Who is Gavin And Stacey's Neil the baby actor Oscar Hartland?

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 to watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale after the last instalment of the programme in 2019 ended 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 unrecognisable, revealed he got accepted onto a plumbing course at college in the emotional Christmas Day episode. 

The star is now 17 and has played Neil, who was conceived off the back of a one night stand between Nessa and Smithy amid their tumultuous relationship, since he was a child.

He made his first appearance in the finale of series two 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 in the hit sitcom 'entirely by accident,' his mum Kirsty Pritchard-Hartland revealed back in 2019.

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

'I sent Baby Cow Productions an image of my son to see if they were interested. I did not think they would get back in touch. But a few days later they did and we were called in.

'My son was offered the part. There were two other babies playing Neil, too.'

Aside from his Gavin And Stacey hustle, Oscar has since turned his attentions to music and was the guitarist and co-frontman of South Wales band Redwood City.

Last year the young musician even competed on The Voice Kids as a solo artist.

In May, Oscar left Redwood City to pursue a career as a solo aritst and released his first single, 'Sunrise' in June.

He announced last week that there is more music on the horizon, as he released an image of himself in a recording studio alongside the caption: 'So Happy to officially announce there will be more Tracks out in the new year! 

'Can’t thank you guys and everyone back at home any more for the support you showed on my last releases. Putting my heart and soul on the line with these next one(‘s). Love x.'

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Oscar showcased his musical skills in the highly-anticipated finale as he sang a beautiful rendition of Blackbird by The Beatles in the wedding scene. 

In a cast Q&A, James Corden explained: 'While we were writing this one, Oscar went on The Voice and song on The Voice so we knew that he could sing.

‘That’s really where we had that idea of him singing at the wedding. He does it so brilliantly, and we were so proud of him and we love him. What a journey – from baby to that.'

Talking to Wales Online in 2022, the budding singer said: 'Music is my thing at the moment, I'm loving it. I want to do stuff like Guns n Roses, Queen, and The Darkness. I also love DJing as well, I have some decks.'

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

Aside from music, he also now plays for the Caerphilly Rugby Club, where his nickname has become Neil and he 'doesn't mind' that fans think that is his real name. 

Reflecting on his acting past, Oscar has previously told The Sun: 'I grew up knowing I was Neil The Baby, but it was after the Christmas special (when he was 10) that my life literally turned around.

'I went from a kid that was in a show when he was a baby to a kid in a TV – even going into the supermarket was mad.'

Gavin and Stacey fist aired on BBC Three in 2007 and spanned 20 episodes over the course of three series.

As well as James and Ruth, it turned Mathew Horne and Joanna Page into household names.  

The last ever installment 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 finale, the teen ran up to his mum while at work at the amusement arcade and shouted: 'I got in!' 

He added: 'To college - the plumbing course. I got accepted! I do college three days a week and work placement with my dad the other two.'

Nessa asked: 'Have you told him, your father?'

'Not yet, I've only just found out!' he replied.

Nessa said: 'I'm proud of you, genuine. Take anything you want from the grabbers.'

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

Many took to X to say the same thing about the 17-year-old.

One questioned 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 simply said.

Another questioned: 'HOW OLD IS NEIL THE BABY????????'

A fourth said: 'No way that is Neil the baby.'

'The fact that Neil the baby is a teenager now makes me feel so incredibly old,' a fifth confessed.

Watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on BBC iPlayer.