PETA urges major change to Gavin & Stacey ahead of BBC hit's big finale
PETA has called on Gavin and Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones to turn Pam into a vegan for the show's finale.
The much-loved BBC sitcom is set to return this year for one final festive episode, with Alison Steadman, 77, reprising her role as Pamela Shipman, who has previously pretended to ditch meat in the series. Now, PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - has urged the writers to make sure Pam fully embraces a plant-based diet in her last appearance, claiming it would be a "wonderful note" to end the series on.
In an open letter to James, 45, and Ruth, 57, published by the Daily Mail, PETA's Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen wrote: "Before her brief 'vegetarian' stint, Pam worried she'd be known as 'Three Steaks Pam', and we understand why she'd be embarrassed by that moniker. Raising and killing for animals for food is cruel.
"Conversely, by adopting the nickname, 'Three Tofu Blocks Pam', the character would be a champion for animals and the planet -ditching animal-derived foods spares the lives of nearly 200 living, feeling beings every year while lowering individual carbon footprints by as much as 75 per cent.
"She'd also be at [a] decreased risk of suffering from stroke, heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and other ailments. Plus, vegans are, on average, up to nine kilograms lighter than adult meat-eaters an aspect we know would align well with Pam's priorities."
The organisation reassured that Pam could still enjoy a "well lush" festive feast. Elisa added: "By making Pam vegan for the finale, you'll ensure that - whether or not she gets 'drunk, drunk' this Christmas - she'll enjoy a 'well lush' spread while sparing clever pigs, curious turkey and industrious fish suffering."
"This act of compassion promoting a better tomorrow for everyone would be a wonderful note on which to end such a beloved series".
In the original series, Pam was initially about being called 'Three Steaks Pam' after adopting an Atkins Diet and loading her plate up with three steaks. Later on, she pretends to Stacey's family that she is a vegetarian after sending her husband Mick out to buy vegetarian options in case one of them was a vegetarian.
Following the announcement of the finale, Alison expressed her excitement about reprising her role as Pam for one last time, but acknowledged that gathering the cast - which includes Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Larry Lamb and Rob Brydon - could be "very difficult" due to their packed schedules. She told the Daily Mirror: "They are extremely busy people. Finding the time to put another show together is very difficult."
"These things take months and months. You develop it, you change it, and then you have another idea and so on. It's quite a long process. And then you've got to get the actors free."
