The Daily Star Ireland
James Corden expressed his gratitude to fans after the finale of his popular sitcom Gavin And Stacey garnered the highest Christmas Day viewership since 2008. The BBC comedy, co-created by Corden and Ruth Jones, captivated 12.3 million viewers in the UK, according to overnight ratings.
Corden, who also starred in the show as Neil “Smithy” Smith, took to Instagram to thank fans, sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the special episode. He wrote a heartfelt message: “Thank you so much to everyone who watched last night. It means more than you’ll know. All my love, James xx.”
The actor also posted pictures of himself and Ruth Jones as their beloved characters, Smithy and Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins, along with shots of the cast filming Gavin And Stacey: The Finale in Wales. One image featured Sonia (Laura Aikman), who was introduced as Smithy’s girlfriend in the 2019 Christmas episode. That episode ended on a cliffhanger, with Nessa proposing to Smithy. In the photo shared by Corden, Sonia is seen in a wedding dress, while Nessa, in the background, appears somber. The cast is also holding masks of Sonia’s face.
Corden’s post received warm reactions from fans, including music producer Darren Styles, who called it “the perfect ending” and promised to rewatch the entire series. Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh also commented, “Aw loved it so much.”
In the finale, a dramatic wedding scene unfolds where several guests stand up when asked if anyone objects, prompting Smithy to finally confess his love for Nessa. The episode reveals that in 2019, Smithy had been about to propose but was interrupted before he could respond to Nessa’s own proposal. They had not discussed it since. Smithy rushes to Nessa before she returns to work on the ships, where he proposes, and the final scene shows the couple having a low-key wedding with Nessa in a black dress, giving them a heartwarming “happily ever after.”
Gavin And Stacey, which originally aired from 2007 to 2010, focused on the long-distance romance between Stacey Shipman (Joanna Page) and Gavin (Mathew Horne). It made a successful return in 2019 with a special episode that drew 11.6 million viewers, setting a new record for the highest Christmas ratings since 2008.
