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Gavin & Stacey
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Gavin & Stacey is a BBC television sitcom written by and starring Ruth Jones and James Corden and produced by Baby Cow Productions. Gavin is played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page plays Stacey.
The first series (six episodes) chronicled the developing romance of the two leads and ended with their marriage. The second series (seven episodes) began with two back-to-back episodes, on 16 March 2008 on BBC Three. Both series originally aired on BBC Three and were later shown on BBC Two and BBC One; the Christmas special was aired on the latter channel.
Although the series is set in Billericay, Essex and Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, the two series were shot largely in Cardiff, Barry and the surrounding area, including Dinas Powys, Sully and Penarth.
Stacey has won 5 awards out of 9 nominations in total, two of which were won at the British Academy Television Awards 2008.
Awards & Nominations:
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(series 1) | Premiere Date | No.
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Encyclopedia
Gavin & Stacey is a BBC television sitcom written by and starring Ruth Jones and James Corden and produced by Baby Cow Productions. Gavin is played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page plays Stacey.
The first series (six episodes) chronicled the developing romance of the two leads and ended with their marriage. The second series (seven episodes) began with two back-to-back episodes, on 16 March 2008 on BBC Three. Both series originally aired on BBC Three and were later shown on BBC Two and BBC One; the Christmas special was aired on the latter channel.
Although the series is set in Billericay, Essex and Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, the two series were shot largely in Cardiff, Barry and the surrounding area, including Dinas Powys, Sully and Penarth.
Characters
Main characters
- Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) - Gavin is 26 and is an only child, who lives with his mother and father, in Billericay, Essex. His best friend Smithy, with whom Gavin plans to drink every variety of beer in the world, lives just down the street. He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (as is Mathew Horne) and is often seen wearing his Spurs shirt.
- Stacey Shipman (née West) (Joanna Page) - Stacey is 26 and is from Barry, near Cardiff. Her father, Trevor, died three years ago and she lived at home with her mother in Barry until her marriage. She has been engaged six times but married only once, to Gavin. She confides frequently in her best friend Nessa.
- Neil "Smithy" Smith (James Corden) - Smithy is Gavin's friend and they've known each other since primary school. He loves Gavin's parents more than his own, who are never seen in the show. He has an unseen girlfriend called Lucy, who according to Smithy is seventeen years and three quarters old. He loves unusual beer, paintball and West Ham United. When Nessa gives birth to their son, they name him Neil after himself and Nessa's father. He is very possessive in his friendship with Gavin, to the extent of a desire to see Gavin's marriage fail and his emotional incapability to deliver his best man's speech.
- Vanessa "Nessa" Shanessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) - Nessa is Stacey's best friend also from Barry. She discovers she is pregnant in the fourth episode of series 1 and it is later revealed that Smithy is the father. She speaks fluent Italian and some Welsh, has several tattoos, is a chain smoker (until her pregnancy) and was one of the original members of All Saints (but didn't get along with Shaznay). She works at the Barry Island Amusement Arcades or "The Slots". Nessa regularly recalls strange and often lewd experiences with celebrities (John Prescott is mentioned several times, as is Dodi Al-Fayed), and to a lesser extent she talks about various life experiences she has had such as travelling the world on a cruise ship, briefly waking up after her first marriage with an unspecified Pip (of Gladys Knight fame) and dealing with the death of her second husband, Clive, (who was executed by firing squad for drug running after she gave evidence against him). She gives birth to Baby Neil in the Series Finale of Series 2. Nessa became engaged to Dave Coaches, her boyfriend, in the 2008 Christmas Special.
- Michael "Mick" Shipman (Larry Lamb) - Mick is Gavin's father. He is in his mid fifties and a down-to-earth guy, like his son. He's happy with his life - running his own company, playing golf and going to the pub quiz every Tuesday. He is something of a calming influence on his wife.
