As I delve into the lives of these remarkable characters from Gavin & Stacey, it’s fascinating to see how their journeys intertwine and unfold on our screens. Each actor brings a unique charm and depth to their roles, making us laugh, cry, and sometimes even question our own life choices!
Almost time now for us to reconnect with the delightful personalities from the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey, making its long-awaited return on Christmas Day, to address some significant unresolved issues.
From a fellow movie enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over what lies ahead for Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones), who left us hanging with their unexpected proposal – a moment that had the whole country on the edge of our seats!
Furthermore, it’s worth exploring other dynamics too, such as the dwindling affection between characters Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page), along with the contentious relationship of their family friends Pete (Adrian Scarborough) and Dawn (Julia Davis).
The entire group is reuniting for the forthcoming Christmas special, a farewell episode according to creators Jones and Corden, who made this promise about their hugely successful show. However, Larry Lamb seems hesitant about this claim.
Read on for your refresher on the Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special cast.
Gavin & Stacey cast: Full list of actors and characters in BBC sitcom
Should you need a brief recap, here’s a summary of the main characters from the BBC One sitcom Gavin & Stacey, all of whom will be reappearing in the 2024 Christmas special.
Explore further details about each character and the actors portraying them, as well as places where you may recognize their faces from previously.
- Mathew Horne plays Gavin
- Joanna Page plays Stacey
- Ruth Jones plays Nessa
- James Corden plays Smithy
- Larry Lamb plays Mick
- Alison Steadman plays Pam
- Rob Brydon plays Uncle Bryn
- Melanie Walters plays Gwen
- Robert Wilfort plays Jason
- Adrian Scarborough plays Pete
- Julia Davis plays Dawn
- Steffan Rhodri plays Dave
Mathew Horne plays Gavin Shipman
To initiate the narrative, Gavin is introduced as a spirited, youthful fellow hailing from Billericay, Essex. He develops a connection with a woman named Stacey, who is Welsh, through their professional interactions over the phone.
Following numerous discussions, they ultimately agreed on a meeting date, marking the start of an exhilarating romantic journey. Shortly thereafter, the couple tied the knot, and Gavin relocated to his bride’s hometown of Barry, committing to making their relationship successful.
In 2019’s Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, we found them a decade later, with Gavin now a father of three and married to Stacey. The duo were attempting to reignite passion in their marriage, as their initial romantic flame had dimmed somewhat over the years, looking for ways to add excitement to their union.
I’m wishing that things won’t have worsened by the time we meet again in the 2024 special, which takes place five years after our last holiday-themed episode.
Has Mathew Horne been involved in any other projects apart from Gavin & Stacey? Following its massive success, he and James Corden teamed up for the sketch show Horne & Corden, as well as the film Lesbian Vampire Killers, both of which didn’t garner positive reviews.
Since then, Horne has been featured in several British comedies such as Jack Whitehall’s The Bad Education, Comedy Central’s Drunk History, and the grandson to Catherine Tate’s profane Nan in her recent film adaptation. His other roles include Agatha Raisin and Inside No. 9.
Joanna Page plays Stacey Shipman
What can be said about Stacey Shipman is that she hails from the town of Barry in South Wales, having spent her childhood there under the guardianship of her mother and uncle following the passing of her father.
As a cinema-loving soul, I stepped into marriage with Gavin and soon found myself transplanted in Billericay. Despite the change, I never truly felt at ease there; it was as if the town’s rhythm didn’t sync with mine. The discomfort almost threatened to shatter our bond entirely. But fortunately, fate had other plans. Our lives took a turn for the better when we decided to move again, this time to Barry. It was here that Stacey found employment at a seaside refreshment kiosk, and it seemed as though the sea breeze breathed new life into our relationship, bringing us back together once more.
After a decade, the most recent holiday special resumed Stacey’s narrative, revealing her worry about the dwindling spark in her marriage to Gavin. This was hinted at by their choice to purchase new kitchen cabinets during the post-Christmas sales instead of exchanging gifts for each other during the festive season.
