THE last Christmas special drew in a staggering 18 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show of the decade.

And that figure could be topped up by millions more when the Gavin and Stacey finale airs in just a day’s time.

Gavin & Stacey will finally come to an end today, more than 17 years since it first aired Credit: PA

Co-creator and Smithy James Corden with a fan in London this week Credit: Splash

The stars back in 2007 when the show aired for the very first time Credit: Alamy
The last episode, which aired in 2019, saw Nessa propose to Smithy in a bombshell final moment that left viewers on the edge of their seats for five long years.

And now we will finally see what happened next, as well as, hopefully hearing the details about what occurred between Uncle Bryn and Jason on their infamous fishing trip.

Mathew Horne and Joanna Page will reprise their roles as beloved couple Gavin & Stacey, as well as James Corden and Ruth Jones as will-they-won’t-they Smithy and Nessa.

Other show favourites will return including Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin’s devoted parents Pamela and Mick Shipman and Rob Brydon portraying the nation’s favourite mint Baileys-loving uncle.

It’s been hinted that Neil ‘the Baby’, played by Oscar Hartland, and Smithy’s lairy sister Rudi, played by Sheridan Smith, could also make a return.

As for the rest of the show’s cast, that for now remains a mystery. A lot has happened to the stars of the beloved Essex-Wales love story since the first episode aired in May 2007.

From the fan favourite who became a pilates instructor to another who cracked America after landing one of their biggest shows, we reveal “what’s occurin'” with the Gavin & Stacey stars.

Joanna Page (Stacey)

Love Actually star Joanna Page, 47, played chatterbox Stacey.

While starring on the series she also appeared in adverts for Kingsmill Bakery, Carphone Warehouse and Superdrug, as well as landing the cover of FHM.

Since the series finale, the now mum-of-four has made sporadic telly appearances – including as Queen Elizabeth I in Doctor Who.
Mick plays the piano in Gavin and Stacey christmas special

Joanna Page is now a mum of four and Loose Women regular

Joanna starred in the 2020 film Dream Horse, with Damian Lewis, and is been a regular guest panellist on Loose Women.

Last year she landed a TV job training to become an assistant vet, with the show set to air this year.

She said: “I adore animals and we as a family just love them. My children are very excited about me doing this new show.”

Joanna also co-hosted The Pet Show alongside Dermot O’Leary, but it was axed after just one season.

She landed a part in the Channel 4 series Big Mood, which starred Brigerton’s Nicola Coughlan, and next year will have a BBC travel series released alongside Strictly star Wynne Evans, best known as the opera singer from Go Compare adverts.

Mathew Horne (Gavin)

Mathew Horne played Gavin in the show
The Catherine Tate Show actor, 46, became a national treasure playing kind-hearted Gavin, and went on to star in BBC’s Bad Education.

In 2018 he appeared on stage in Rain Man, and it was announced he would be in the new Dad’s Army remake.

But in December that same year, Mathew was struck by a train after a boozy night out walking back to his parents’ house in Nottingham.

He was hurled backwards after it clipped him at a pedestrian crossing, but didn’t require hospital treatment.

Mathew is still acting, most recently starring in the fifth series of Bad Education this year.

In 2023, he also landed parts in Inside No. 9, Bolan’s Shoes and short film Everybody Dies… Sometimes.

Melanie Walters (Gwen)

Melanie Walters quit fame for a “normal” job
After the main show ended Melanie Walters, 62, who played Gwen, decided to branch out from acting.

She set up Practical Pilates in Swansea, Wales to help locals improve their posture.

The actress also lets self-catering holiday rentals on beauty spot the Gower Peninsula.

However, her Gavin & Stacey co-star Larry Lamb tempted her back in front of the camera in 2019.

The pair appeared in Pitching In, a four-part BBC drama set around a caravan park in Angelsey, on the north Wales coast.

