BBC Gavin and Stacey finale behind scene secrets revealed - from changing hotels to fishing trip joke

BBC ended Gavin and Stacey with a rollercoaster 90-minute special episode on Christmas Day, five years on from the last episode.

The much-loved show, co-created by Ruth Jones and James Corden, is set between Essex (where Gavin's family live) and Barry (where Stacey is from). In the special episode, the cast gather together for a wedding.

The last special episode, which aired in 2019, ended on a cliff-hanger when Nessa (Jones) proposed to Smithy (Corden). And five years on, fans all hoped for a happy ending between the pair.

A twist was revealed early on in the episode when viewers realised that Smithy was actually getting married to Sonia (Laura Aikman), his girlfriend from five years ago.

But luckily, as the episode progressed the connection between Smithy and Nessa was rekindles and the finale ended with the pair uniting at last.

Neil, the baby, was all grown up and getting ready to start an apprenticeship in Essex, Gavin and Stacey were working to rekindle some excitement in their relationship and Gwen found love again with Dave Coaches.

But unfortunately, despite being teased by the BBC, fans didn't get to find out what happened on the elusive fishing trip.

Speaking at a cast and crew screening for the finale, Ruth said: "I'm feeling a bit drained. It was so lovely to watch it with an audience. I hope we did you proud. It was just lovely to hear all the reactions. To hear that very initial response, it's just gorgeous."

A tearful James said: "I just wanted it to feel satisfying really. What was really interesting is after the 2019 special, all people would say to us was, what does he say? They would never say who did he choose.

"I called Ruth and I was like, I wonder if we could trick everybody into thinking that for the first six or seven minutes that they're just going to watch a wedding between Nessa and Smithy. I remember so vividly having that chat with Ruth going, 'oh, I wonder if we could pull that off. I feel like we did'."

And now, James and Ruth have revealed some secrets from the Gavin and Stacey world.

What happened on the fishing trip?

Now, this is one secret the crew were determined not to reveal. Prior to airing, the BBC hinted that fans might finally get an answer to what happened on the elusive fishing trip. And we were about to, before Bryn was interrupted and we were left hanging yet again.

Comedian Rob Bryden, who plays uncle Bryn, said: "I'd like to say now and forever, the joke has always been you don't find out what happens on the fishing trip. I'm sorry everybody, but that has always been the joke and it always will be because it's funny. It's funnier that way. And I was so pleased that we didn't reveal it - because we've never known what it is."

Is Neil, the baby, played by the same actor?

Yes, Oscar Hartland, who appeared in the 2024 Gavin and Stacey finale is the same actor who first played Neil when he was born in series 3.

When not embodying Neil, 17 year old Oscar's talents stretch beyond acting; he's a musician, guitarist, and co-vocalist for Redwood City from South Wales, and previously flaunted his musical talents on The Voice Kids in 2023.

Oscar previously opened up about finding fame at a young age, telling The Sun: "I grew up knowing I was Neil The Baby, but it was after the Christmas special 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."

Laura Aikman, Sonia, worked hard to keep her involvement a secret

To keep her character's involvement quiet, Laura went to great lengths. She stayed in different hotels to the rest of the cast and set off to go to places in the night to avoid being spotted by press.

James paid tribute to Laura, who played Sonia. He explained: "She stayed in different hotels. She was going into places in the dead of night. She's not part of any of this, such is her want to try and protect it.

"She actually promised to try and film her parents on Christmas Day. She hasn't even told them! And she's hoping to film her parents' reaction. She hasn't even said she's in it."

The wedding

When the characters finally made it to Sonia and Smithy's wedding, it looked like the pair were going to tie the not. Until Gavin objected to the wedding and gradually more and more guests protested the marriage too.

And now it has been revealed that two people who stood up at the wedding on Sonia’s side were extras and stood up spontaneously, surprising the film and crew. Corden said: "They were so in [the plot], they just stood up."