31/11
As Essex and Wales collide, Gavin and Stacey fall in love and bring their friends, family and luggage with them. Apart from the scenes filmed on location in London in the first episode, the entire series, including the scenes set in Essex, were filmed in Wales. The shipowners’ (Gavin’s family) home is in the village of Dinas Powys, 1 mile northwest of Barry, where the Wests (Stacey’s family) live. In series 3, both Bryn and Gavin’s cars have completely different registration numbers than in the previous series. Gavin’s blue Saxo has changed from a T-Reg (mine was 1999) to an X-Reg (mine was 2000). Brynn’s green Picasso has changed from a CV02 (mine is 2002, registered in Cardiff) to an HV54 (mine is 2004, registered in Portsmouth). They are clearly different cars.. Featured in Gavin and Stacey: Outtakes (2007). Driven by Stephen Fretwell. Played by Stephen Fretwell. This was a delightful, short, minimal undertaking that took me two or three days. It’s nothing mind-blowing and it doesn’t move mountains or change ideals. Instead, it’s a character study of a couple’s relationship and two (extensive) families who come together after marriage – one from Wales and the other from England. It’s an easy, fun, friendly watch. I wish there were more shows like this, where every character is good-hearted, loving, common-sense, and despite their faults, thinks about and expresses love for the people in their lives. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s not contrived either. It’s an honest slice of life, and it’s beautiful. It’s not a laugh-a-minute comedy like British comedies often are. Instead, this is character-driven. Highly recommended.