She also plays Gran in children’s TV show Biff & Chip, and is a panto regular.

Oscar Hartland (baby Neil)

Baby Neil AKA Oscar Hartland is now in a band called Redwood City

Oscar recently bumped into Melanie WaltersCredit: Instagram
Nessa and Smithy’s baby Neil is now all grown up.

The youngster was played by three babies – Ewan Kennedy, Oscar Hartland and Lewis Marchant.

But Oscar, now 17, was thrilled to return for the highly-anticipated Christmas special in 2019, after auditioning for the role.

“I thought I was getting a different part but I actually got Neil,” he told GMB. “I was really excited about filming.”

Oscar is now a rhythm guitarist and co-frontman of band Redwood City, along with his mate Shay. He also auditioned for The Voice Kids in 2023.

In August last year, he bumped into co-star Melanie on a walk around Swansea pier, and shared a snap of them together.

Larry Lamb (Mick)

Larry Lamb is regularly on TV
Already a regular on the telly, Larry Lamb, 77, has seen his star status rise even further since playing Gavin’s down-to-earth dad Mick.

At the same time as the sitcom aired, he played villain Archie Mitchell on EastEnders.

He also starred in the 2016 series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here.

A year later he consolidated his newfound public popularity with an appearance on Channel 5’s Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb, and film The Hatton Garden Job.

It’s been a busy year for Larry with him appearing in four TV shows – including Gavin & Stacey – as well as narrating the film The 7th Man.

Sheridan Smith (Ruth)

Sheridan Smith is now a huge West End star
Playing Smithy’s younger sister Ruth in seasons two and three was one of 43-year-old Sheridan Smith’s first big breakthrough roles, along with Two Pints of Lager.

While playing the gobby, tracksuit-wearing sis, she also took on the role of Elle Woods in the 2008 musical version of Legally Blonde and nabbed both rave reviews and a Laurence Olivier Award.

After the sitcom wrapped in 2010, Sheridan continued to wow on both stage and screen.

Her role alongside Sienna Miller in 2011’s Flare Path won her a second Laurence Olivier Award, and she took the lead in 2016’s Funny Girl – in which she continued to perform even after her dad Colin’s terminal cancer diagnosis.

Gavin and Stacey’s Best Moments

With the news that the show is set to make an exciting return to screens, let’s take a look at some of the comedy programme’s biggest and best moments…

Smithy and Rudi’s American Boy rap – No one will ever forget when James Corden and Sheridan Smith rapped perfectly word for word the Kanye West and Estelle hit American Boy as they walked across the car park on the phone to Gavin.
Pam’s Vegetarian faux pas – Despite loving a cheesburger, Pam found herself caught up in a web of unexpected lies when she claimed to be Vegetarian. She is forced to keep up the secret throughout the entire show and uses hubby Mick to help her scoff meat. She is later rumbled when Stacey catches her in the act as she scoffs ham in the kitchen. Stacey says to her: “Is that ham, Pam!?… “I’ve seen you, Pam. A scotch egg here, a bit of bacon there, putting those regular sausages into the Linda McCartney box”.

On the telly, she was given a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for 2013’s Mrs Biggs, and was nominated for awards for her parts in 2015’s Cilla, 2016’s The C Word, 2016’s Black Work and 2018’s The Moorside.

Sheridan released her debut album A Northern Soul in 2019. The actress revealed she’d had a mental breakdown that had seen her battle anxiety and depression following her dad’s death in 2017.

But happier news came in May 2020, when she gave birth to her son, Billy, with Jamie Horn – who she split from a year later.

After fronting a hugely successful West End run of Shirley Valentine last year, and recently put on an impressive display on stage for Manchester At The Musicals this week.

Alison Steadman (Pam)

Alison Steadman was left “shaken” last year and had to flee her own show
Alison Steadman, 78, played Mick’s wife Pam Shipman.