- Pamela "Pam" Andrea Shipman (née Griggell-Eschefska) (Alison Steadman) — Pam is Gavin's proud and doting mother. She is in her early fifties, typical of the Essex wife stereotype and is very house-proud. She is also very caring of Smithy, Gavin's best friend, and treats him as if he were her own son. Pam wrongly feared that Stacey's family may be vegetarian so pretended to be vegetarian also, despite frequent cravings for meat. It is later revealed in the 2008 Christmas Special that all of Stacey's family (Including Nessa and possibly Dave) knew Pam was not vegetarian - with the exception of Gwen, who had bought Pam a vegetarian cookbook for Christmas. Pamela adores Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and acts out sexual fantasies of Charles and Camilla with Mick. Conversely, she hates Princess Diana.
- Bryn West (Rob Brydon) - Bryn is Stacey and Jason's uncle. He is the brother of Stacey's deceased father, Trevor, and is single in his late forties. He lives across the road from Gwen and Stacey and is very protective of them. Bryn has a strained relationship with his nephew Jason due to an unspecified incident on a fishing trip. In Series 2, Bryn often inadvertently makes comments suggesting he may have homosexual leanings. He is a simple man who leads a very simple life and often gets excited about trivial things.
- Gwen West (Melanie Walters) - Gwen is Stacey's mother. She is a widow in her late forties, a housewife, and regularly offers to cook omelettes, she shows a dislike towards English singer James Blunt when Bryn sings his songs "Wisemen" and "Good Bye My Lover" saying his lyrics don't make sense.
- David "Dave" "Coaches" (Steffan Rhodri) - Bus driver in Barry and Nessa's fiancé (engaged in Christmas Special). Aspersions are made about his sexual health in Series 1, although it is revealed in Series 2 that he has been to "the clinic". He is the only person, other than Bryn and Jason, who knows what happened on the fishing trip.
Other characters
- Jason West (Robert Wilfort) - Stacey's elder brother, son of Gwen and her late husband Trevor. Lives in Spain with his boyfriend José.
- Dawn (Julia Davis) and Pete 'willy face' Sutcliffe (Adrian Scarborough) - Friends of Pam and Mick Shipman. They have a very strained marriage and regularly insult each other in public. Also part of the ongoing joke that characters share their surnames with serial killers - in this case Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.
- Doris "Dor" (Margaret John) - Gwen's elderly next door neighbour, she has a daughter named Moira, who she never got on with. Doris spotted the unfortunate coincidence of sharing the West and Shipman surnames with serial murderers Fred / Rose West and Harold Shipman. She has also offered herself up to Gavin for 'discreet' extramarital relations.
- Griff (Alan David) - Bryn's friend.
- Fingers (Samuel Anderson); Dirtbox (Andrew Knott); Budgie (Russell Tovey); Chinese Alan (Dominic Gaskell) - Gavin's friends. Anderson, Knott and Tovey all appeared in the original production of The History Boys together with James Corden.
- Dean 'Deano' (Mathew Baynton), works with Smithy, is in his 20's and is slow witted and is not as popular with the 'guys' shown by him having to make his own stag shirt for the re-union night out. He has a fear of ten pin bowling due to him being "scared of the shoes". He likes foam parties, and Smithy, and what the Welsh get up to in their spare time.
- Louise (Ffion Williams) Lowri (Catherine Evans); Ros (Trudi Jackson) - Stacey's friends
- Achmed (Paul Sharma) - Fourth of Stacey's five former fiancés. Now lives in Swindon
- Chris "Jammy" (Matt Lucas) - Cameo appearance as stag party planner
- Dick Powell - (Gwynfor Roberts) The only exclusively Welsh-speaking inhabitant of Barry. Sells satellite navigation systems and enjoys Glamorgan sausage sandwiches
- Ruth "Rudi" Smith (Sheridan Smith) - Smithy's sister, likes to be also called Smithy trying to imitate her brother.
- Duncan - (Marc Wootton) - Cameo appearance as estate agent who shows Gavin and Stacey around a flat.
- Seth - Man met by Dawn and Pete on the internet in an attempt to "spice up" their relationship.
- Susan "Big Fat Sue" - friend of Pam
- "Baby Neil" Smith - Nessa & Smithy's baby, named after Nessa's father and Smithy.
- Edna - Pete's elderly mother whom he is constantly chasing after.
- Fat-no-more Pat - friend of Pam
- Father Chris - The Vicar at Barry church, the Shipmans are forced to attend Father Chris' Mass in preparation for the wedding.
