BBC Gavin & Stacey: The finale's full main cast and surprise guest stars and cameos in Christmas special
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale is just around the corner, with many fans of the show excited to see how the beloved series comes to an end. Last time we saw the Shipman and West families was back in 2019, during a Christmas Special, which saw the two families spending their Christmas in Barry.
At the end of the episode, Nessa (played by Ruth Jones) professed her love to Smithy (played by James Corden) and got down on one knee to ask him to marry her. Five years on, and we might get to find out Smithy's response. In the lead up to this year's special episode, the cast have been teasing what fans can expect from it.
Cast members such as Larry Lamb has confirmed that this episode will not be taking place during the Christmas period, while James Corden has said that fans will know that this will be the last ever episode "without question". The BBC series first began in 2007 and followed the story of Gavin (played by Mathew Horne) and Stacey (played by Joanna Page) as they fell in love and navigated their relationship while one lived in Billericay in Essex and the other lived in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
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As the series progressed, viewers got to know and fell in love with these characters as well as their families and friends. The last ever episode is set to be a very special one, with most of the main cast reprising their roles, with a few familiar and even unfamiliar faces making appearances as well. Here is the full cast list:
Who is in the cast of Gavin & Stacey: The Finale?
Mathew Horne returns as Gavin Shipman. Recently, the actor has starred in the theatre production of The Tempest, alongside American actress Sigourney Weaver.
Joanna Page will also be reprising her role as Stacey, which she first played when she was 29 years old. Joanna is currently hosting her own weekly podcast - Off The Telly, with Eastenders star Natalie Cassidy, in which the duo chat all things on and off the telly.
Ruth Jones, who co-wrote Gavin & Stacey with James Corden, will be returning to our screens as Vanessa Shanessa 'Nessa' Jenkins, Stacey's stern but loyal friend. She is also known for writing and starring in the Welsh sitcom Stella.
James Corden will be reprising his role as Neil 'Smithy' Smith in the Christmas special. The actor met Ruth Jones in Fat Friends before the two decided to collaborate as writing partners and created Gavin & Stacey. The actor has garnered major success following from Gavin & Stacey. He hosted The Late Late Show over in Los Angeles from 2015 until 2023.
Rob Brydon is back as Bryn West, or as he is fondly known in the series and off screen Uncle Bryn. The actor is also known for starring in The Trip franchise alongside comedian Steve Coogan, as well as hosting the popular BBC game show Would I Lie To You?
Melanie Walters is back as Stacey's mum - Gwen West. In the past, the Welsh actress has also starred in BBC's Being Human and Father Brown, as well as Channel 4's soap opera Hollyoaks.
Larry Lamb will be returning as Michael 'Mick' Shipman for the finale. The English actor famously appeared as the villainous Archie Mitchell in BBC's soap opera Eastenders. His son, George Lamb, is a well known presenter and businessman.
Gavin & Stacey's final ever episode would not be the same without Alison Steadman, who will be reprising her role as Pamela 'Pam' Shipman, who is the doting wife of Mick and overprotective mother of Gavin. Alison was a highly respect actress before she played the part of Pam, having received accolades for her role Beverly in Abigail's Party and Candice Marie in Nuts in May.
Porthcawl's Robert Wilfort will be reprising his role as Jason West, Stacey's brother and Gwen's son. The actor has also appeared in BBC's Wolf Hall and Netflix's drama Bridgerton.
Oscar Hartland will be reprising his role as Neil The Baby - Nessa and Smithy's son. Rather impressively, Hartland first played the role when he was a baby, he returned for the Christmas Special in 2019 and will be starring in this year's special episode too.
Julia Davis will be returning as Dawn Sutcliffe, the long suffering wife of Pete Sutcliffe. She is known for starring and writing BBC Three comedy Nighty Night, as well as the comedies Hunderby and Camping, which she also directed.
Adrian Scarborough, will be returning as Pete Sutcliffe, the long suffering husband of Dawn Sutcliffe. Scarborough has a plethora of acting roles under his belt, including the 2004 film Vera Drake, 2010 film The King's Speech, 2021 musical film Les Miserables and 1917 which was released in 2019. He has also starred in Channel 4's comedy Crashing, BBC's Killing Eve and A Very English Scandal.
Steffan Rhodri will be reprising his role as Dave Coaches, the local bus driver and a former flame of Nessa. The Welsh actor has starred in a number of TV shows, both in English and in Welsh. Recently, he starred in the BBC Welsh drama Men Up, as well as S4C's Yr Amgueddfa and Hinterland (Y Gwyll). Fans may have also realised he starred in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, in which he plays the role of Reginald Cattermole.
Surprise faces also making an appearance in the finale were:
Sonia - Laura Aikman. Of course we recognise her from the last Christmas episode but Laura has appeared in ITVX dramas Archie and Joan, as well as Casualty, Waterloo Road and a whole host of UK TV shows.
Cath - Pam Ferris, aside of playing Smithy's narcoleptic mother Pam Ferris is a great of UK TV and film. She was the horrible Miss Trunchbull in the 1996 film version of Mathilda and many TV viewers will know her as Ma Larkin from the 1990s Darling Buds of May.
Anna Maxwell Martin (wedding registrar) Such is the calibre of Gavin & Stacey the sublime AMM doesn't get a name, you'll know this star from Motherland, Line of Duty, Ludwig and most recently Until I Kill You on ITV.
Rudi - Sheridan Smith. The great Sheridan Smith finally reappears as Rudi, Smithy's sister. We know her from Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager.....and in recent years has been a mainstay in UK drama like The Teacher, Cleaning Up, Four Lives as well as many leading stage roles.
Budgie - Russell Tovey reprises his role as the lovable Budgie, Gavin and Smithy’s friend from Essex. Like many of the cast, Tovey has garnered a glittering career following the comedy show. He went on to star on another BBC Three Comedy, Him & Her alongside Sarah Solemani, BBC’s drama Years and Years created by Welsh writer Russell T Davies, and more than recently in the American series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which was created by Ryan Murphy.
Dirtbox - Andrew Knottis back as another of Gavin and Smithy’s Essex pals. Long before Gavin & Stacey, Knott starred in the 1993 film version of The Secret Garden as Dickon Sowerby. He also starred in the production of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys with James Corden and Russell Tovey. Since Gavin & Stacey, he has starred in Netflix’s Black Mirror and Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge.
Chinese Alan is played by Dominic Gaskell. Gavin and Smithy’s friend famous for his tagline: ‘Did someone order a Chinese?’.
Fingers - Samuel Anderson will be reprising his role as Fingers, another of Gavin and Smithy’s friends from Essex. He played Cowther in The History Boys alongside James Corden, Russell Tovey and Andrew Knott. He has also starred in BBC’s Doctor Who and Sky 1+ sitcom Trollied.
Nessa and Smithy's registrar - Rakie Ayola. Another Welsh acting legend popped up in the show's end. Cardiff-born Rakie has been in the Pact, No Offence, Grace, Netflix's Kaos and Anthony.
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Gavin And Stacey: The Finale is available on BBC iPlayer.
