The cast are back for one last time on Christmas day(Image: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

How the Gavin & Stacey cast looked in series one compared to now and one star is almost unrecognisable

by · Wales Online

The airing of the special episode is only a matter of days away, with many fans feeling excited to find out how their beloved comedy series concludes. Last time we saw the Gavin & Stacey characters was five years ago, back in another Christmas Special, which aired in 2019, where Nessa got down on one knee and asked Smithy to marry her.

The first episode was aired 17 years ago back in 2007. We got to meet Gavin, played by Mathew Horne, and Stacey, played by Joanna Page, who met face-to-face for the first time on their first date in London, alongside their respective best friends - Smithy, played by James Corden, and Nessa, played by Ruth Jones.

As the series goes on, we get to meet the rest of their family and friends from Billericay in Essex and Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, including Gavin's parents, Mick and Pam Shipman, played by Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman, as well as Stacey's mum Gwen and her uncle Bryn, both played by Melanie Walters and Rob Brydon.

A lot has changed since then - not only in these characters' lives, but also in their appearances. We've taken a look at how the stars of Gavin & Stacey looked a few years back in the three series, in comparison to now, as seen in the trailer and photo teasers of the finale. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.

Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One from 9pm on Christmas Day and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Then and now: In the first scene where we see Gavin, we see him on the phone with Stacey and it seems, as suggested in the finale episode's trailer, not much has changed since then! Mat Horne's lost Gav's Mod(ish) hair cut and buttoned-all-the-way up Fred Perry for a more relaxed style(Image: BBC)
Then and now: And it seems that Stacey is still sporting a stylish bob that Jo Page rocked in series one(Image: BBC)
Then and now: And Nessa is still working down the arcades in Barry Island and looks as fresh as the day she and Smithy ... well, we won't go into that. Star Ruth Jones has spoken about her weight loss trick on a recent podcast, and had an unusual tack to cutting out chocolate - by aversion therapy. Click here to read more on that.(Image: BBC)