Apart from her role as Stacey Shipman, what other projects has Joanna Page been involved with? Before that, she gained recognition through the festive rom-com Love Actually. Since Gavin & Stacey ended, she’s provided voiceovers for Poppy Cat and Q Pootle 5 animated series, portrayed Queen Elizabeth I in Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special, and appeared in Robert Downey Jr.’s Dolittle, Men Up, and Loose Women, where she now regularly appears as a panelist.
Ruth Jones plays Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins
What is Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins known as? Nessa is Stacey’s dearest friend and a woman who has led an extraordinary life filled with intrigue. Over the course of the series, she mentions directing numerous Bollywood films with actor Om Puri, working at the BBC alongside renowned journalist Kate Adie, and having a romantic involvement with the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
They may not exactly get along, often expressing dislike towards each other, but find themselves entwined romantically on several occasions. Despite the complexities of their relationship, they have a child named Neil whom they jointly raise as amicable friends.
2019 saw a special Christmas episode unfold, where it was shown that the duo were still sharing parenting duties for Neil, who’s grown up now, but still affectionately called ‘the baby’. Nessa can’t help but worry about Smithy and his love life with girlfriend Sonia. As she acknowledges her lingering feelings for him, in a tense climax, she proposes to him, leaving us in suspense as we await his response.
Apart from her role in “Fat Friends”, has Ruth Jones been involved in any other productions? Yes, she has also featured in shows like “Nighty Night”, “Little Britain”, and “Saxondale”. After the conclusion of “Gavin & Stacey”, Jones created and starred in the Sky One comedy-drama “Stella” for six seasons, which was met with favorable reviews by critics.
James Corden plays Neil “Smithy” Smith
Gavin’s close buddy, Neil Smith, hails from Billericay, is a well-known tradesman with a boisterous and flamboyant character that always makes him the center of attention at social gatherings.
During their initial get-together, Gavin accompanies Stacey, and it’s there he meets Nessa. Though they don’t show immediate affection, over time Smithy and Nessa develop a unique bond, eventually resulting in them having a child together.
In the final episode of Gavin & Stacy’s third season, Smithy unexpectedly halted Nessa’s wedding to bus driver Dave Coaches, thus putting an end to their relationship. However, the specific emotions he harbored towards her remained somewhat ambiguous.
Let’s rewind to last Christmas’s special episode, where he faced a dilemma about presenting his girlfriend, Sonia, whom he had been with for a year, to the group. Things took an awkward turn when the introduction didn’t proceed as planned.
After Nessa confessed her love for Smithy and proposed marriage, there was a unique scene leading up to the closing credits, leaving him visibly stunned. Fans are eagerly awaiting to find out what his response will be.
Besides Gavin & Stacey, James Corden has also appeared in Kay Mellor’s series Fat Friends, working alongside Jones, and in the movie version of The History Boys.
After the series concluded, James Corden has risen to stardom in Hollywood, primarily as the host of The Late Late Show on American television network CBS. Additionally, he’s known for producing the hit spin-off series Carpool Karaoke and the Friends reunion special.
Additionally to his hosting duties, Corden has provided voiceovers for various animated movies like The Emoji Movie, Trolls, and Peter Rabbit. He’s also appeared in the films Cats and the 2021 adaptation of Cinderella, which featured Camila Cabello.
Larry Lamb plays Michael “Mick” Shipman
I’m a follower, and I can tell you that Mick, also known as “Mick” Shipman, is Gavin’s father. He’s a man who is always ready to lend a helping hand, be it emotional or financial support, to his son. Unlike his wife, Pam, he maintains a calm and composed demeanor.
Has Larry Lamb starred in any other shows or series besides those you mentioned?
In the series Gavin & Stacey, he played the character Archie Mitchell from Eastenders, a significant figure in Albert Square. Tragically, his character met his end on Christmas Day in 2009.
He and co-star Alison Steadman recently reunited for travel doc Billericay to Barry.
