Gavin and Stacey star FINALLY reveals the meaning behind iconic gag

A Gavin and Stacey star has finally revealed the meaning behind one of the show's most iconic gags almost 20 years after the show first premiered. 

After 17 years, Gavin and Stacey will finally come to an end on Christmas Day, with one last episode to say goodbye to the beloved comedy.

The upcoming special will mark the BBC's sitcom's return for the first time in five years and fans are desperate to know what writers James Corden and Ruth Jones have planned.

However, one mystery still remains from one of the show's first ever episodes, the iconic Owain Hughes joke. 

After Gavin moves to Barry for Stacey, he gets a new job in South Wales where he meets Owain Hughes at the start of the third series. 

Gavin's new colleague introduces himself by saying: 'Owain Hughes, and before you ask... No I don't!' before he bursts into laughter.

But the comment leaves Gavin completely confused - especially after his uncle-in-law Bryn seems to be in on the joke.

After Bryn meets Gavin's colleague he says: 'Owain Hughes! And do you?' and Owain responds with: 'No I don't,' and the whole group laugh.

Yet it's not just Gavin who is confused as he turns to his best friend Smithy for some help but he can't shed light on the gag either.

And now actor Steve Meo has finally spilled the beans on the meaning behind the joke which has baffled fans for years. 

The star has revealed that the joke doesn't mean anything at all and is in fact a red herring, designed to confuse viewers.

He told WalesOnline: 'It is a red herring designed to infuriate and spark debate. Funnily enough when I first went in for the audition that's the first thing I asked Ruth (Jones, co-creator) "there isn't a joke is there because I'm going mad."'.

The actor went on to tell the publication that the joke has frustrated fans for so long that they have resorted to accosting his mother in the supermarket for the answer. 

He revealed she was once stopped in her local Tesco and had to ring her son for the answer in the hope of receiving a free bottle. 

He confessed: 'She said "right, you've got to tell me. The manager's just said over the tannoy now that if anyone can tell him what the joke means they'll get a free bottle of wine."'

'I said "sorry mam, I'm contractually obliged not to tell you."'.

At the climax of the last Christmas episode in 2019, Nessa Jenkins (Ruth) got down on one knee to propose to Smithy (James), but viewers never got to hear his response.

And while viewers were left with a host of unanswered questions, the finale is sure to wrap up many loose ends.

Meanwhile Steve's confession comes after the BBC announced a two part special giving fans a glimpse behinds the scenes.

In a preview the cast tease that the last ever outing, which airs on Christmas Day, will be 'full of surprises' and leave fans 'blown away'. 

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Speaking on set Ruth Jones, who writes the show and plays Nessa, admitted: 'We are going to see familiar faces and there may be a few surprises in there'.

While co-creator James, who plays Smithy, said: 'This will be the last time we ever see all these characters together'.

Cameras caught a glimpse of one scene as all the characters enjoyed a boozy christmas celebration with dancing and limbo.

Between takes Mick Shipman actor Larry Lamb appeared emotional as he confessed: 'I think people are going to be really bowled over by [the final episode] , they're going to be blown away frankly'.

Meanwhile Rob revealed many of the cast were 'genuinely' left gobsmacked while reading the final script for the first time.

Gavin and Stacey: The Making Of The Finale will air in two 12-minute shows, with part one airing on BBC Breakfast on Christmas eve at 7.50am and iPlayer.