Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon has given fresh insight into rumours of an onset feud - as he revealed what it was really like to film the show's final ever scenes.
James Corden and Ruth Jones’ iconic sitcom is returning to screens for the last time this Christmas, five years after the show’s 2019 festive special and 14 years after the original show finished after three series, in 2010.
It has been rumoured Rob’s character Uncle Bryn may come to a sticky end in what could be a major upset for viewers. But much of the talk about this festive return to Barry Island has centred less on the onscreen drama and more on the reported rift between former best friends James Corden and Mathew Horne.
Mat, who plays Gavin Shipman, and James, who plays his ever-popular sidekick Smithy, were once inseparable after meeting on the sitcom in 2007. But their friendship was tested by a disastrous run of collaborations in the 2010s - including a flop sitcom Horne & Corden, a critically-panned film, Lesbian Vampire Killers, and a disastrous presenting gig at The BRITS. James himself admitted that they went from seeing each other “263 days a year" to not at all.
Rumours of a strained relationship only got worse when Mat didn’t take part in James’s episode of Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, and there has been more speculation since they began filming this latest special, with claims that the stars have socialised less outside of work than they did in their 00s' heyday.
Rob however has been quick to rubbish any suggestion of any ill feelings between the cast on the set. In fact, in a new interview, he claims filming the emotional last ever episode only made him realise how much love they all shared for each other.
“We had such an emotional time,” says Rob. “And people might hear that and say, ‘you're just an actor’. But [it’s been] 17 years, you know, doing this. Everybody loves everybody. There's nobody who doesn't get on with anybody else on it. We all love each other.”
The Whose Line Is It Anyway star even admitted to a few tears as the gravity of filming the final scenes dawned on him. “There we were, knowing it was going to be the very last episode, and so there were several times when I would feel myself kind of filling up, as I would look around and see these people that I'd been on this, for want of a better word, ‘journey’ with over all these years,” explains Rob.
“It's brought so much to all our lives, you know. With a character that I find so easy. Bryn to me is like putting on a comfy pair of slippers. There's very little effort… required. Which is strange because of course I'm very suave!”
While Rob has been careful not to give away too much of 'What’s Occurin’' in the plot, he’s confident the true fans will be pleased with their final trip to Barry Island. Speaking on this week's new episode of Dish from Waitrose with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, he says: “I've not seen it yet, but the script is fantastic. I just don't want to tempt fate [but] I think it's going to be, I think it's going to be really good.”
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BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson)James and Ruth announced they were rejoining forces for a final Gavin and Stacey outing earlier in this summer. It followed James’ decision to move his family back to Britain after nine years in the States, becoming a global name with his Late Late Show and its celeb-approved spin-offs like Carpool Karaoke.
And Smithy and Nessa fans weren’t the only ones who were thrilled with the news. Mat, who has since starred in Bad Education, Stacey star Joanna Page and Rob were among those on the original cast who were delighted. Speaking on the Dish podcast realest tomorrow, Rob says: “Isn't [it] amazing? And what an absolute dream, you know, to be in something that is so beloved.
“Cause you can be in a hit show, but this...people want.” The special is due to air on BBC One on Christmas Day. But whether it’s the happy ending people want is another thing entirely.
Speaking in an interview with The Big Issue last month, Ruth and James hinted that it might not be smooth sailing for their characters Nessa and Smithy, as their on-off romance finally reaches a conclusion. Ruth said: “I keep telling people this finale might not be what you are expecting. And I guarantee we will definitely not be coming back.”
Meanwhile James added: “What people are going to see on Christmas Day is the culmination of a 20-year love story, which hopefully shows, if nothing else, that love is complicated and messy and for everyone.”
As for talks of feuds on set, James has also been quick to dismiss speculation. Both he and Mat have insisted there was never any ill feeling between them despite going their separate ways professionally. And Mat has since claimed his refusal to do Life Stories was more to do with his dislike of Piers than his former co-star.
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BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson)Speaking earlier today to promote a BBC documentary about the final episode, James insisted the cast's friendship was actually the key to Gavin & Stacey's success. He said: “I think fundamentally the show is about love and about people who like each other.
"It's about family and friendship. There’s just so much warmth and love within them as a group. None of that is faked, that’s all there in our relationships as a cast really. I think there’s something very pure about watching people who get on and love each other without conflict. I hope people feel that on Christmas day.”
Rob Brydon is the guest on the new episode of Dish from Waitrose, available on all podcast providers from Wednesday December 11.
English (US) ·