Is Gavin and Stacey returning for a new Christmas special?

Rumours are rife!

Author: Alex RossPublished 13th Mar 2024
Last updated 14th Mar 2024

Despite Gavin & Stacey coming to an end in 2010, with a one-off Christmas Special in 2019, fans have been calling out for a reunion, especially when there's a glimpse of the actors from the show coming together.

Now, five years after the final episode ended on one of the biggest TV cliff hangers, rumours are rife that the gang are set to reunite for a BRAND NEW Christmas special.

Will there be more episodes of Gavin & Stacey?

According to new reports by Deadline on 13th February 2024, Gavin & Stacey is getting a brand new Christmas special, which will be filmed in the Summer of 2024, for a Christmas Day release date.

No further details have been revealed just yet, with the BBC refusing to comment, but that hasn't stopped fans getting VERY excited about the potential of the cast reuniting.

Despite the rumours, one day later on 14th February, Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones seemed to shut down the reports. Speaking on RTE Radio 1, she said: "All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James and I would happily announce it, we would."

Check out all of the TV shows we can't wait for the return of:

Clarkson's Farm

Series three of Clarkson's Farm will be split into two parts. The first four episodes will be available on Prime Video on Friday 3rd May, whilst the final four episodes will land on Friday 10th May.

The Responder

Following a successful first series in 2022, BBC bosses have confirmed Martin Freeman's The Responder will return for a second series. Martin will return as PC Chris Carson when series two lands on Sunday 5th May 2024.

I Kissed A Girl

Following the success of I Kissed A Boy in 2023, BBC bosses were quick to reveal an all-female version of the show would be landing in 2024, titled I Kissed A Girl. Hosted by Dannii Minogue, the series will land Sunday on 5th May 2024.

Bridgerton

Series three of hit Netflix drama Bridgerton can't come quick enough! After first look images for series three were released in June 2023, many thought it could land in December. However, bosses have now confirmed part one will land 16th May 2024, with part two arriving a month later on 13th June.

The Umbrella Academy

Showrunner Steven Blackman announced that The Umbrella Academy would be getting a fourth and final series. He said: "We've got an amazing story ahead for season four, one that will have fans on the edge of their seats until the final minutes."


It's now been confirmed the show will begin on 8th August 2024!

Heartstopper

After production started in 2023, in March 2024, Netflix bosses confirmed the third series of Heartstopper will land in October this year!

Love Is Blind: UK

Following six incredible US versions of reality show Love Is Blind, Netflix bosses confirmed last year that a UK version was in the works, with married couple Emma and Matt Willis as hosts.


Bosses have now revealed the show will begin in August 2024!

Emily In Paris

Oui - we are being gifted with another season of Emily In Paris! With three seasons now streaming on Netflix, fans can expect a fourth season to arrive in 2024. Details about filming and season four's release are yet to be confirmed.

The Night Agent

After series one was Netflix's most-watched show of 2023, bosses were quick to commission The Night Agent for a second series, which is due out in 2024. Although we don't have an official start date just yet, in February, bosses confirmed production had started!

Squid Game

Another roaring Netflix success, Squid Game had us all hooked when it was released in 2021. Breaking records and topping streaming charts, the show proved incredibly popular and after THAT ending, left us all wanting more.


Show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that season two is officially happening, and has even hinted of 'talks' over a third season! In January 2024, Netflix bosses confirmed series two will land in 2024.

Stranger Things

Netflix bosses confirmed in January 2023 that the fifth and final series of Stranger Things had officially started production! Despite this, there's still no word yet on a release date.

Celebrity Race Across The World

Following the successful first series in September 2023, BBC bosses recommissioned Celebrity Race Across The World for a second series! Although not many details have been released just yet, filming is expected to take place in early 2024.

Hijack

Following series one back in June 2023, Apple TV bosses have now confirmed Idris Elba will return for a second series of Hijack! No plot or start date has been announced just yet, but reports are rife that production will begin soon.

Gavin & Stacey

Five years after THAT cliffhanger ending of the last Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, rumours of rife that Ruth Jones and James Corden have reunited for a new episode in 2024. Deadline are reporting the episode will be filmed in the summer, with the episode due to air at Christmas 2024.

House of the Dragon

After filming took place in 2023, it's now been revealed that series two of House of the Dragon will land on 17th June 2024.

Unforgotten

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Black Mirror

In March 2024, Netflix bosses revealed a seventh series of Black Mirror will land in 2025, with one of the episodes set to be a sequel to series four episode USS Callister. No official date has been announced just yet.

