Gavin & Stacey is an award winning British television comedy series, written by James Corden and Ruth Jones, and produced by Baby Cow Productions for the BBC. Jones and Corden appear in the show, alongside the title characters played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page. The series also features Larry Lamb, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon and Melanie Walters. A romantic comedy, the show follows the long distance relationship of Gavin and Stacey, who come from opposite ends of the country. Gavin lives with his family in Billericay in Essex, while Stacey lives with her mother in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
The show ran for 20 episodes in all, from 13 May 2007 to 1 January 2010, comprising three series and a Christmas special. The first two series aired on digital-only channel BBC Three gaining a cult following, before the show was moved to a mainstream audience on BBC One, which broadcast a one off special on Christmas Eve 2008 and then the third and final series, at which point the writers decided to end the show.
The show was acclaimed as a hit breakthrough show for BBC Three, becoming the most nominated show in the 2007 British Comedy Awards. By the end of the second series, the show had won several awards, including the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) Audience Award, and the British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Award, both in 2008. Characters went on to feature in the 2009 Comic Relief telethon producing a number one single, while the third and final series formed part of the prime time BBC seasonal programming on Christmas Day 2009 and New Years Day 2010.
The programme has also aired in several other countries. As of September 2009 an American remake was also being planned by the ABC network.
The show revolves around the lives of the title characters Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page), and follows their family lives, and the lives of their best friends, Neil "Smithy" Smith (James Corden) and Vanessa "Nessa" Jenkins (Ruth Jones), respectively.
The first series begins with Gavin, 28, a young man living with his family in Billericay, Essex, arranging to meet Stacey, 27, a young woman living with her family in Barry, near Cardiff. Both have struck up a long distance telephone relationship in the course of their jobs, but have close family lives too. Stacey still lives with her widow mother Gwen (Melanie Walters), with her protective uncle and Gwen's brother in-law, Bryn West (Rob Brydon), living across the street. Gavin still lives with his parents, Mick and Pam Shipman (Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman).
For their first meeting, Gavin and Stacey plan to 'meet halfway', on a night out in London. Gavin travels with Smithy in tow, who is less than pleased with Stacey's companion and his supposed double date, Nessa. The night ends with both couples having sex in their shared hotel room. Gavin is infatuated by Stacey, although Smithy and Nessa are happy to call it a one night stand and go their separate ways. Gavin pursues the relationship with both travelling backwards and forwards between Barry and Essex, and Gavin quickly proposes, with the first series ending on their wedding day.
In the course of the second series, Stacey initially lives with her new husband Gavin in Essex, although feeling home-sick, the series ends with Stacey moving back to Wales and the couple's future uncertain. Meanwhile, it is revealed Nessa is having Smithy's baby, much to his surprise, with the series closing as she gives birth. In a Christmas special, it is revealed Gavin is to move to Wales to being a new life and save his marriage, while Smithy meets his son, Neil, for the first time.
In the third and final series, Gavin and Stacey begin their new lives in Wales, and resolve to start a family, but soon run into fertility problems. Nessa is also making plans, but not with Smithy, instead intending to marry coach driver Dave (Steffan Rhodri) who runs Dave Coaches, who, as revealed in the first ever episode, has been besotted with Nessa since a previous one-night stand. By the third series, Nessa, Dave, and baby Neil, are all living in his caravan in Barry. Smithy is conflicted about his future role, while attempting to be a long distance father to Neil. The show ends with Smithy interrupting Dave and Nessa's wedding, and after Dave tells Nessa she doesn't really love him, and Nessa agreeing, the two call off the wedding and part as friends. The show ends with Nessa, Smithy and baby Neil apparently living in Wales, enjoying life with Gavin and an obviously pregnant Stacey.
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