- Bryan - Barman at Gavin and Smithy's local pub, the Coach & Horses. Calls Smithy a Tosser
- Dai (Johhny Tudor) - Bingo Caller. His wife, Maria, knows Dave Coaches because she works at the clinic
- Shareese - Has an argument with Smithy's sister Rudi. She claims Rudi got off with her boyfriend Darren Miller.
Unseen characters
- Trevor West - Stacey's deceased father
- Lucy - Smithy's 17 year old ex-girlfriend
- Cath - Smithy's mother
- Jean - Gwen's enemy- the reason for the animosity is not fully given, but according to Stacey, it has something to do with scissors
- Moira - Doris' daughter, who Doris never got along with. She went to school with Gwen.
- Neil Jenkins - Nessa's father
- Carol Powell - Dick Powell's daughter and Nessa's once best friend although she hasn't seen her since 1982.
- No man Jan - worked with Smithy's mum at a school cafeteria. She claimed Smithy's mum had a fling with the headmistress.
- Japanese Margaret - friend of Pam
- Other Margaret - friend of Pam
- Jill Thomas - Vet
- Kyle - Stacey's ex-fiancee
- Leighton - Stacey's ex-fiancee
- Clifford - Stacey's ex-fiancee
- Hywel - Stacey's ex-fiancee
- Clive - Nessa's second husband - now deceased
- "Nutter" - "Jammy's" assistant
- Ellen - Stacey's friend, got drunk at Stacey's hen night
- Darren Miller - is going out with one of Rudi's friends, Shareese
- Nana Joyce - Smithy's Nan
- Jackie Collins - Smithy's other Nan
- John Snape - Pam and Mick's friend
- Pauline - Apparently had an affair with Smithy and Rudi's mother. She was a headmistress.
- 'Step Brother' John - Dawn's step brother. He's been to Nepal three times
- Carl - Works at Stacey's local pub in Barry. Has a tattoo on his chin that says 'I'm Carl'
Awards
Gavin & Stacey has won 5 awards out of 9 nominations in total, two of which were won at the British Academy Television Awards 2008.
Awards & Nominations:
| Date | Awards Ceremony | Award Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|
| 20 April 2008 | British Academy Television Awards 2008 | Best Comedy Performance | James Corden (Smithy) | Award Won | | Sky+ Audience Award | Gavin & Stacey | | 5 December 2007 | British Comedy Awards 2007 | Best New British TV Comedy | Gavin & Stacey | | Best Male Comedy Newcomer | James Corden (Smithy) | | Best Female Comedy Newcomer | Ruth Jones (Nessa) | | Best New TV Comedy | Gavin & Stacey | Nominated | | Best TV Comedy Actress | Ruth Jones (Nessa) | | Best Male Comedy Newcomer | Mathew Horne (Gavin) | | Best Female Comedy Newcomer | Joanna Page (Stacey) | | 5 December 2008 | British Comedy Awards 2008 | Best TV Comedy | Gavin & Stacey | Award Won | |
Ratings
Episode
(series 1) | Premiere Date | No. of
viewers |
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| Series 1 Episode 1 | 13 May 2007 | 543,000 |
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| Series 1 Episode 2 | 13 May 2007 | 588,000 |
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| Series 1 Episode 3 | 20 May 2007 | 550,000 |
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| Series 1 Episode 4 | 27 May 2007 | 557,000 |
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| Series 1 Episode 5 | 3 June 2007 | 544,000 |
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| Series 1 Episode 6 | 10 June 2007 | 569,190 |
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Episode
(series 2) | Premiere Date | No. of
viewers |
|---|
|
| Series 2 Episode 1 | 16 March 2008 | 1,894,000 |
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| Series 2 Episode 2 | 16 March 2008 | 1,869,000 |
|---|
| Series 2 Episode 3 | 23 March 2008 | 1,480,000 |
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| Series 2 Episode 4 | 30 March 2008 | 1,799,000 |
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| Series 2 Episode 5 | 6 April 2008 | 1,601,000 |
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| Series 2 Episode 6 | 13 April 2008 | 1,401,000 |
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| Series 2 Episode 7 | 20 April 2008 | 1,354,000 |
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Episode
(series 3) | Premiere Date | No. of
viewers |
|---|
|
| Series 3 Episode 1 | TBA | TBA | Episode
(specials) | Premiere Date | No. of
viewers |
|---|
|
| Christmas Special | 24 December 2008 | 7,190,000 |
On 25 December 2008, a documentary "12 Days of Christmas" was screened by BBC Three. It followed the making of the Christmas episode, and was shown in two versions, one of 30 minutes and one of 45 minutes.
