Fans only have six months left to learn the fate of the beloved characters.
But it seems it’s not just viewers who are being forced to wait to find out what happens in Gavin and Stacey’s long-awaited Christmas Day special, as BBC bosses are also being kept in the dark.
James Corden, 45, and Ruth Jones, 57, have gone to such lengths to prevent leaks that they didn’t even let BBC comedy director Jon Petrie read the entire script.
In an attempt to prevent plot details from ruining the comedy’s unique ending, the writing pair, who also star in the show, have only shown the script to a “very, very closed circle.”
And not even Petrie has made the cut, despite commissioning the episode as the BBC’s big draw for this year’s Christmas calendar.
It seems it’s not just Gavin and Stacey viewers who are being forced to wait to find out what happens in the Christmas Day special, as BBC bosses are also being kept in the dark.
James Corden, 45, and Ruth Jones, 57, have gone to such lengths to prevent leaks that they didn’t even let BBC comedy director Jon Petrie read the entire script.
The Bafta-winning comedy originally aired for three seasons between May 2007 and January 2010 and returned on Christmas Day 2019 with a special episode (pictured in 2019).
“I haven’t really seen the script yet, James and Ruth won’t let us see it yet,” he said on the BBC comedy show on Tuesday.
“Which I think is great, they really keep it a secret and don’t want people to see it outside of their very, very tight circle until they’re 100 percent sure about it.”
Petrie said the real challenge will come when filming begins, since it’s such a high-profile show and recognizable cast that people at filming locations will be able to spot them.
“I think it’s going to be difficult when they film it because it’s such a big show and everyone will want to see it, everyone everywhere it’s going to be filmed, it’ll be obvious what’s being filmed,” he said.
“I guess you have to take it as a compliment because it means so much to so many people.”
Despite not having seen the script, Jon said James and Ruth came up with a “brilliant idea and a brilliant story.”
James and Ruth reunited to write the carefully guarded new script after the former Late, Late Show host returned to the UK after eight years living in Los Angeles.
Lead characters Mathew Horne, 45, and Joanna Page, 47, will return, along with series regulars Rob Brydon, 59, Alison Steadman, 77, and Larry Lamb, 76.
The Bafta-winning comedy originally aired for three seasons between May 2007 and January 2010 and returned on Christmas Day 2019 with a special episode.
A ratings hit for the BBC, an impressive 18.49 million people tuned in to watch the episode which ended with Ruth’s Nessa professing her love for Corden’s Smithy and getting down on one knee.
The most-watched scripted show of the decade, fans were left wanting more when the episode ended before Smithy’s response.