Final episode captivated millions watched Smithy raced to find Nessa at a Southampton dockyard before proposing – despite initially looking like ending up with Sonia
Nessa and Smith finally got hitched as Gavin & Stacey aired for the last time. The pair, played by Ruth Jones and James Corden, wed with an intimate ceremony in emotional scenes, as we predicted earlier this month.
At the start of tonight’s episode it looked like Smithy would end up with Sonia, played by Laura Aikman. But in the final minutes of the episode he ditched her and raced to find Nessa at a Southampton dockyard before proposing.
James said: “It was originally going to be an airport, but we couldn’t get permission and then we remembered that there was a reference to Nessa working on the ships years ago.”
Ruth said: “I think that the atmosphere of that location was just so exciting and rich and textured. It was perfect.”
The episode also saw Line of Duty’s Anna Maxwell Martin join the cast to play a celebrant and there was a return by Sheridan Smith as Rudi and Pam Ferris as Cath.
There was also a major shock with the relationship between Gwen and… Dave Coaches.
The 90-minute special ended with Nessa and Smithy’s boozy wedding reception at the pub. It was the last thing the cast shot together, so it was emotional for them all.
James said: “There were tears all round. It was probably the most emotional set I’ve ever been on and it was kind of wonderful. So many of our crew have been with us from the start and so it was a wonderful way to close it all out on a Monday in Barry.”
But, there were never any plans to reveal what Uncle Bryn and Jason did on the fishing trip. It looked like the truth was going to finally come out in last night’s finale until a fire alarm went off.
Robert Wilfort, who plays Jason, 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 funnier that way.
“I was so pleased that we didn’t reveal it. We’ve never known what it is.”
Joanna Page admits it was a thrill to do some role play for the finale. Her character Stacey pretended to be a dominant landlady to spice up her marriage in hilarious scenes.
She said: “The scene where I’m spinning Mat Horne around, bending him over and slapping him on the backside was really good fun. Stacey was like she was in the first series… a little bit dirty. It was fun to play.”
Mini review by Ed Gleave
It was the perfect finale… TV gold. We got the happy ending we’d all been waiting for between Nessa and Smithy, a few shocks and plenty of gags.
The script and the performances were tip top. I’m just sad it’s all over. I’ll really miss those characters.