When James Corden announced he was making a Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, he insisted it would be the last fans would see of the show.
But there is good news: the cast is working on a behind-the-scenes show to mark their final appearance.
Corden and Ruth Jones have been filming it while making the festive special in the Welsh coastal town of Barry Island last week.
Cameras followed them as they mingled with fans, posing for more than 100 selfies, capturing the interactions between the cast and their adoring audience, who began arriving last Monday.
Joanna Page, the actress who plays Stacey Shipman, was also seen being followed by a film crew as she greeted fans. Sources on the set say the footage will be used to make a documentary about the much-loved comedy series, which first aired on BBC Three in 2007.
The cast of Gavin & Stacey are working on a behind-the-scenes documentary to mark their final hurrah for the iconic series (pictured: Joanna Page, who plays Stacey, and James Corden)
The long-awaited final episode of the much-loved British series will air on Christmas Day this year.
One said: “When the cameras filming Gavin and Stacey stopped rolling, other cameras were brought in to film what was going on behind the scenes. There was a lot of beautiful footage for the show – it’s been very special for its viewers. James is astute and realises there’s a wonderful story to tell about the making of the show and what goes on behind the scenes.”
Barry Island was packed with people last week as the original cast returned for the finale.
As well as Corden, Jones and Page, Mathew Horne, who plays Gavin Shipman, was also back on set despite reportedly falling out with Corden in the past. Rob Brydon, who plays Stacey’s Uncle Bryn, was also spotted filming.
An emotional Corden told his followers: “It’s overwhelming that this is the last time we’re going to be here on the island. It’s wonderful. It’s the home of the show. It’s the centre of everything, really, and every moment of it makes you think, ‘God, I remember when we were here.'”
Joanna Page, the actress who plays Stacey Shipman, was also seen being followed by a crew as she greeted fans (pictured)
Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa, and Joanna Page take a break from filming the behind-the-scenes documentary in Barry
On the first day of filming, the cast shared a photo of a clapperboard with the caption: “Filming started today on the final episode of Gavin & Stacey. We’re actually kind of excited.”
It will be the first episode of the BBC comedy since the final Christmas special in 2019. That episode, which was watched by 12 million viewers, ended on a cliffhanger with Nessa on one knee as she proposed to Smithy.
The show focuses on the ups and downs of Gavin and Stacey’s long-distance relationship, as he lives with his parents in Billericay, Essex, and she lives on Barry Island. The couple eventually marry, while their respective best friends Smithy and Nessa have a son, Neil, who is now 15 and will also return for the final episode.
Neil is played by the same actor, Oscar Hartland, who played him as a baby.
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