James Corden and Ruth Jones have revealed that Gavin & Stacey fans will be treated to plenty more Smithy and Nessa in the final episode, musing that their characters’ ‘messy’ relationship is the beating heart of the BBC show.
Appears on the podcast Table manners Featuring Jessie and Lennie Ware, the actors and writing partners teased the Christmas special, saying fans will learn a lot more about Ruth’s character Nessa’s past and her future with Smithy.
“Nessa has had an incredibly eventful life and you’ll find out more about that in this special – some really fun pieces we’ve written,” James explained.
He mused that the reason fans have taken Smithy and Nessa to their hearts is because ‘ohOn television or in movies you rarely see people who look like Ruth and me falling in love.’
‘You just don’t do that. I’d hand the TV off to Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones and Ruth, like working on a newsstand when someone buys a newspaper.’
‘What I love about the show is that it’s so messy and complicated and they just have fantastic sex. I really enjoy that confidence.’
James Corden and Ruth Jones have revealed that Gavin & Stacey fans will be treated to a lot more Smithy and Nessa in the finale, musing that their ‘messy’ relationship is the heart of the show
However, Ruth added that the writer’s partners weren’t sure how to pitch the unique relationship at first, explaining:
“The first time they had sex was in the very first episode and I think because we didn’t really know what the show was, we probably had quite a sitcom story about it.”
The Christmas special picks up five years after Nessa’s shocking proposal to Smithy, which the duo thought would be the show’s final scene.
‘We were there, just the two of us, on that road that had meant so much to us and I, like Ruth, looked at my dear friend James and when I said, ‘I loved you with all my heart’, it was me say to you [James]’, Ruth remembers.
Despite the pair now promising that the upcoming special is actually the finale, there has been a flurry of speculation among fans that there could be more to come.
However, James is adamant that this is it, issuing an ominous warning to viewers as she said: ‘It cannot continue. When you see it, you know it.’
The pair aren’t saying no to working together again, with James promising: “We don’t know if we have another idea in us, but I can honestly say that if we didn’t try to explore the idea of writing together, I would be so disappointed.”
‘I couldn’t bear it. I love being in the room with James, it’s so much fun,” Ruth added.
Strictly Come Dancing gave viewers an early Christmas treat with a world-exclusive first look at Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas special on Saturday night.
James mused that the reason fans have taken Smithy and Nessa to their hearts is because “you very rarely see people who look like Ruth and I fall in love on TV or in movies.”
The Christmas special picks up five years after Nessa’s proposal to Smithy, which the duo admit would be the show’s final scene.
The new episode airs on Christmas Day and continues the dramatic cliffhanger from the 2019 special, which saw Nessa down on one knee and propose to Smithy.
The 2019 episode, which ended with Nessa’s surprise proposal, became the most-watched TV comedy show since Only Fools and Horses in 2002.
The trailer opens with Stacey (Joanna Page) on the phone with her husband Gavin (Mathew Horne) while he is at work, bringing back memories of their early days together in the 2000s.
“Oh, I’m absolutely buzzing, I really am. A whole weekend away, just you and me!’ Stacey says excitedly.
James is convinced this is it and gives viewers an ominous warning, saying: ‘It can’t go on. When you see it, you know it’
“Well, except it’s not just you and me, huh?” Gavin answers, just before some more familiar characters make their entrance.
Smithy (James Corden) comes in and cheekily calls Gavin ‘Gaviscon’, while Pam (Alison Steadman) and Mick (Larry Lamb) worry about setting the table for a festive family feast.
Gavin And Stacey: The Finale airs on BBC One on Christmas Day from 9pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.