Series Three
There was uncertainty over whether a third series would be produced. The writers said that they did not want the show to become predictable, and that they would see how the Christmas special turned out.
In December 2008, Corden revealed he didn't know whether the sitcom would return for a third series, as he is currently working on the US adaption with Ruth Jones. Shortly afterwards, Ruth Jones announced on her final BBC Radio Wales Sunday Brunch radio show. Towards the end, she asked James Corden if they should do another series to which he replied "I'm in if you are", shaking hands and promising the audience that they would. A third series was confirmed by James Corden on the BBC website.
Ruth Jones and James Corden are expecting to finish the scripts for the new series by the end of March, with filming for the third series taking place in the summer.
Music
The credits theme to Gavin & Stacey is "Run", by Stephen Fretwell.
The Libertines single "Don't Look Back into the Sun" was used repeatedly throughout the two series.
The Jeevas' cover of "You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It?)" (originally by the Undertones) can be heard as the cars pull up outside the pub for the quiz night.
The music used in the trailers was "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above" by CSS.
"You and Me" by Lifehouse was used in episode 1, series 1 during the near end of the episode.
When Gavin and Bryn Find Smithy at the driving range after going missing, the intro of "Only Ones Who Know" by Arctic Monkeys is played. Brianstorm by Arctic Monkeys is also played while Nessa is bowling.
The music used during the wedding ceremony in the climax of the first series in episode 6 as Stacey comes up the aisle is "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol.
The vows are off-camera, and the music used when the church doors burst open as the bridal party exits is "Love or Trial" by The Hot Puppies.
In the beginning of the first episode of the second series, Razorlight's "Before I Fall to Pieces" was used.
The last episode of the second series also featured a clip of Patrick Wolf's "Magic Position".
'Good ol bill' and 'Latchmere' by The Maccabees are used in the show
Bryn is a big fan of James Blunt, (series 2, episode 2) and particularly likes 'the one about the three wise men' and 'You're Beautiful'. He is also partial to Chris Rea.At the end of the music video for a comic relief themed cover of Islands In The Stream, which Bryn sings with Nessa, he delivers his interpretation of the lyrics to her and Tom Jones in the latters limo
Their first dance in the last episode of series one was "A Million Love Songs" by Take That. Gavin & Stacey's song is "Last Request" by Paolo Nutini.
The music during Pam's protest in episode 6 of series 2 is, "Happy Ever After" by Ian Brown. Snow Patrol's "You Could Be Happy" and "Kill The Director" by The Wombats were also used in the same episode.
The final song of series 2 (the music whilst Smithy and Gavin are getting to the Hospital and Nessa is giving birth) is "Gravity" by Embrace.
For Gwen's birthday barn dance, Bryn and Nessa do a duet of "Islands In The Stream". They would later release it as a single for Comic Relief
Overseas
NBC planned to make an adapted American version of Gavin and Stacey. In a television interview, Ruth Jones commented that the American version could have Gavin coming from New Jersey and Stacey from South Carolina. Now, ABC is developing the potential series. ,
In Ireland, the show began airing on RTÉ Two on 3 July 2008.
In New Zealand, season one began playing on TV ONE on 27 June 2008.
In Canada, the series is airing on BBC Canada.
In the United States, Gavin and Stacey premiered on BBC America on 26 August 2008, series one and two were shown back to back.
Season Two of Gavin and Stacey is currently playing on RTP2 in Portugal.
In Israel, the series is airing on Yes Stars Comedy.
In Australia, the first episode was aired on the Seven Network and affiliates in New South Wales and Queensland only on 14 February, 2009. Yet, was dropped from the schedule after only one screening.
External links
Videos
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