Daily Mail: Ruth Jones says Gavin & Stacey is NOT returning for Christmas special

Story from Daily Mail:

Gavin And Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones has shut down rumours that the British sitcom is returning for a Christmas special.

On Tuesday, reports circulated online claiming the cast was set to film a new episode over the summer with the plan to air it at Christmas, five years on from a dramatic cliffhanger.

Welsh actress Jones, who starred in and co-created the show with James Corden, confirmed it was 'sadly a rumour' on RTE Radio 1 on Wednesday.

Asked about the reports, she said: 'Apparently there's a bidding war going on between the BBC and Netflix and I love it because it says 'a source says', who is this source?' 5-Jones added: '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 actress, who played Nessa in the beloved show, revealed that she thinks the rumours were sparked after she was photographed having lunch with Corden a few months back after he returned to the UK from living in America.

'Then the next thing is 'Oh my god they must be writing more Gavin And Stacey', which is lovely,' she said.

'It's lovely that people are so desperate for it because imagine if it was the opposite and were like 'Oh, god, you're not bringing that back again'.'

US outlet Deadline reported on Tuesday that the new special was in development/pre-production stages currently and that it will be produced by Steve Coogan's Baby Cow, Jones' Tidy Productions and Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by Corden.

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.

It ran for three series from 2007 to 2010, returning in 2019 for a festive special which picked up 10 years after the previous instalment.

At the climax of the episode, Nessa got down on one knee to propose to Smithy, played by Corden, but viewers did not get to hear his response.

The pair had an on-off relationship during the series and in the special it was revealed they were successfully co-parenting their son, Neil.

Reflecting on the cliffhanger, Jones said: 'I quite like the idea of it just lingering there and us wondering 'What did she say? Are they together?'

'I think she's (Nessa) still working down the slots, probably coaching the Welsh rugby team because she's very good at that.'

The show also starred Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin's mother Pam and father Mick while Melanie Walters and Rob Brydon portrayed Stacey's widowed mother Gwen and her eccentric uncle Bryn.

During its time it graduated from BBC Three to BBC One and picked up multiple accolades including Bafta and British Comedy Awards gongs.

Speaking about what the show means to her, Jones said: 'James and I talk about Gavin And Stacey a lot because of course we do, it's a huge part of our lives.

'We love those characters. We often say 'Oh, imagine if Bryn's doing this and Nessa came in'.'

She added: 'People say that the show got them through bad times in their life - grieving or divorce or illness. What a compliment that is...

'I am complimented and so is James. We are completely grateful for what it's done for us in our lives, because it has done a huge amount.'

The 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.

It saw Nessa - played by Jones - get down on one knee and propose to Smithy. The episode left a huge cliffhanger, with viewers left to wonder what would happen to the pair and their unexpected relationship.

The special also went on to win the impact award at the National Television Awards in 2020.

Fans have long hoped Corden's decision to move back to the UK following his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US will increase the chances of making another episode.

Speculation went into overdrive after Corden, 45, was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth Jones, 57, in London's Soho in November.

Sheridan Smith addressed the possibility of a reboot of the smash hit sitcom in an interview late last year.

Speaking to Jason King and Kelly Brook on Heart Breakfast, Smith said she didn't know if the show will return, but said she thinks 'so many shows overdo it'.

The actress - who played Rudi, the sister of Corden's Smithy - suggested that the show would not be back, despite fans 'all wanting' the all-star cast to return.

During her radio appearance, she said: 'I have not a clue if they're going to do any more or not, I really don't know.'

'I think what they've done is genius, they've left it on a high haven't they, so many shows overdo it, because we all want more, we all want more Gavin & Stacey.'

Her comments came after Page crushed fans' hopes of a comeback, claiming the legendary sitcom was unlikely to ever return.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Joanna said: 'I can see them never doing any more because it was nice to leave it on a cliffhanger because it's up to the viewer to imagine what would have happened. So I can imagine them ending it like that.'

Yet she added: 'All I can say is, if they were going to do another one I hope it's soon because we're all getting so old, I don't particularly want to see Stacey get that much older.

'And if there is a comeback, I'll find out at the same time as the public because I don't get told anything.'

The BBC today declined to comment.

Previously, actors Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman, who play Gavin's father Mick and mother Pam, revealed a huge show secret that will no doubt leave many fans in shock.

Joanna Page previously let fans in on a secret about one of the famous Gavin & Stacey scenes from the original festive episode in 2008.

The Welsh actress said when her on-screen father-in-law Mick Shipman took to the keyboard to perform Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas but the moment was actually fake.

Joanna explained that Larry Lamb, who played Mick, had piano lessons but it made no difference as he was still 'dreadful' on the instrument so editors made the decision to dub the scene.

In the episode, Mick 'played' the festive classic while surrounded by the main cast, Gavin, Pam, Smithy and Nessa, in the Shipmans' living room after his wife gifted him the keyboard for Christmas.