Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 release date, plot and latest news
Here's what's occurring.
We're now just days away from seeing this year's Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, and the anticipation has never been higher.
Fans have waited five years to find out what happened after Nessa proposed to Smithy, and finally they are going to get some answers, in what is sure to be a monumental finale to the beloved comedy series.
We already know that the special won't be picking up immediately after 2019's episode, and will instead jump forward in real-time, five years into the future.
Ruth Jones has teased that the episode "might not be what you are expecting", although she has "guaranteed" that the series will "definitely not be coming back".
Meanwhile, Joanna Page has said she can "really see why" Jones are Corden are ending the series when and in the way they are, while Mathew Horne has called it "the perfect ending" to the show.
But what do we know so far about how things are going to play out in this finale?
Read on to for everything you need to know about the Gavin & Stacey Christmas 2024 special, including that all-important schedule slot on the big day itself.
Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 release date
The Gavin & Stacey Christmas 2024 special will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Christmas Day, Wednesday 25th December 2024.
The show's 2019 reunion special also premiered on Christmas Day and broke viewership records, so the BBC will be hoping for a similarly mammoth reception this time around – and we wager that they might well get it.
Excitement for the feature-length episode has been steadily growing since news first leaked in February (via Deadline) that Ruth Jones and James Corden were working on another chapter in their legendary sitcom.
Of course, the co-creators did their best to talk down the reports until the official announcement came in May, when a first draft of the script was completed – with some trims and edits made before filming began in September.
The shoot wrapped a month later, giving the post-production team a relatively short window to turnaround the finished product. There's not much longer to go now!
Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 cast: Who's returning?
The good news is that the full Gavin & Stacey cast will be back for this final episode, meaning we can expect a proper farewell to the characters we've watched develop for almost two decades.
Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the title roles of Gavin and Stacey Shipman, who overcame several hurdles in their relationship – from relocation to fertility issues – in order to build a life together.
Gavin & Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden co-star as Nessa and Smithy, whose dynamic is of great interest to viewers after the 2019 episode, in which the former got down on one knee for a shock proposal.
Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb will also be back as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, while Rob Brydon and Melanie Walters are set to return as Stacey's Uncle Bryn and mother, Gwen, respectively.
And the reunion wouldn't be complete without the latest updates in the disastrous marriage between Pete and Dawn, with Adrian Scarborough and Julia Davis back as the dramatic friends of the Shipman family.
Sadly, actor Margaret John – who played Stacey's outrageous next-door neighbour, Doris – passed away in 2011. Recently, Page paid tribute to the star during an appearance on Desert Island Discs.
She recalled: "Working with Maggie John has got to be one of the highlights of Gavin & Stacey. I just love how her character got bigger and worse and saucier and sexier as the series went on."
Here's a refresher of the Gavin & Stacey cast, ahead of the 2024 special:
- Mathew Horne plays Gavin
- Joanna Page plays Stacey
- James Corden plays Smithy
- Ruth Jones plays Nessa
- Alison Steadman plays Pam
- Larry Lamb plays Mick
- Rob Brydon plays Uncle Bryn
- Melanie Walters plays Gwen
- Adrian Scarborough plays Pete
- Julia Davis plays Dawn
- Margaret John plays Doris
- Steffan Rhodri plays Dave Coaches
- Robert Wilfort plays Jason
- Sheridan Smith plays Rudi
- Oscar Hartland as Neil 'the Baby'
- Laura Aikman plays Sonia
What happened in the 2019 Gavin and Stacey Christmas special?
The special left some big questions up in the air, from what happened on the fishing trip to whether Smithy (Corden) said 'yes' when Nessa got down on one knee and proposed.
Before all that, however, the special caught up with the main gang 10 years after the last episode aired, with the Shipmans and the Wests meeting in Barry for the festive season.
Gwen and Bryn were on hosting duties, and we learned that Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page) are still married and now have three lovely children.
Smithy comes to Wales often to see his son, Neil, and to co-parent with Nessa, but the pair are still not romantically involved. Instead, he is looking to get serious with new girlfriend, Sonia (Laura Aikman).
That is, until Nessa abruptly declares her love and proposes at the end of the episode, leaving Smithy and the audience absolutely flabbergasted, with fans still waiting to find out what his answer will be.
If you need a full refresher on everything that's happened so far, you can stream Gavin & Stacey from the beginning on BBC iPlayer.
Gavin & Stacey 2024 plot synopsis: What will happen in the finale?
The official synopsis for the Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special has been released by the BBC, giving fans an insight into what they can expect in the 90-minute episode.
It reads: "It’s five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her. And a lot has happened in those five years.
"In Barry, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex, Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their 17-year marriage, and Gwen is behaving most strangely.
"Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad.
"Over in Billericay, Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room, and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship.
"Join us on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time, and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip."
Is there a trailer for the Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special?
There is! You can watch the trailer for the Gavin & Stacey finale right here.
Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on BBC One on Christmas Day at 9pm. Previous episodes are all available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Looking for something else to watch? Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
