Gavin & Stacey spoilers follow for the 2024 Christmas special.
James Corden wanted to "trick everybody" with the plot line of Gavin and Stacey's final episode.
The hit show returned to screens with a new festive special on Christmas Day, five years after the 2019 special ended on a cliffhanger that saw Nessa (Ruth Jones) get down on one knee and propose to Smithy (Corden).
In the new episode, fans learned that Smithy never gave Nessa a proper answer to her marriage proposal and was instead preparing to tie the knot with Sonia (Laura Aikman).
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Speaking at a panel screening of the finale, Corden explained that Aikman's return as Sonia was kept firmly under wraps until the episode aired to protect the plot and "trick" fans into thinking that Smithy was marrying Nessa.
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"I had this idea at like three o’clock in the morning, and I called Ruth and I was like, I wonder if we could trick everybody into thinking that for the first six or seven minutes they’re just going to watch a wedding between Nessa and Smithy," he said.
"What was really interesting, was after the 2019 special, all people would say to us was 'What does he say?'
"They would never say, 'Who did he choose?' I don't even think it was in people's peripheral."
Related: James Corden confirms Gavin & Stacey "can’t carry on" beyond Christmas special
Sharing Jones’ reaction to the idea, Corden continued: "I remember calling Ruth on my drive into work and saying, 'I wonder if we could do this', and the way that writing the show works is I’ll just keep going to Ruth.
"I’m like a sort of excitable energizer bunny going, 'What if?' And Ruth goes, 'Nah,' I go, 'What if?' And then as soon as she goes, 'Oh, yeah,' I know that it’s great."
Thankfully, Smithy's wedding to Sonia didn't go ahead after his loved ones took it upon themselves to disrupt the ceremony. Smithy finally realised his feelings for Nessa, and the pair tied the knot in a low-key ceremony.
The finale attracted the largest Christmas Day audience in over a decade, drawing in an average of 12.3 million viewers.
The Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special aired at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Gavin & Stacey series 1-3 are available on the same platform.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
