TV review: Gavin and Stacey, BBC2 (From Blackpool Citizen)

TV review: Gavin and Stacey, BBC2

11:56am Friday 8th January 2010

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SO, the last Gavin and Stacey ever? Or was it?

The writers of the surprise comedy hit of the past five years have decided the show has run its course and bowed out with Christmas and New Year specials.

Both episodes attracted around nine million viewers, more than enough for the powers that be to grant it another series, but co-stars and writers Ruth Jones and James Corden have said enough is enough. Though, as always happens, they are bound to change their minds down the line, when future ideas don’t work and the bank balance looks a bit small.

The final episode led us to the much anticipated conclusion of the marriage of Ness (Jones) and Dave Coach (Steffan Rhodri).

The signs had been ominous with Ness showing not a flicker of excitement — “I’ve finished your dress. Would you like to try it on?” “No, I’ll try it on on the morning and if it doesn’t fit then you’ve ruined my day.”

Inevitably, the dress is a howler, but no-one dares say so.

Smithy (Corden)’s not happy and decides he can’t bear to be at the mother of his child’s wedding, but just at that moment when the regulation corny ending is called for (you know, when the vicar, who earlier enjoyed a pre wedding cigarette with the not very blushing bride, asks if anyone can come up with any reason the marriage cannot go ahead) he bursts into the church.

“I’ve got something to say . .. or have I? It’s not that I want to declare undying love for her or anything because I don’t. In fact, a lot of the time she repulses me. It’s just we have these moments, this connection,” he says.

Dave Coach asks Ness if she really loves him and she says she does, but Dave rightly concludes that she’s just looking for a father figure for the child and the ceremony is abandoned.

It’s not an hilarious ending, but at least avoids the obvious cheese of Gav and Ness running away together with Baby Neil.

All in, it’s been funny, but not side-splittingly so.

The soft humour of the likes of Bryn (Rob Brydon) clashes brilliantly with sick jokes such as naming the characters after serial-killers (Gavin Shipman, Stacey Shipman (nee West) and Pete Sutcliffe).

Regarding sit-coms, there’s not been much over the past few years, with the excellent festive repeats of I’m Alan Partridge highlighting the paucity of recent efforts, but I will miss Gavin and Stacey.

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