden said it had been a “dream come true” to have a show successful enough to be “considered worthy of a Christmas special” the first time around, let alone again.
Both have remained tight-lipped on how the story ends.
The first look at the final ever episode. Pic: Tom Jackson/PA
Reflecting on why Gavin & Stacey is so beloved, Corden said: “The more I’ve thought about it, I wonder if actually it’s a lesson in patience. We’re sort of told now, particularly in television, or the way we consume stuff – we talk about content and we talk about consumers and we talk about speed.
“Here’s a show that ended 15 years ago, waited 10 years to tell another hour of the story, and waited five more years to end it. Maybe the lesson for all of us – for people that write about television, for people that talk about television, for people that write television – is actually maybe time and patience and care might be the answer for things to have a longevity outside of what we consume on our phones.”
Both Corden and Jones said that after the Christmas 2019 cliffhanger, they did not know whether they would bring the show back. But in the summer of 2023, they decided to work on some ideas together.
“We both had the same idea, didn’t we?” Jones said.
Joanna Page, who plays Stacey Shipman (left) and Jones, pictured during filming for the special. Pic: PA
Gavin & Stacey also stars Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman as Gavin’s parents, Mick and Pam, Rob Brydon as Stacey’s uncle, Bryn, and Melanie Walters as her mother, Gwen.
“It may sound like complete nonsense [but] it doesn’t really feel like we’re in charge of writing it,” Corden said. “I feel like we just have to be together, and we sort of open a portal and the characters arrive and tell us.”
“Our cast just inhabit those roles,” Jones added. “I think it’s been very much a joint venture, in more ways than one.”
Jones praised the Gavin & Stacey crew for “making it so special, this final foray”. She also thanked Corden “for being my travel companion on this wonderful journey”.
Corden added: “What a privilege to have an idea with someone for whom it is just a joy to write with. I love you very much. I’m very proud of all of it. Thank you.”
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale airs on BBC1 at 9pm on Christmas Day
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
Entertainment
Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home
An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.
Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.
The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.
Both had died from gunshot wounds.
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.
According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.
Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.
“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
Entertainment
Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester
Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.
Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.
While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.
People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic
Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.
“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.
“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.
“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”
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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig
The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.
The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.
More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.
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John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.
He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.
“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.
“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”
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