Who is Neil the baby actor Oscar Hartland? As iconic Gavin And Stacey character returns to screens – fans can’t believe how old he is now

Gavin and Stacey viewers couldn’t believe their eyes when one of the show’s iconic characters, Neil the baby, returned to screens on Wednesday night.

Fans of the BBC drama have been eagerly awaiting Gavin and Stacey: The Finale after the show’s final episode ended in 2019 with Nessa (Ruth Jones) proposing to Smithy (James Corden).

Nessa and Smithy’s son Neil, who is played by Oscar Hartland and now looks completely unrecognizable, revealed he had been accepted onto a plumbing course at university in the emotional Christmas Day episode.

Now 17, the star plays Neil, who was conceived during a one-night stand between Nessa and Smithy, amid their tumultuous relationship since he was a child.

He made his first appearance in the series two finale in 2008 and was last seen in the festive special in 2019.

But who is Oscar Hartland? From a successful music career to his time as a child star, here MailOnline looks at the actor behind Neil the baby, now that he’s a teenager.

Oscar actually got involved with the hit sitcom ‘completely by accident’, his mother Kirsty Pritchard-Hartland revealed in 2019.

She told me South Wales Argus: ‘A friend of ours told us that a production company was looking for a baby.

‘I sent Baby Cow Productions a photo of my son to see if they were interested. I didn’t think they would contact me again. But a few days later they did and we were called in.

‘My son was offered the role. There were also two other babies playing Neil.”

In addition to his hustle with Gavin and Stacey, Oscar has since turned his attention to music and was the guitarist and co-frontman of South Wales band Redwood City.

Last year, the young musician even participated in The Voice Kids as a solo artist.

In May, Oscar left Redwood City to pursue a career as a solo artist and in June he released his first single ‘Sunrise’.

He announced last week that more music is on the horizon when he released a photo of himself in a recording studio alongside the caption: “So happy to officially announce more songs coming in the new year!

‘I couldn’t thank you and everyone at home more for the support you have shown on my latest releases. I’m putting my heart and soul on the line with this next one(s). I love x.’

Oscar demonstrated his musical skills in the highly anticipated finale when he sang a beautiful rendition of The Beatles’ Blackbird in the wedding scene.

In a Q&A with the cast, James Corden explained, “While we were writing this one, Oscar went on to do The Voice and a song on The Voice, so we knew he could sing.

“That’s actually where we had the idea he would sing at the wedding. He’s doing so brilliantly, and we were so proud of him and we love him. What a journey – from baby to that.’

Talk to Wales Online in 2022, the aspiring singer said, “Music is my thing right now, I love it. I want to do things like Guns n Roses, Queen and The Darkness. I also like DJing, I have a few decks.”

He also regularly shares snippets of what he’s working on with his 14,000 followers on Instagram.

As well as music, he now plays for Caerphilly Rugby Club, where his nickname has become Neil and he ‘doesn’t mind’ fans thinking that is his real name.

Looking back on his acting past, Oscar has talked before The sun: ‘I grew up knowing I was Neil The Baby, but it was after the Christmas special (when he was ten) that my life literally changed.

“I went from being a kid who was on a show when he was a baby to being a kid who was on TV. Even going to the grocery store was crazy.”

Gavin and Stacey first aired on BBC Three in 2007 and ran for twenty episodes over the course of three series.

In addition to James and Ruth, Mathew Horne and Joanna Page also became household names.

The final ever episode aired in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show begged for an end to the story.

In his first appearance in the finals, the teen ran to his mother while he was working in the arcade and shouted, “I’m in!”

He added: “To college – the plumbing course. I’ve been accepted! I study three days a week and the other two I do an internship with my father.’

Nessa asked, “Did you tell him, your father?”

“Not yet, I just know now!” he replied.

Nessa said, “I’m proud of you, honestly. Take whatever you want from the grabbers.”

Fans had to do a double take when the youngster appeared on their TV screens.

Many told X the same thing about the 17 year old.

One asked on the platform: ‘omg is that Neil the baby!!?? #GavinAndStacey.”

A second wrote: ‘Oh wow Neil so big now.’

“NEIL THE BABY IS SO OLD,” a third said simply.

Another wondered: ‘HOW OLD IS NEIL THE BABY???????’

A fourth said: ‘That’s definitely not Neil the baby.’

“The fact that Neil the baby is now a teenager makes me feel so incredibly old,” a fifth admitted.

Watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on BBC iPlayer.