WE are being given a double helping of Gavin & Stacey this Christmas, I can reveal.
It is one of the most eagerly anticipated TV events of 2024 — but as well as the grand finale, the BBC will be screening a special behind-the-scenes documentary looking at the sitcom’s 17-year history.
Cameras have been allowed in to provide an exclusive peek during the making of the farewell instalment featuring Mathew Horne and Joanna Page as the title characters.
It will air around the same time this festive season, and is expected to get almost as many viewers as the comedy being written by co-stars James Corden and Ruth Jones.
A TV insider said: “The Beeb view this as a momentous occasion and wanted to give Gavin & Stacey a suitably auspicious send-off. The fact that the documentary will be made by Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by James and is a co-producer of the sitcom, means they’ll enjoy full access on set and get all the biggest chats.
“It is likely to be made in tandem with the show itself, filming the creative process of delivering the finale from the first to the last day.”
It was revealed in February that Gavin & Stacey would be coming back, with James and Ruth said to be working on the script already.
There were even reports that streaming giant Netflix could swoop in and steal it.
But the Beeb quickly moved in to prevent that and have secured it for Christmas Day.
That is partly down to the fact the last Gavin & Stacey festive special, which was in 2019, had a record 18million viewers.
They saw feisty Welsh trucker Nessa, played by Ruth, propose to James’ Essex boy character Smithy, creating the ultimate cliffhanger.
Now they are likely to find out whether he accepted in the finale, along with the unique insight provided by the documentary.
Tidy.
Hold on tight
AMANDA Holden can’t get enough of latex – and she’s promising to squeeze into more tight outfits for the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
Over the years she has worn an array of clinging dresses, with many of them attracting complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom.
But the BGT judge has teased she has more of them ready and waiting for the ITV talent series’ live shows this week.
Ahead of the first one tonight at 8pm, she told me: “I definitely think I’ll be wearing more latex, because I love a bit of latex. I like to get people talking.
“So let’s see what happens. I’m never going to change because I find fashion fun.
“It shouldn’t be taken so seriously.”
Last week I revealed BGT bosses are poised to sign a £100million deal that would extend the hit show over three months.
ITV aims to make it the jewel in the channel’s crown, with plans that could overtake BBC’s Strictly by super-sizing the run from February to May next year.
It sounds like Amanda will need to get a bulk order of latex in now.
Monster fun for Benedict
BENEDICT Cumberbatch and his co-stars behaved like kids on set when they saw the 7ft monster that has a leading role in new mini-series Eric.
In the drama, available on Netflix from Friday, Benedict plays a puppeteer who works on a children’s show.
It took writer Abi Morgan and her team months of planning to decide on the details of life-sized monster puppet Eric, complete with horns and sharp teeth.
She said: “When Eric first came out from behind the curtain, we all became like children.
“We had Ivan Howe as Edgar on set – a proper child – but the rest of us were all like kids when Eric was around. It was playful for all of us.
“At one point, we stopped talking to the puppeteer Ollie entirely and were totally invested in Eric.
“It really did do something quite magical.”
1% Club's name nightmare
VIEWERS of The 1% Club were angered as the game show changed the name of contestant and Big Brother star Yinrun Huang, due to it being “hard to pronounce”.
Some people complained to Ofcom as the ITV logic test, which aired on Saturday night, called her “Runrun”.
Ghosts: It’s not a dead end
THERE is good news for fans of hit comedy Ghosts with more fun to come from the spooky gang.
Martha Howe-Douglas, who played Lady Button in the five series of the BBC One show that ended last year, said: “There are other projects related to Ghosts in the offing, but I can’t talk about them yet. I certainly want to do more, in whatever form it takes.”
Ideas previously mentioned for the comedy set in a haunted mansion include a film, stage version and Christmas special.
Martha, who is appearing in stage show The Government Inspector, added: “I cried repeatedly when we were filming the final scenes of the fifth series.
“I really missed not going back to playing Lady Button.”
Outlaw Rhianne jealous
RHIANNE Barreto is back for more in the third series of The Outlaws as she is reunited with her on-screen ex-boyfriend Gamba Cole.
The TV relationship turned sour at the end of the last series of BBC One’s comedy drama set in Bristol.
And just like her character Rani, the actress was not pleased to find out old flame Christian looked to be moving on with someone else.
Rhianne joked of finding out about the newcomer: “I don’t like it – and not just as Rani. Even watching those scenes, I hate it, because I want that for Rani and Christian. I’ve played someone who is interested in Gamba in two shows now, and it’s getting a bit awkward.
“It’s very Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.”
The show that follows the adventures of a group of strangers forced together on a community payback scheme also stars Stephen Merchant.
It is back on Thursday at 9pm.
'Black Mirror territory'
DOCTOR Who showrunner Russell T Davies says new episode Dot And Bubble will take the sci-fi series into “Black Mirror territory”.
Saturday’s helping will visit the city of Finetime, where a terror haunts citizens.
In Doctor Who Magazine, He added: “Although it’s Black Mirror-like, it’s more Doctor Who.”
C4 flirts with sad couples
IT feels like Channel 4 is in an open relationship when it comes to dating shows, with a new model on the scene most months.
Now, fresh off the back of throuples series Love Triangle, I can reveal the broadcaster is flirting with its latest format, Couples Camp.
Brave pairs will put their relationship under the microscope with marriage counselling and bond-boosting tasks.
A source said: “Channel 4’s number one will always be ratings-winner Married At First Sight.
“But that doesn’t stop them testing the waters with new ideas – and break-ups always produce drama.
“Production has started on the show and talks are under way with a number of channels, but Channel 4 is thought likely to pick it up for E4.”
I would love to see it go the distance, just so we get a celebrity special.