Gavin & Stacey. Image shows from L to R: Nessa (Ruth Jones), Gavin (Mathew Horne), Stacey (Joanna Page), Smithy (James Corden). Copyright: Baby Cow Productions
Gavin & Stacey

Gavin & Stacey

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One / BBC Three
  • 2007 - 2019
  • 21 episodes (3 series)

A critic-pleasing, gentle and warm comedy about the romance between an Essex lad and Welsh girl. Stars Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Ruth Jones, James Corden, Alison Steadman and more.

Press clippings Page 24

Gavin and Stacey have moved back to Barry, and the Shipman family cohort is heading down the M4 for Neil the baby's christening. It's a mixture of warm, toasty moments and crass comic set pieces in lieu of gags. Between Jones and Corden you can guess who wrote which bit. Tedious phone business with Smithy and Gavin repeatedly calling each other "slaaaags" - probably Corden. Sweet exchange between Stacey and her mum: "Ooh, I just called you Gwen!" - most likely Jones. It's still nice, but it has an extra edge of cynicism since the Horne/Corden toxic media assault of 2009. Rob Brydon steals the episode as usual, though.

The Guardian, 26th November 2009

Where Little Britain produced bizarre, gross-out comedy, Gavin & Stacey is a very traditional sitcom. It works in the manner of Dad's Army or Birds of a Feather - the eponymous leads, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, provide a focus in front of a background populated by slightly grotesque caricatures, such as Rob Brydon's camp and simple-minded Uncle Bryn. Now for this third and final series, James Corden's Smithy is still living in Essex while Gavin (his best friend) and Stacey (Gavin's wife) have moved to Stacey's home town of Barry Island in South Wales. As the familiar characters reunite for the christening of Smithy and Nessa's son Neil, viewers who are new to the series (which has previously won two Baftas) may find that this opening instalment is not as immediately likeable or accessible as they might wish. Who, after all, would choose to spend time in the company of Gavin's shouty mother Pam (Alison Steadman) or Stacey's offensive best friend Nessa (Corden's co-writer Ruth Jones)? But as this first episode continues (next week's second is much funnier), it becomes obvious that these weirdly dysfunctional families makes a kind of sense - and that their ludicrous travails are no more ludicrous than most family's. So it's all very sweet, even if there's none of the innovation or edginess you'd find in The Office or The Thick of It.

Matt Warman, The Telegraph, 26th November 2009

A beginner's guide to Britain's funniest show

Tender, sweet, near the knuckle without-overstepping boundaries, raunchy but never smutty, daring and never bowing down at the altar of political correctness (yet not seeking to offend), Gavin & Stacey is everything great comedy should be.

Jaci Stephen, Daily Mail, 26th November 2009

The eagerly-awaited Series Three finally materialises and it doesn't disappoint. It's as warmly affectionate as ever and there are lots of big life changes in the offing to keep it fresh as everyone descends on Barry tonight for the christening of Neil the baby.

As we rejoin the nation's favourite extended family, Nessa (the incomparable Ruth Jones) is dealing with motherhood with her usual deadpan aplomb. And now that she's engaged to Dave Coaches, poor old Smithy (Neil the baby's father, just in case series two somehow passed you by) feels increasingly side-lined. Most of all, Smithy is absolutely bereft that his best mate Gavin has left Essex and has moved to Wales to keep Stacey happy.

It's Gavin's very first day in his new job, and his family and friends certainly don't hold back in showing their support. Wales though is turning out to be rather more Welsh than he was bargaining on. In contrast to Mathew Horne and James Corden's disappointing sketch show adventure, every tiny little domestic nuance and character foible is mined here for maximum comedy effect. And even though there's a massive turnout of characters tonight, we still care about every single one of them.

What is weird is seeing Larry Lamb switch from villainous Archie Mitchell on EastEnders to playing Gavin's laid-back dad Mick Shipman.

Nessa's neighbour Doris, who's on salad duty, is a star and there's another belter of a song from Bryn. When he describes a christening as being like an opera, he's not kidding.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 26th November 2009

It's gone from the BBC Three backwater to official National Treasure status in a couple of years, and its popularity even seems to have survived the abomination that was Horne & Corden. Now Gavin & Stacey returns for its third and final series. The first series saw the titular couple fall in love and get married, the second followed them having marital troubles so where next? This being the end I'm assuming there'll be a sprog by the end of the series to add to Nessa's gloriously named Neil Noel Edmond.

What we do know is that after last year's Christmas Special Gavin has taken a job in Cardiff so Gwen has plenty of people to make omelettes for, while Pam has an empty nest. Smithy's still not happy about his son getting a new dad in the form of Dave Coaches, and Uncle Bryn continues to be Uncle Bryn. And hopefully there'll be plenty of the real star of the show, namely Doris. Russell Tovey is due to make his annual cameo as Budgie later in the run, and rather excitingly Pam Ferris joins the cast as Smithy's mum (I'm kinda hoping she, like the rest of her family, is also called Smithy.) Enjoy it 'cause there's only six weeks of it left. Unless there's a Doris spin-off. Actually come on, somebody MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

Nick Holland, Low Culture, 26th November 2009

Gavin & Stacey's journey from cult viewing to national treasure (seven million watched their Christmas Eve special last year) has been the stuff of fairy tales. When so few sitcoms cross over to be national hits, it's the kind of success that should lead to a string of series and bonanza DVD sales for years to come. Instead, writers James Corden and Ruth Jones are putting their gift horse out to pasture, so enjoy this third series (assuming they don't relent - we can cross fingers for more Christmas specials) while it lasts. It starts well, with Gavlah getting a culture shock at his new job in Barry (look out for his misunderstanding of "seven-a-side") and Stace hooked on Psychologies magazine. They're gearing up, along with everyone else, for the Christening of Smithy and Nessa's baby, the unfortunately named Neil Noel Edmond Smith. It's the kind of eccentric set-piece occasion the series pulls off a treat. The high point involves Bryn launching into inappropriate song from the altar, backed by Doris from next door on drums. It's a priceless moment, beautifully performed, as ever, by Rob Brydon as Bryn.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 26th November 2009

We like James Corden a lot more when he's putting his talents to this Bafta-winning series rather than letting his ego run riot on other formats. It's the christening of Nessa and Smithy's baby that warrants the bringing together of the Essex and Welsh families in this first episode of the final series. Of second concern is jobs: Nessa's got two, Smithy and Stacey don't have any and Gavin's got a new one at which he's thoroughly embarrassed after family and friends bombard him with impromptu visits, phone calls, packed lunches and other well-wishing surprises.

Sharon Lougher, Metro, 26th November 2009

Gavin & Stacey - a tidy catch up

The third and final series returns to find the titular characters living in Barry and Nessa deciding whether to marry Dave Coaches or not.

Heidi Stephens, The Guardian, 25th November 2009

Horne urges fans to enjoy 'Gavin & Stacey 3'

Mat Horne has encouraged fans to enjoy the final series of Stacey & Stacey instead of worrying about it coming to an end.

Dan French, Digital Spy, 25th November 2009

Follow Gavin and Stacey: reasons to move to South Wales

The young couple start a new life in Barry in the third series of the BBC comedy. Here are the reasons why you should too.

Elisabeth Mahoney, The Guardian, 24th November 2009

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