Gavin & Stacey stars are on this week’s Radio Times cover

As an old-timer movie enthusiast who’s seen more Christmas specials than I can remember, I must say that the magic of Gavin & Stacey returning after 17 years feels like a time warp back to 1974 when The Bridge over the River Kwai graced our screens. It’s a testament to the power of familiarity and nostalgia that even in this age of streaming, it managed to draw in an impressive 17.1 million viewers.

In 1974, television premiered the film “The Bridge over the River Kwai,” which had been released 17 years earlier in 1957. The event generated quite a buzz, and an estimated 18 million viewers tuned in to watch it on Christmas Day alone.

17 years have passed since the initial airing of Gavin & Stacey, and its return is quite significant. In fact, the last Christmas special shown in 2019 drew an astounding audience of 17.1 million viewers – a figure rarely seen in this era of streaming.

Just like the notorious incident at Christmas in 1974, the tale brings to mind a memory shared by many, which could be exactly what we crave during our holiday viewing. A sense of comforting familiarity, revisiting characters we’ve grown attached to over time.

This Christmas promises a variety of favorites as we eagerly anticipate the top holiday delights, ranging from Call the Midwife to Wallace & Gromit, with stops at Doctor Who and Death in Paradise along the way. Indeed, there’s something comfortingly familiar for all.

Also in this week’s TopMob:

Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat give a glimpse of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special.
Strictly Come Dancing judges Shirley, Motsi, Anton and Craig reflect on 20 years of delicious dancing.
A new documentary takes a fans’ eye view of the Beatles’ first tour of the USA in 1964.

2024-11-26 16:04

Also in this week’s TopMob:

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