James Corden and Ruth Jones confirm Gavin and Stacey return in bittersweet announcement

James Corden and Ruth Jones have confirmed that Gavin and Stacey WILL return for another Christmas special - but it is bittersweet. The show's co-creators confirmed the news on social media on Friday (May 3).

Presenter and actor James, 45, teased a picture of him and Ruth peeking over a script stating: Gavin and Stacey: the finale, confirming this time it will be the last. But he did confirm it will be hitting our screens this year so fans won't have too long to wait to see how things work out for the Barry and Billericay clans.

Alongside the snap on Instagram, James wrote: "Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James."

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The BBC has also said: "We’ll have: A chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and the last ever episode of Gavin And Stacey!!! Coming this Christmas Day on BBC One and Player."

The hit TV series about a couple who commit to a long-distance relationship last aired in 2019 for a one-off festive episode which ended on a cliffhanger. Earlier this year, rumours have swirled that the sitcom will return for another Christmas special but the claims were then denied.

Ruth, who also plays Nessa in the show, shut down the reports and told RTE Radio 1: "It’s sadly a rumour… All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James and I would happily announce it, we would." The Welsh actress said she thinks the rumours were sparked after she was photographed having lunch with co-creator Corden a few months back after he returned to the UK from living in America.

Comedian and Welsh actor Rob Brydon, who played Uncle Bryn in the show, weighed in on the reports as well and told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he thought they were just “another rumour”.

The sitcom’s 2019 festive special scored the highest overnight Christmas ratings in 12 years when it aired, attracting an average audience of 11.6 million viewers, making it the biggest festive special since Christmas Day 2008. By the New Year, it had been viewed by 17.1 million people, making it the biggest scripted programme of the decade at the time.

The special also went on to win the impact award at the National Television Awards in 2020. The show, which also stars Joanna Page ,Mathew Horne and Larry Lamb, ran for three series from 2007 to 2010 before it returned in 2019 for a festive special which picked up a decade after the previous instalment.