Gladiators

Following the hugely successful first series, BBC bosses were quick to announce Gladiators had been commissioned for a second series! Although there's no official start date, it's understood filming will take place in Summer 2024.

Speaking in November 2020, the BBC's Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, revealed there will be episodes in the future. She said: "That wasn't something that was going to happen this year," before adding: "One day."

As we await for any more details about the potential 2024 Christmas special, check out all of the reunion rumours over the years, and what the cast have said about future series.

What has James Corden said about a Gavin & Stacey reunion?

Just days after the Christmas special aired on Christmas Day in 2019, James and Ruth were hyped by the love, telling Metro.co.uk: "It’s mind-blowing that so many people watched our show – we still can’t get our heads around it, what a massive compliment. We are indebted to the BBC for their incredible support but most importantly to those viewers for watching."

The pair then teased: "We just hope one day we can let them know what Smithy said next."

However, in February 2020, just months after the Christmas special aired, co-writer James seemed to shut down rumours of more episodes, telling the BBC: "I'm being completely honest, there are no plans to do any more because a lot of it is about time and distance. I think Ruth and I, if we ever were going to do any, we approach it in the same manner we did the last one to try and just do it on our own and see if we felt we had something that wouldn't ruin it.

"Because it's all well and good people saying that they would like another one, and that is hugely flattering, but they only want one that doesn't tarnish it in any way. So we're going to really try our best to give it some thought at the least, but there is no plans - as it stands right now - to ever make another one."

However, later that year in December 2020, James reignited hope for fans, confessing to Metro.co.uk that he'd love to return to the show, but that the pressure of making something that was worth the hype was almost too much to cope with.

He said at the time: "I don’t know, is the answer/ honestly don’t. We’re all on a WhatsApp text group, all of us and Matt Horne and Jo Page did a special radio show for BBC Wales the other day that will go out on Christmas, and we all contributed to that somewhat.

"We’re always talking, all of us, and Ruth Jones and I talk all the time. I hope so much we do it. "

But James confirmed that if they did return to the characters, it really would be the final time, saying: "The next one will really be the last, final part - and that is a little too much pressure for my chest to take at the moment, if I’m honest, in amongst the anxiety of 2020.

"If I had any notion of trying to make another Christmas special I don’t think I’d be able to breathe. So we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. But I promise you, we won’t lead you over that bridge unless we think it will be worth the journey."

What has Ruth Jones said about a Gavin & Stacey reunion?

Following Charlotte Moore's comment that the show will return 'one day', Nessa actress and Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones had her say on the constant rumours.

Speaking on This Morning in November 2020, Ruth said: "There aren't any plans to write anything, obviously James is in America, I'm in Wales. I'm sorry not to be able to give you any good news."

Ruth also went on to admit she thinks THAT ending where Nessa proposed to Smithy during the 2019 Christmas special, is a good way for the show to end.

She added: "I do think that the Christmas special ended in such a way that if we never go back to Barry, we will always wonder what happened. There's something quite juicy about that, that we will always wonder 'Did Smithy say yes?, Did they get married?'"

What has Joanna Page said about a Gavin & Stacey reunion?

Actress Joanna Page, who played the title role of Stacey in the show, spoke ahead of the Christmas special in 2019, saying on This Morning: "There’s not many jobs that are so close to your heart where you all click. It’s really like a family. And then when we all got the phone calls we were like, straight away, we’ll drop anything else and we just all want to get together and do it again."

Joanna also spoke about the show again when she appeared on Loose Women in December 2022, to reveal that she would be up for more episodes of the hit show.

"I’d love to do another one," she told the panel. When asked if there were any more episodes planned, she said: "I’ve honestly no idea. I’m just the same as everybody else because they don’t tell us!

"They’ve never told us any more that they’re doing anything, so it’s only when you get a phone call and they say ‘there’s a special, do you want to do it?’.

"They don’t tell us anything and I’ve never ever asked. I’ve never said ‘oh Ruth (Jones), do you think you’ll do another one or is there going to be more? I’m just not that sort of person. I’ve always just thought, we'll wait and see and if there is, there is and if there isn’t, there isn’t."

The most recent episode of the show was a Christmas Special, which aired in 2019, and Joanna spoke about after they'd finished recording saying: "After filming I did think, there is another one, there’s got to be another one. We’ve got to find out what Smithy says!

"But as time’s going by, I’ve started to think, well maybe it’s been too long? Maybe there isn’t going to be another one, which makes me sad because I’d love to do another one.

"If they do, I hope they hurry up because we’re all getting old!"

