Gavin & Stacey is set to return this year for its last-ever episode, it has been officially confirmed.
The much-loved sitcom will conclude on Christmas Day 2024 on BBC One and iPlayer, following reports that another special was in the works in February.
In a joint statement, co-creators/co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones wrote: “Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James.”
The pair also attached an image of themselves holding up the script, which is titled “Gavin and Stacey: the finale”.
You can see the announcement post below.
📢 We’ll have: A chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey!!!
Coming this Christmas Day on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer
Read ➡️ https://t.co/KFoEMfZRy2 pic.twitter.com/6rEUnZ1Moc
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) May 3, 2024
Gavin & Stacey ran for three seasons between 2007 and 2010, and returned for a Christmas special in 2019. The latest episode ended on a cliffhanger; Nessa (Jones) proposed to Smithy (Corden), with the scene concluding before he could give an answer.
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In a five-star review of the special, NME wrote: “Corden and Jones have crafted a near-perfect celebration of everything that made the show so great in the first place. Die-hard fans might have minor quibbles with a lack of character progression, but it’s clear Corden and Jones have resurrected their beloved baby with hugely successful results.
“Time will tell whether a more permanent return to Barry is on the cards, but without saying anything else, we certainly wouldn’t rule it out. All will become clear.”
It was reported that 11.6million fans tuned in when the episode aired on Christmas Day – breaking the show’s own viewing record, and becoming the biggest festive ratings success in over 10 years.
Gavin & Stacey also stars Mathew Horne (Gavin), Joanna Page (Stacey), Larry Lamb (Mick), Alison Steadman (Pam), Rob Brydon (Bryn), Melanie Walters (Gwen), Julia Davis (Dawn) and Adrian Scarborough (Pete).
Last November, Page cast doubt on there being another episode of the series: “I can see them never doing any more because it was nice to leave it on a cliffhanger because it’s up to the viewer to imagine what would have happened. So I can imagine them ending it like that.”
She added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t get the call, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I did. But all I can say is, if they were going to do another one I hope it’s soon because we’re all getting so old. I don’t particularly want to see Stacey get that much older.”
Corden – who moved back to the UK after leaving The Late Late Show last year – said in September 2023 that he “genuinely” didn’t know if Gavin & Stacey would make a comeback. “I think we feel so proud of that last special,” he continued.
“I think, in a way, those characters, they live on, they carry on, they’re still out there somewhere living and breathing.”
Corden added: “I don’t know… Maybe there’s something really perfect about it ending there. Can we truly fulfil people’s ambitions for it? I know it’s such an annoying answer, I’m aware of that, but I don’t know.”