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Here's Why 'Gavin & Stacey' Is The Greatest TV Show Of All Time

Here's Why 'Gavin & Stacey' Is The Greatest TV Show Of All Time

It's just what the country needs right now

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara Sheppard

It's not presents we want this Christmas, and it's not a turkey dinner either.

The highlight of the festive season this year will be discovering what's been occurrin' for the Shipman and West families over the past decade in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special.

In case you've been living under a rock, James Corden and Ruth Jones recently announced the return of the British comedy, which broadcasts on BBC1 at 8.30pm on Christmas Day.

Despite being off the air for nearly a decade, the show's relatable characters, hilarious one-liners and iconic story-lines have secured its place as one of the best British TV shows of all time. Here's why it's unbeatable:

The undeniable relatability

One of the things that makes Gavin and Stacey so great is its simplicity. A snapshot of everyday life, everyday people with all-too-familiar relationships face relatable dramas that we could apply to anyone we know.

We all know a Gavin (your classic everyman), a drama-loving mum like Pam, a friend as blunt as Nessa, a brother as reluctant to share their takeaway as Smithy, and a gran partial to getting as hammered as Dorris.

Gavin and Stacey airs on BBC1 on 25 December 2019 (
BBC)

The show's candid portrayals of serious issues

But among the laughs, the show tackles some hard-hitting story-lines. One of the strongest narratives is Smithy's struggle coming to terms with fatherhood, followed by the sadness of a father not being able to see his child as much as he would like.

The turmoil gets deeper in series three when Gavin comes to terms with his fertility issues. And in true Gavin and Stacey fashion, the poignant issues are met with entertaining jokes, like Pam's reference (and apology) to the "swimmers" in the beach episode.

The quotable one-liners

Gavin and Stacey managed to make "oh", which is debatably not even a word, into an iconic catchphrase. Since 2007, viewers have been floored by repeatable phrases and hilarious one-liners.

From Nessa's "Don't be a tw*t, Dave", to Smithy's "I'm so ravenous I can barely see", the simple-but-genius quotes have provided content for some of the internet's finest memes.


It's something the whole family can watch

After this month's political events, different generations coming together with lots of wine could end in disaster. But at least Gavin and Stacey is something everyone can agree on.

It's is one of the few shows that caters to all generations, leaving nieces and grandads on in fits on the sofa.

It changed the way we view women in comedy

The show makes a point of defying gender stereotypes, celebrating female friendship (and male bromance too), and has been a refreshing change from the male-produced, male-centric comedy in British media.

Nessa in particular is fiercely dominant, confident and candid about her sexuality. She's open about her lovers, her "tools, whips, and capes" and hilariously dresses up as Santa while forcing Gavin to sit on her knee.

Ruth Jones as Gavin and Stacey's Vanessa Jenkins (
BBC)

Gavin and Stacey's blind-date is all too familiar in the online dating age

It was the Tinder date before Tinder existed: meeting online, back-and-forth messaging for months before eventually taking a gamble on a meet up.

Whether it's Tinder, Hinge or Bumble, the anxiety and excitement before Gavin and Stacey's first date is something most of us can relate to.

The fact that the families are named after murderers

Here's a little fact for you: as a really random joke, the writers decided to base the surnames on the most famous serial killers of all time: Fred and Rose West, Peter Sutcliffe, and Harold Shipman.

Ruth Jones spoke about it during a documentary. She said: "We always knew we wanted to do a Christmas special - the idea of Christmas with the Shipmans and the Wests! I just love saying that."

Gavin and Stacey's Christmas Special (
BBC)

The Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special will broadcast on BBC1 on 25 December 2019 at 8:30 pm.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Christmas, BBC, TV News, TV Entertainment