How did Gavin and Stacey end? Two weddings, Gwen's shock new boyfriend and fishing trip row

*THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILER FOR THE GAVIN AND STACEY FINALE*

More than 17 years after it aired its first ever episode, Gavin and Stacey came to an end on Christmas Day, as a huge audience tuned into watch its finale. And what an episode it was - with two weddings, a shock new relationship and a row over THAT fishing trip.

It was in 2007 that the characters of Gavin and Stacey first came into our lives, along with their family and friends like Smithy, Nessa, Bryn, Pam and Mick. Having initially launched on BBC Three, Gavin and Stacey made the jump to BBC One as its popularity grew, with its second series bringing a brilliant Christmas special, that saw a big row between the families in Essex and Nessa famously gift everyone the same gift of a single chocolate from a box of Celebrations.

Nessa's random gift giving made a return in the festive episode from 2019, when she gave everyone either a hot or cold tap, with Smithy's new girlfriend Sonia far from impressed. Nessa was back at the centre of the action right at the end of the show, when she got down on one knee to propose to Smithy as an audience of close to 20 million watched at home.

After being kept waiting for his answer for five years, Gavin and Stacey's finale aired on Wednesday night, with fans heartbroken when it was revealed that there was a wedding on the horizon....but it was Smithy and Sonia's not Smithy and Nessa.

The episode also brought a break up for Pete and Dawn, before they slept together after a party at Pam and Mick's. Smithy's stag ended with a throwback to the famous 'corn on the cob' moment between him and Nessa, only for Smithy to head back to his, rather than going back to Gavin's with her.

Having kept her proposal to Smithy quiet from everyone, Nessa told a shocked Stacey, before Sonia found the very ring she used to pop the question amongst her husband to be's things, as he tried to pass it off as something she wanted him to give to their son Neil.

Quite possibly the biggest bombshell of the finale was Gwen's 'secret' new boyfriend, which turned out to be none other than Dave Coaches, as she came clean about their six month long relationship.

With Nessa said to go back 'on the ships' she said a sad goodbye to both Smithy and Neil, while telling Stacey she couldn't believe Smithy was actually going through with the wedding, as Stacey and Smithy's sister Rudy, played by the returning Sheridan Smith, telling Gavin they believed his best mate was making a huge mistake.

Things then took a turn when Gavin, Pam, Stacey, Gwen, Jason and even Neil stood up to object to Smithy and Sonia's marriage, with Mick then also getting up off his seat, when Smithy sought his answer. With his mind made up, Smithy called a halt to the wedding, telling Sonia he met someone better than her "17 years ago" when he went with Gavin for his date with Stacey and met Nessa for the first time.

The closing minutes of the finale saw all the gang pile on a coach to try and get to Southampton in time to stop Nessa from getting on her boat, which led to an emotional reunion between her and Smithy, as he asked her to propose again, only for her to say no and him having to pop the question himself.

The very last scene of the episode saw Smithy and Nessa married in front of their family and friends, before they all gathered for a huge reception, as the show's theme tune played over the top of the footage.