“What’s Occurin’?” looking back at 19 years of Gavin and Stacey

Gavin and Stacey is a beloved icon of UK comedy television that has entwined itself into Welsh and British culture alike. (The following contains spoilers for Gavin and Stacey: The Finale, but you should have seen it by now!)

Written by Ruth Jones and James Corden, Gavin and Stacey is a TV series that follows Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page) as they meet, fall in love, and unite two families forever. Their love story spans 3 seasons and 3 Christmas specials.

According to a BBC article, the most recent Christmas special made Gavin and Stacey “the UK’s most-watched scripted show” in the history of UK television. On Christmas Day 2024, Smithy finally addresses Nessa’s question, providing solace for the “19.3 million viewers” across the country: “you don’t have to ask me… I’ll ask you”.

The infamous Nessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) and Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith (James Corden) have an on-off relationship that lasts all 17 years of the series’ timeline. In the series finale, they are finally married – a scene that I’m sure made many viewers shed a tear.

Ruth Jones herself is also Warwick alumni, having studied Drama and Theatre Studies on this very campus (class of 1988). The rest of the brilliant cast includes: Gavin’s family – the Shipmans from Essex – the hilarious Pam (Alison Steadman) and Mick (Larry Lamb), Stacey’s family – the Wests from Barry – Gwen (Melanie Walters), Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon), and Jason (Robert Wilfort). Gavin and Stacey is also full of secondary characters who we know and love, such as Dawn and Pete, Dave Coaches, and Doris.

Every family has their own festive traditions, and ever since I can remember, my family has watched all of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas specials every year. No one does a Christmas special quite like Gavin and Stacey. Driving to my grandparents for Christmas in South Wales, we would listen to Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home For Christmas’, and Bryn’s voice in my head would say, “turn it up, Dave! I love Chris Rea…”. This series is cherished by viewers across the UK, but why are we as a nation so in love with Gavin and Stacey?

One article describes how “Corden and Jones are pros at spotlighting all the quirks of Welsh and English culture that resonate with their audience.” And it’s true, so many moments and scenes from Gavin and Stacey have become key parts of British and Welsh culture, from Smithy’s takeaway order to Pam’s cries of “oh my Christ!”.

In an interview at Hay Festival, Ruth described why she thinks Gavin and Stacey has been so well received over the years: she explains, “I think that people recognise themselves in the show”. It’s clear that the storyline is relatable, as she describes “people saw their family or their friends” in its characters, whether that be a strong mouthed neighbour like Doris: “there’s the salad, now leave me alone!”, or family friends Dawn and Pete’s tumultuous relationship.

Ruth Jones and James Corden crafted a gloriously human script for the series, which Jones describes in the same interview as “writing about the minutiae of life”. She references the infamous “nine-page scene about a curry order”, and the outrage over a family ordering a takeaway and sharing dishes. Inevitably, there is also the unspoken infamous fishing trip… that is never resolved. Last year, Jones also won the BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy, for her role as Nessa. And I “gotta be honest with you”, it was thoroughly deserved!

But above all, Jones agrees that “[the show] did have at its heart a big heart”. Gavin and Stacey is beloved by the Welsh and Brits alike because it delves into the local drama of two families coming together: characters are recognisable, and their petty arguments are believable.

Packed with memorable characters and quotable scenes, Gavin and Stacey both reflects the nation and stands the test of time. It is an iconic piece of UK television that has weaved its way into the hearts and minds of all its viewers, and after 19 years, remains just as cherished.