Gavin & Stacey: The Christmas Special and Season 3

Gavin and Stacey along with their dysfunctional family and friends return for a Christmas special and a final season of the multi award-winning series Gavin and Stacey written by and starring James Corden (The History Boys), Ruth Jones (Little Britain, Saxondale). In the Christmas special, Gavin and Stacey's families meet in Essex to celebrate the holiday, but an unexpected surprise announcement from Gavin may spoil the cheer. Season Three finds Smithy feeling left out now that his best friend Gavin has moved to Wales with Stacey. Meanwhile, all seems to be happy with Nessa who has shacked up with her boyfriend Dave in a caravan on the Welsh coast. Despite the distance between Essex and Wales, however, there are still plenty of opportunities for the two families and their friends to get together. As with any extended family, though, there are always a few unwanted complications... and a couple of surprises no one could ever have predicted!

Episode 1
Gavin starts his new job in Cardiff and Stacey is thrilled to be at home again. Smithy comes to terms with life in Essex without his best mate, whilst Nessa is adjusting to life in Dave's caravan down Sully. The weekend brings with it a big reunion, as everyone meets up for the christening of baby Neil. But how will Smithy react to news from Nessa that it is a double celebration? And what will Gavin's answer be to Stacey's request?

Episode 2
Stacey is trying for a new job whilst insuring Gavin sticks to his recent promise! Dave is not a happy bunny when Nessa tells him she is taking Neil the baby to Essex to see his dad. Meanwhile, over at the Shipman's house, Dawn and Pete have joined Pam and Mick for a beer-and-curry night of huge proportions - at the Billericay house of fun.

Episode 3
Pam and Mick are having second thoughts about the conservatory, whilst Bryn is in his element as he awaits the arrival of his house-guests - all the Essex boys down for a big night out in Cardiff - and having a sleep-over at his place! Smithy gets in a state about seeing Nessa after their most recent
embarrassing meeting, and Stacey makes a worrying discovery. But is telling Gavin the right thing to do?

Episode 4
Gavin is uncomfortable with Gwen and Bryn knowing the ins and outs of his and Stacey's sex life, and Smithy goes beyond the call of friendship by making a staggering suggestion. Meanwhile, Pete and Dawn prepare to renew their wedding vows and everyone heads to Billericay to help them celebrate. But how will Dave react to the bombshell revelation about the curry night in Essex?

Episode 5
It is Bank Holiday Monday, and the Essex contingent arrives for a sunny day out at the beach - even Doris is wearing her sundress! Gavin's heart-to-heart with his dad gives him something more to think about, and a dark cloud looms on the horizon when Dave arrives to find Nessa and Smithy enjoying all the fun of the fair.

Episode 6
Nessa and Dave's wedding is fast approaching and the preparations are in full swing. Stacey breaks some life-changing news to Gavin, whilst Bryn and Jason finally put their big secret to bed. Smithy takes care of Neil the baby and wishes Nessa all the best, as she makes her way to the church to marry Dave...

Christmas Special: Synopsis
It is Christmas Eve, and the Welsh contingent have been invited to celebrate the festive season at the Shipmans in London for one of Mick's famous turkey dinners.
So with the help of Dave and his coach, the Wests head East. Dawn and Pete have come round for Christmas Eve drinks, and Pete has brought his aged mum.
Mick has an enormous turkey soaking in a bucket, Bryn has his mistletoe set to standby and Pam has a cracker of a present under the tree for Mick.
Smithy cannot wait to spend his first Christmas with baby Neil, but will the season still be jolly when he sees playing happy families with Nessa and baby Neil? Or when Bryn elaborates further on ‘that' fishing trip during a heart-to-heart with Jason?
But most importantly, will there still be tidings of comfort and joy when Gavin delivers a truly unexpected surprise to everyone in the room? His revelation is certainly not the Christmas present Pam and Smithy were expecting.

