Millions of television viewers were reminded of beloved comedy duo Hale and Pace when they were unexpectedly mentioned during the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special.
More than 12 million Brits tuned in to the latest episode of the beloved comedy in which characters Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones) finally tied the knot.
During the special, Nessa, in one of the many anecdotes from her colorful past, mentioned that she had once rented a room to Hale and Pace.
Gareth Hale and Norman Pace were a comedy duo who performed across the UK in the 1980s and 1990s.
Such was the success of the couple that they gave them their own eponymous program that lasted ten years and ended in 1998.
As they returned to the public consciousness thanks to Nessa, MailOnline looks at where Hale and Pace are now.
Millions of television viewers were reminded of beloved comedy duo Hale and Pace when they were unexpectedly mentioned during the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special.
Gareth Hale and Norman Pace were a comedy duo who performed across the UK in the 1980s and 1990s (pictured in 2018).
During the special, Nessa, in one of the many anecdotes from her colorful past, mentioned that she had once rented a room to Hale and Pace.
Hale and Pace met at a teacher training college in south-east London, but after five years teaching, they decided to pursue a career in entertainment in the 1970s.
They performed mainly at the Tramshed in Woolwich, London for seven years and then did a series of radio programs for BBC Radio 4.
They got their big break in the 1980s with appearances on shows like The Entertainers and Pushing Up Daisies in 1984.
Two years later, they received a one-off Christmas special on London Weekend Television.
The success of the special earned them their eponymous program that debuted in 1988.
The series was primarily a mix of sketches and comedy along with at least one musical number in each episode performed by Hale and/or Pace.
Some of his most memorable characters included doormen The Two Rons along with children’s television presenters Billy and Johnny.
The show ended in 1998 and Hale and Pace have since largely disbanded, except for the occasional joint appearance over the years.
Gareth Hale and Norman Pace were a comedy duo who performed across the UK in the 80s and 90s.
The couple’s success was such that they were given their own eponymous show which lasted ten years and ended in 1998, pictured dressed as Noel and Liam Gallagher.
The series was primarily a mix of sketches and comedy along with at least one musical number in each episode performed by Hale and/or Pace.
The show ended in 1998 and Hale and Pace have since largely disbanded, except for the occasional joint appearance over the years (pictured together in 2009).
They appeared on The Armando Iannucci Shows in 2001 and also appeared on the 2007 Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s Extras Christmas special.
Their most recent appearance as a duo was in 2018 when they starred in several episodes of Benidorm playing financial fraud investigation agents.
Away from Hale and Pace, Gareth appeared in the Channel 5 soap Family Affairs from 2003 to 2005.
He has also appeared on shows such as Casualty and Father Brown. His most recent appearance on the small screen was in the 2021 Nickelodeon children’s series, Goldie’s Oldies, as Grandpa Maury.
Norman, on the other hand, has focused primarily on theater work in recent years.
Gareth continued his work on television and appeared on the show The Royal in 2009.
Norman, on the other hand, has focused primarily on theater work in recent years.
Norman has been married to his wife Beverly since 1976 and they have three children (pictured together in 2002).
He starred in Chicago at the Adelphi Theater in the West End and has appeared in productions of One Man, Two Guvnors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
In 2024, he appeared as Claude in The Baker’s Wife at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
In an interview with On: Yorkshire Magazine in 2018, Normal said he prefers the stage to the screen.
He said: ‘I prefer the stage. It’s the party atmosphere and if you make a mistake, you’ll have another seven chances that week to correct it.
“There is a lot more pressure with television, the pressure is enormous when the camera is right in front of you, in your face.”
Norman has been married to his wife Beverly since 1976 and they have three children.