Speaking on the new reunion rumours in February 2024, Joanna told The Mirror: “It’s all gone absolutely mad with those rumours and it’s so sweet and lovely that everybody still loves the show. But cross my heart, I honestly don’t know. I’d never ask Ruth Jones or James Corden if they’re planning on writing any more. That would look a bit sad, wouldn’t it? But would I do the show again?

"I’d absolutely jump at it. It was a fantastic job with a fabulous cast. We had a right laugh from start to finish. My children recently watched the first Christmas special which they loved."

What has Rob Brydon said about a Gavin & Stacey reunion?

Actor Rob Brydon didn't hold back in breaking all of our hearts in January 2020, admitting he doesn't want the show to return.

Speaking to our friends over at heatworld, Rob said: "There are no plans whatsoever and personally I would say leave it where it is, with people wanting more.

"It’s always my instinct and I said that before this special and I was very surprised then to see that they had written it. Everyone is saying, 'You must want to do more,' but I’d much rather leave it on a high and it’s really hard to come back after 10 years and to make something as popular as it has been because you can get it wrong."

HOWEVER, fast-forward a year to 2021, and Rob seemingly hinted there could be another Gavin & Stacey special on the way.

Speaking on his podcast alongside former co-star Sheridan Smith, who played Smithy's sister Ruth 'Rudi' Smith in the sitcom, Rob said of James and Ruth: "Well, I think they might do one more special. But they should crack on if they are going to do it."

Sheridan added: "They created this masterpiece sort of one-off Christmas special. Now everyone's asking for more, aren't they?"

However, then in July 2023, Rob revealed he really didn't know if there was going to be reunion. He told Greatest Hits Radio: "It’s a lovely thought but I don’t know that there are any plans for it at the moment - but then I wouldn’t necessarily know. When they did that big Christmas special a few years ago they’d written it without any of us knowing – James (Corden) and Ruth (Jones) had got together and secretly written it.

"The first I knew was when James phoned and said ‘What are you doing this summer? We’ve written a Christmas special..... But I just work here!"

What has Alison Steadman said about a Gavin & Stacey reunion?

Speaking on the BBC show Morning Live in December 2020, Alison Steadman, who played the role of Gavin's mum Pam on the show, admitted she was still waiting to hear about another Christmas special.

She said: “Well look, this announcement’s been made but James and Ruth haven’t said anything to us and everything’s very quiet.

“They’ve obviously got to write this thing, which is an enormous task, so, honestly we don’t know. We’re waiting to hear like everyone else.”

Speaking to Radio Times Magazine in 2023, Alison revealed that she'd prefer to film a special if the show was to return. She said: "I'd like to do another, but I don't know if I could do seven episodes. A special would be great fun and it wouldn't be too draining and exhausting. The Christmas special cliffhanger ending was brilliant. I was really touched and moved by it."

Alison and her former co-star Larry Lamb left Gavin & Stacey fans in total meltdown in June 2022, when the pair were spotted filming at the famous Barry Island in Wales.

After the snap of the pair chilling on deck chairs landed online, speculation was of course rife, with many wondering if Pam and Mick were reuniting for the show! Sadly, this was not to be true - however, it's not all bad news...

On the Christmas special 2024 rumours, Alison told The Mirror: "If we did another series or episode, I would absolutely love it. But at the moment, as far as I know, it's not going to happen.

"None of us have been sent scripts, none of us, so until there's something definite and it's announced, then I'm not going to go along with anything, it might not happen. It's all up in the air."

What were they filming?

Larry and Alison were in fact filming a brand new show on Barry Island! The show, titled Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry, was a three-part travel series which saw the pair take the long way round, stopping off at special spots along the way to reminisce, and even meet up with old pals from the show!

Find out more about Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry.

Is Gavin & Stacey available to watch on TV?

Although Gavin & Stacey isn't currently being shown on TV, fans can watch all episode from series one-three, including the Christmas special, on the BBC iPlayer now.

Is there going to be a Gavin & Stacey movie?

Although there's been no talk of a Gavin & Stacey movie since, back in 2020, actor Larry Lamb spoke to Loose Women stars Andrea McLean, Denise Welch, Saira Khan and Coleen Nolan about the the movie rumours.

He said at the time: "I remember talking to James Corden about the whole thing of having had 10 years of being asked if it was coming back, then you do the Christmas special and you’re back answering the same question.

"It’s a drug the nation is hooked on. I don’t know if there is a movie. I’d love it if there is.”

Now read:

Ruth Jones shuts down news of 2024 Gavin & Stacey Christmas special

BBC boss reveals Gavin & Stacey WILL return 'one day'

The Gavin & Stacey cast: Then and now

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