Directed by Christine Gernon
Written by James Corden, Ruth Jones
Produced by Ted Dowd
Executive Produced by Henry Normal, Lindsay Hughes
Original Music by
Cinematography by Doug Hallows
Film Editing by Liana Del Giudice
Costume Design by Claire Finlay, Marcia Stanton

"...immensely likeable comedy ... It's good to have this warm-hearted, feel-good show back..."
Daily Mail

"One of the many joys of Gavin & Stacey is the adroitness with which it manages to be both warm-hearted in tone, yet studded with exuberantly black touches." John Preston, Sunday Telegraph

"So far, over the course of two wonderful series, the unfolding comic saga of Gavin, Stacey and their respective friends and families has managed to charm just about everyone who's followed it. The question is, can they .... pull it off just one last time. In a word, yes." Daily Express

"We've been waiting like patient little bunnies for the return of this and now it's here - let out a mighty ‘whoop!' Five stars." Daily Star

"Tonight's opening episode is a delight - as funny, quirky and big-hearted as ever ... It glides effortlessly along, floating on a wave of good humour." The Times

"...several scenes here remind you why this deft mix of love story and Ayckbournian social comedy has won awards, starting with the early glimpse of Nessa's distinctive approach to motherhood ... the ever-expanding line-up of oddballs and grotesques can be counted on to offset any sugariness."
Sunday Times

"The BBC's hit comedy Gavin & Stacey was back with its winning formula of gooey romance, slapstick angst and recurring logistical challenge of getting a vast ensemble of Essex and Welsh people into the same room without it seeming odd. Perhaps that's its genius ... The Welsh steal this show, led by Ruth Jones as Nessa - gnomic, brusque, experienced - alongside her spiritual opposite, Bryn (Rob Brydon), garrulous, sentimental and unworldly." Observer

"...the relocation is, as Stacey would say, ‘lush' ... in Wales, from the deeply rooted observation, surrealism sprouts exotically. There we meet the closeted optimist Uncle Bryn, the foul-mouthed octogenarian sexpot Doris and, above all, Nessa, whose random CV, which stretches from an affair with John Prescott through a stint as Richard and Judy's nanny to founding All Saints, has led her to a job tending the slots at the Barry Island arcade ...

"There are some who think it about as exhilarating as warm bath ... but it is more bracing than that. You may desire to sink into it, but a bit of you always worries about getting nicked by a Ladyshave razor floating beneath the bubbles. Gavin's family is, after all, called Shipman and Stacey's West [serial killers]. That the show never actually draws blood is the joke." Andrew Billen, The Times

"There isn't a dud moment in this tremendous episode [2]... The humour has a warmth that seems to pour effortlessly out of these loveable characters and all their affectionate relationships ... it is refreshing, relaxing and wonderfully funny." David Chater, The Times

"...there is something for everyone. Indeed, Gavin & Stacey has all the ingredients for it to become an audience-pleasing family sitcom in the tradition of Only Fools And Horses and The Royle Family - churning out series after series and Christmas special after Christmas special - everything, that is, except the willingness of its creators and writers to carry on." Independent

"It works in the manner of Dad's Army or Birds of a Feather - the eponymous leads, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, provide a focus in front of a background populated by slightly grotesque characters ... it's all very sweet..." Daily Telegraph

"...it's more of the same warm, gentle humour." The Times

British Comedy Awards 2007
Best New British Television Comedy (Scripted)
Best Male Comedy Newcomer: James Corden
Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Joanna Page
Nominations:
Best Television Comedy
Best Television Comedy Actress: Ruth Jones (for Gavin & Stacey and Saxondale)
Best Male Comedy Newcomer: Mathew Horne
Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Joanna Page

Broadcast Awards 2007
Best Multichannel Programme
Nominations:
Best Comedy
Best New Programme

Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2007/8
Best Comedy/Entertainment

BAFTA Awards 2008
Audience Award for the Programme of the Year
Best Comedy Performance: James Corden

South Bank Show Awards 2008
Best TV Comedy

Televisual Bulldog Awards 2007
Best Comedy
Televisual is the business magazine for the broadcast and production community and their annual awards (presented in May 2008) are voted for by the Televisual readers, giving a detailed picture of the programme makers' views of the top television shows of 2007.

Media Guardian Awards 2008
This is the newspaper's annual list of the most powerful people in the industry. Candidates are judged on three criteria: their cultural, economic and political influence in the UK. The list was takes in all sectors of the media, including broadcasting, publishing, digital media, advertising, marketing and PR.
Top 100 most powerful people in the industry: No 25: James Corden and Ruth Jones
Top 10 New Entries: No 10: James Corden and Ruth Jones
Top 10 Under-40: No 4: James Corden

GQ Men of the Year Awards 2008
Breakthrough Talent: James Corden

TV Quick and TV Choice Awards 2008
Shortlist:
Best Comedy Show

Edinburgh International Television Festival Channel of the Year Awards 2008
Best Non-terrestrial programme of the year
British Comedy Awards 2008
Best Television Comedy
Nomination:
Best Television Comedy Actor: James Corden

Broadcast Awards 2008
Nomination:
Best Comedy Programme