34/37
Essex and Wales collide when Gavin and Stacey fall in love and bring their friends, family and luggage with them. Apart from the scenes filmed in London in the first episode, the entire series was filmed in Wales, including the scenes set in Essex. The house that served as the Shipmans’ House (Gavin’s family) is located in Dinas Powys, a village 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 previous series. Gavin’s blue Saxo has changed from T-reg (MR 1999) to X-reg (MR 2000). Bryn’s green Picasso has changed from CV02 (MR 2002, registered in Cardiff) to HV54 (MR 2004, registered in Portsmouth). They are clearly different cars. It is featured in Gavin & Stacey: Outtakes (2007). RunBy Stephen Fretwell Starring Stephen Fretwell. It was a lovely, short and minimal undertaking that took me two or three days to get through. It’s nothing mind-blowing and it’s not mountain-moving or paradigm-shifting. It’s more of a character study of two (extended) families who come together – one from Wales and the other from England – after a couple’s union and marriage. It’s an easy, fun and friendly watch. I wish there were more shows like this where each of the characters were kind-hearted, loving, socially-minded and thought about those in their lives and expressed love for them, despite their faults. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s not contrived either. It’s an honest slice of life and it’s beautiful. It’s not the laugh-out-loud slapstick that British comedies often are. It’s more character driven. Highly recommended.