FILMING for the highly anticipated Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is set to commence in Barry Island, according to co-writer James Corden. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the popular BBC comedy, which last aired new content in 2019.
Last month, Corden and his writing partner, Ruth Jones, confirmed that the script for the final episode had been completed. Corden has now revealed that he will be spending the next seven weeks in South Wales, specifically in the town that has become synonymous with the show.
In a recent Instagram post, marking the end of his run in The Constituent at the Old Vic in London, Corden said, “It’s off to Barry Island now for the next seven weeks.”
The comedy, which is set in both Essex and Wales, first aired in 2007 and consists of 21 episodes. It follows the lives of Gavin, an Essex lad portrayed by Matthew Horne, and Stacey, a Barry girl played by Joanna Page, along with their best friends, Smithy and Nessa, who are played by the show’s co-creators, Corden and Jones.
While the series is set in both Wales and Essex, much of it was filmed in and around Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, including many of the scenes meant to depict England. Since its debut, the show has garnered a cult following, winning two BAFTA TV awards in 2008, a National Television Award in 2010, and a Must-See Moment BAFTA in 2020 for the iconic scene where Nessa proposes to Smithy.
The show also received an Impact Award at the National Television Awards in 2020 for its previous Christmas special. However, the BBC press office has declined to comment on the exact filming dates for the upcoming episode.
