10 things Gavin and Stacey tells the world about what it's like to be Welsh
The much-anticipated return of Gavin & Stacey is fast approaching. Filming for the upcoming Christmas special, which has been confirmed as the BBC show's finale, has finally concluded.
The hit sitcom has been in and out of our lives for the best part of 17 years. And within those two decades, not only has the show brought us a lot of laughter, tears and smiles, it has also introduced our Welsh-ism to a wider audience. Before Gavin & Stacey, perhaps many outside of our lovely nation didn't know about the saying "now in a minute", that we loved curry sauce on chips, or that it was Barry Island not Barry's Island.
With the finale on the horizon, we've taken a look at everything Gavin and Stacey tells the world about being Welsh and Wales. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
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1. We have some crackin' Welsh sayings
"Where to she now?"
"Now in a minute!"
These terms are often heard in parts of south-east Wales and are used in the TV show, but not everyone knows what they mean. In episode six of the first series, Smithy (played by James Corden) is left baffled when Nessa (played by Ruth Jones) asks him where his girlfriend is during Gavin and Stacey's wedding. "'Where to she'... Do you mean where is she now?" he asks her, in which Nessa says: "Yeah". He then adds: "Say that then".
2. We love a good night out
Whether it is a hen do, the boys are over for the night from Essex or a barn dance - the Welsh know how to have a good night out! Our nights out will mostly consist of drinking, dancing, singing and bumping into bouncers called Nev, Kev and Dev.
3. We all know Owain Hughes (and before you ask, no he doesn't!)
Wherever you live in Wales, most of us will know someone called Owain Hughes. In the third series, we get to meet Gavin's loveable co-worker and friend who is played by Swansea actor Steve Meo. And with every introduction to his character - Owain Hughes, the Welsh characters in the show will say: "and before you ask, no he doesn't", which leaves Gavin, who has just moved to Wales for his wife Stacey and is feeling homesick, a tad bit confused.
While some viewers might have been left ruminating over the meaning behind the joke, others may have realised that the joke is, there is no joke. Steve Meo himself has explained that the throwaway line from Owain isn't as deep as people may think.
In an interview in February last year, the actor said: "It is a red herring designed to infuriate and spark debate. Funnily enough when I first went in for the audition that's the first thing I asked Ruth (Jones, co-creator) 'there isn't a joke is there because I'm going mad.'
"About three or four weeks after it started airing I had a phone call off my mother. She was in Tesco Pontardawe and she said 'right, you've got to tell me. The manager's just said over the tannoy now that if anyone can tell him what the joke means they'll get a free bottle of wine.' I said 'sorry mam, I'm contractually obliged not to tell you.'" he said laughing his head off.
4. Curry sauce does belong on chips
In episode three of the second series, we get to see the West family and friends tuck into their fish and chips. As Smithy hands Nessa her meal, she tells him she'll "wait for the curry sauce". In response, Smithy says: "What is it with the Welsh and curry sauce?", to which Gavin agrees and describes it as "rank".
Smithy adds: "It's worse than Northerners and gravy. What is wrong with a dry chip?". Stacey replies: "I physically can't eat chips without curry sauce". Stacey might not be the only one, in fact a YouGov poll in 2012 - a few years after this episode was aired - found that one in four Welsh people liked dipping their chips in a pot of curry sauce.
5. It's Barry Island not Barry's Island
While Pam might think it's "Barry's Island" it is in fact Barry Island. Many key scenes are shot here including where Gavin and Stacey first tell each other that they love each other, where Gavin has a heart-to-heart with his dad Mick about fertility issues, and where the fab four - Gavin, Stacey, Nessa and Smithy are seen talking and laughing as the camera pans out in the very final scene of episode six in the third series.
6. We always come through the back door
In the show, viewers might notice that Uncle Bryn always enters Gwen's house through the back door, despite him only living across the road, with the front door probably nearest to his. However, this is just a tiny detail that says a lot about life here in Wales. More often than not, we will always come through the back door and say "only me".
7. We do speak Welsh
While the series shows some debate over the use of our Welsh language signs, it also shows characters who can speak Welsh and are proud of it. We have Barry's very own answer to Del Boy in the form of Dick Powell (played by Gwynfor Roberts) who is always selling all manner of things through the black market and only speaks Welsh to everyone on the show.
We have Stacey's friend - Louise - who is seen talking to Gavin's friend Deano but catches the attention of Fingers. Nessa is seen telling a few unwanted customers to "peidiwch a chyffwrdd a'r peiriannau, now sling your hook", while a group of 'Welsh Nash' tell Uncle Bryn he can't park in their spot over in Sully. And let's give it up for Deano himself, who actually learns the lingo before his night out in Cardiff. Da iawn, Deano!
8. Everyone knows everyone
Yes, we all know everyone around here. No better scene shows this than when Bryn is looking through the front window of Gwen's house in episode two of the third series.
"Bernie's going out. I think she's off to Morrisons," Bryn says. "Has she got her Bag for Life?" Gwen asks. "Yes. And Brenda's out. She's taking Emily Rose," Bryn says. "And the dog?" Gwen then asks, as Bryn replies with: "Yes, she can't go anywhere without the dog, Gwen! She's registered blind."
9. Welsh mams can make the perfect omelette
And most Welsh mams can make the perfect omelette with anything you like. In nearly every episode of Gavin & Stacey, the beloved character of Gwen (played by Melanie Walters) is seen in the kitchen cooking up a delicious omelette.
In an interview in 2019, the actress said that the omelette obsession was purely thanks to the audience's imagination. The master omelette-maker explained: "What I like about Gavin & Stacey is that they can watch an episode for a second or third time and hear things in a different way.
"The omelette thing was never written to be a 'thing', that’s down to the imagination of the audience. They’ve created that, not Ruth or James. It wasn't wedged in, it was just picked up by the public."
10. We are all a welcoming bunch
Whether you are here for a wedding, christening, night out with the lads, or meeting your future in-laws for the first time after a huge misunderstanding with your girlfriend over the phone, we'll keep a welcome in the hillside.