She was a successful film and TV actress by the time she appeared in the sitcom, and had already won two Laurence Olivier Awards, two BAFTAs and been given an OBE.

Since the series ended, the mum-of-two has starred in 2015 film Burn Burn Burn, as well as BBC series Boomers, Hold The Sunset and the hit series Life, in 2020

She also presented a three-part Channel 4 series Little British Islands, and a travel show with Larry Lamb last year, in which they went from Billericay to Barry.

Last year, while giving a talk on her career, Alison was left “shaken” and forced to flee her own show when an elderly fan collapsed midway through.

Ruth Jones (Nessa)

Ruth Jones is bringing back Fat Friends
Her straight-talking character Nessa was a fan favourite – but Ruth Jones, 58, also rose to prominence thanks to the hilarious script she co-wrote with James Corden.

After securing two BAFTAs and four British Comedy Awards, the former Fat Friends and Little Britain star went on to appear in two BBC period costume dramas, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Little Dorrit.

In 2014, she was appointed an MBE for services to entertainment.

She has also set up her own production company with her husband David Peet, and in 2018 she released her first novel, Never Greener.

Last year it was revealed Ruth was in talks with James and Alison Steadman to bring back beloved sitcom Fat Friends – where they first all met.

Steffan Rhodri (Dave)

Steffan Rhodri played Dave Coaches on Gavin and Stacey
The Welsh actor, 57, won over Gavin & Stacey fans with his character Dave Coaches.

He’s since proved a hit with Potterheads after starring as magical maintenance department worker Reg Cattermole in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One.

He also played DC Neil Jones in ITV drama Manhunt.

In recent years, Steffan has focused on stage acting, including playing Banquo in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth alongside fellow Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldermort.

James Corden (Smithy)

James Corden is arguably the most famous star from Gavin & Stacey
Arguably the most famous Gavin & Stacey export is James Corden who went on to become a fully-fledged A-lister on the other side of the pond.

After the sitcom ended in 2010, he starred in three Hollywood movies – including 2014 comedy Into The Woods with Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick, as well as 2016 animation Trolls.

In 2015 the father-of-three moved with his family to Los Angeles to host The Late Late Show with James Corden, spawning the hugely successful Carpool Karaoke – which the likes of Michelle Obama and Ed Sheeran have appeared in.

James quit The Late Late Show last year and returned to the UK, despite this, his success has seen him become an Oscars and Met Gala regular.

Earlier this year, the 46-year-old had a radio show on SiriusXM called This Life of Mine, which featured in-depth conversations with the “world’s biggest stars”.

Some of the big names included David Beckham, Dr Dre, Kim Kardashian and Julianne Moore.

Rob Brydon (Bryn)

Rob Brydon is a regular face on TV
By the time he was making viewers cry with laughter on Gavin & Stacey, Glamorgan-born Rob Brydon, 59, was already a familiar face, having worked as a radio presenter for a variety of BBC programmes and starred in Supernova.

When the sitcom ended he appeared in Hollywood movie The Huntsmen: Winter’s War, the BBC comedy series Marion and Geoff and its spin-off The Keith Barret Show, and appeared alongside Steve Coogan in The Trip.

The father-of-four has also presented BBC’s Would I Lie To You?, The Rob Brydon Show and The Guess List.

Last year he even had a cameo in the Barbie movie, as Sugar Daddy Ken.

In 2013, he was awarded an MBE for services to comedy and broadcasting.

Margaret John

The late Margaret John played Doris Credit: Wales News Service
Margaret John played Gwen’s neighbour Doris O’Neill, famous for her hilarious one-liners.

In 2011, the actress sadly passed away from liver cancer, aged 84.

Just before her death, Swansea University awarded Maragret an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her long career.

In the festive reunion episode, Margaret’s death was acknowledged when the characters raised a glass to Doris.

In true Nessa style, the character refused to join in because Gavin and Stacey had been left the pensioner’s house rather than her.