Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024: release date, cast, plot and everything we know

Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 Bryn, Gavin, Nessa, Stacey and Gwen in a car
(Image credit: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

The Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 now has a string of new pictures and the makers have also finally teased plot details. Plus we now have a confirmed time it will air on Christmas Day on BBC One.

Sadly, it will be the final ever episode of the beloved sitcom, but it promises to be 90 minutes of pure joy for fans.

Well, they say it's the final ever episode but given its creators, James Corden and Ruth Jones aren't that old, they might at some point be tempted to make another episode. But for now they’re saying it's the final one.

The BBC press office confirmed the worst kept secret in showbiz earlier this year that the comedy was coming back in a tweet, saying: "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”.

Talking about her feelings making the final ever episode, Ruth Jones says: "It was a mixture of excitement, nostalgia and sadness. Sad of course because this is the last time these characters will ever be on screen again, but so exciting to bring them to life again. And nostalgic because we’d be on set with the cast and we’d go down memory lane remembering the early episodes. We often reminisced about Maggie John [who played Doris] who's no longer with us but we felt she was in spirit, especially when we were on Trinity Street.

"It’s always so enjoyable to be in the room writing with James. We act out the characters when we write — I love playing Bryn and Stacey and James does a great Pamelarr!"

Here's everything we know about the Christmas TV highlight…

Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024: release date

Bryn (Rob Rydon) doing the limbo in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024

(Image credit: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

The BBC has confirmed that the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 will air on Christmas Day on BBC One at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

We don't have a US release date as yet.

Plot

Gavin & Stacey finale Nessa and Stacey enjoying a dance

We know there's some dancing in the Christmas episode! (Image credit:  BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

The 2019 Christmas special, the last episode screened, ended on one hell of a cliffhanger. In the final moments, Nessa and Smithy enjoyed a smoke and smiled about Neil being 12 soon. It wasn't quite Bridgerton, but Nessa did make one big heartfelt speech: "You know you're all right as you are Smithy. I won't lie, you're not everyone's cup of tea. But at the end of the day, when all said and done you're tidy… I knows it's been complicated, you and me… but I love you… no Smithy, you’re not listening. I know it’s weird like, but I do, with all my heart. So… will you marry me?"

Teasing what happens in the festive episode, the makers say: "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 since then.

"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 seventeen-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."

Cast

Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 cast

All the key cast are back (Image credit: BBC/Fulwell73 & Tidy Productions/Tom Jackson)

James Corden returns as Smithy with Ruth Jones as Nessa. Also back are Mathew Horne as Gavin, Joanna Page as Stacey, Rob Brydon as Bryn, Larry Lamb as Mick, Alison Steadman as Pam and Melanie Walters as Gwen. 

Sheridan Smith is returning as Smithy's sister Rudi. It's the first time she's played the part since 2010. Plus Julia Davis is back as Dawn with Adrian Scarborough back as Pete.

Is there a trailer?

No, not yet. 

Gavin & Stacey Christmas special 2024 behind the scenes

Behind the scenes snap of Ruth Jones having make up applied on final Gavin & Stacey

Ruth Jones having make up applied (Image credit: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

Filming took place over five weeks from September 2024 at locations across the Vale of Glamorgan. James Corden and Ruth Jones have written the special. Christie Gernon, who's directed the series before, is the director of the Christmas special. She's also worked on comedy classics like One Foot in the Grave and Absolutely Fabulous.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!

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