BILLERICAY’S favourite on screen family will return to our screens once again as the creators of Gavin and Stacey have confirmed the series will return for its last-ever episode.

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, but the BBC sitcom is set to return on Christmas Day this year.

In an Instagram post, writer and star James Corden shared an image of him and fellow creator Ruth Jones with a 2024 script titled: “Gavin and Stacey: The finale.”

He 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.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard: The cast of Gavin and Stacey in 2019The cast of Gavin and Stacey in 2019 (Image: BBC/PA)

The BBC 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 iPlayer.”

Ruth Jones had previously shut down rumours that the series would return.

The Welsh actress said it was “sadly a rumour” on RTE Radio 1 in February.

The comedy followed the two titular characters Gavin and Stacey, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, as they pursued a relationship across Essex and Wales.

US outlet Deadline reported in February that the special was being produced by Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow, Ruth Jones’s Tidy Productions and Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by James Corden.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: James Corden and Ruth Jones wrote and starred in Gavin and Stacey togetherJames Corden and Ruth Jones wrote and starred in Gavin and Stacey together (Image: PA)

Joanna and comedian Rob Brydon, who played Uncle Bryn in the series, have all denied knowledge of the show’s return.

Running for three series from 2007 to 2010, a festive special in 2019 saw Smithy, played by James, and Nessa, whose characters had an on-off relationship, end on a cliff-hanger after Nessa, played by Ruth, proposed.

The 2019 festive episode scored the highest overnight Christmas ratings in 12 years when it aired, attracting an average audience of 11.6million viewers, making it the biggest festive special since Christmas Day 2008.

By the new year, it had been viewed by 17.1million 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.

Ruth Jones told journalist during the red carpet event that the barrier was James Corden living in the US prior to his exit from his talk show The Late Late Show With James Corden, which ended in 2023.

“We still have the same situation, which is that James and I live on different continents, so getting together to write is very difficult, so who knows?,” she said. “At the moment there are no plans.”