Alison Steadman plays Pam Shipman
Pam Shipman is Gavin’s loving mother who fondly refers to him as her “little prince”. She is a nurturing individual but has a strong protective instinct when it comes to her son, which has occasionally led to outbursts of anger that Stacey’s family have experienced on multiple occasions.
Apart from being part of the Gavin & Stacey cast, Alison Steadman has also appeared in other notable productions. For instance, she was nominated for two BAFTAs – one in 1986 for The Singing Detective and another in 2001 for Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends.
In 2013, she reconnected with Mellor for the second installment of The Syndicate series. At that time, she also took on leading roles in the comedy series Love & Marriage, Boomers, and Hold The Sunset alongside John Cleese. More recently, she has been seen in BBC One drama Life, sitcom Here We Go, a Robbie Williams music biopic titled Better Man.
Rob Brydon plays Bryn West
Bryn West is Stacey’s uncle who took on a significant role in raising her following her father’s passing. Known for his loyalty and protective nature, Bryn has led a rather secluded life, often showing signs of panic or excitement over the most ordinary events.
He finds his bond with Jason, Stacey’s brother, complicated as a result of an unexplained event during a fishing trip, hinted at in the previous year’s Christmas special but never fully disclosed.
Has Rob Brydon appeared in any other shows or movies aside from those mentioned?
After the conclusion of Gavin & Stacey, Rob Brydon has taken on roles such as hosting BBC One’s comedy panel show Would I Lie To You and collaborating with Steve Coogan in multiple installments of The Trip. Additionally, he has appeared in Barbie and My Lady Jane, among other projects.
Robert Wilfort plays Jason West
Who is Jason West? – Jason is Stacey’s sibling, residing primarily in Spain, yet he makes trips back home for significant gatherings. His rapport with Bryn has been strained historically, owing to the perplexing incidents surrounding a fishing excursion that transpired years ago.
Has Robert Wilfort been involved in any other projects aside from Wolf Hall, Dickensian (where he voiced Samson), Thomas and Friends, Vera, Bridgerton, and Sex Education?
Melanie Walters plays Gwen West
Who is Gwen West? She’s Stacey’s caring mom, readily available to provide guidance, take care of the kids, or whip up an omelette.
Has Melanie Walters appeared in anything else apart from Gavin & Stacey? Yes, she’s been seen on television a few times since then, like rejoining Ruth Jones on Stella and Larry Lamb on Pitching In. More recently, she starred as Dottie in the popular daytime series Father Brown.
Adrian Scarborough plays Pete Sutcliffe
Who does Pete belong to? Pete is Dawn’s spouse. Their marriage has experienced quite a few bumps along the road, with many highs and lows – some of which are due to Pete’s unconventional choices, like his peculiar selection for a wedding ring during their vow renewal.
Apart from the roles you mentioned, Adrian Scarborough has also appeared in other productions such as Crashing (a Phoebe Waller-Bridge comedy series), Killing Eve, historical dramas like Upstairs, Downstairs, The King’s Speech, and 1917.
Julia Davis plays Dawn Sutcliffe
Dawn Sutcliffe can be described as Pete’s wife who frequently visits the Shipman household to express her concerns about their marriage troubles. Despite what Pam claims, it seems that their expressions of love are fewer than the tough patches they encounter in their relationship.
Apart from her work on Human Remains and the comedy series she co-created with Rob Brydon, what other projects has Julia Davis been involved in?
Steffan Rhodri plays Dave Coaches
Is Dave the person who used to be romantically involved with Nessa, and who happens to drive a minibus? In their relationship, they almost tied the knot, but Smithy unexpectedly disrupted the ceremony due to his inner turmoil. In the end, Dave realized that Nessa’s feelings for him were not genuine, and he chose to cancel the wedding on his own.
I’ve had the pleasure of being featured in various renowned TV series, such as A Very English Scandal, The Last Kingdom, Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, and Steeltown Murders. More recently, you might have spotted me on BBC drama The Way, a show that Michael Sheen co-created with others.
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2024-12-12 15:38