‘Gavin & Stacey’ Creator Ruth Jones Explains Meaning Behind Children’s Names

*This article contains spoilers about the 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special*

If you missed the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special on Wednesday you were definitely in the minority. Over 11 million people tuned in to BBC One to see James Corden and Ruth Jones' absolutely lush update on where our favourite characters are 10 years on.

And as it goes, they're all exactly where we'd expect them to be.

Bryn is still as frantic and obsessional as ever. Pam still makes us howl with laughter every time she opens her mouth, and Smithy is still as loud, obnoxious and downright lovable as always.

But a lot has changed, too. While Stacey was pregnant the last time we saw her on screens, in this holiday special, it was revealed she and Essex boy Gavin now have not one but three children, named Harri, Meghan and Caitlin.

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Explaining the inspiration behind the kids' names, Ruth Jones said: "It was a little nod to Pam's love of the royal family, we wanted it to be transferred through Gavin into their name choices.

"So it is a little nod to the royal family."

We're sure Pam was absolutely thrilled.

The Christmas special showed that, like all parents, as their family begun to expand Gavin and Stacey were finding it hard to make time for each other.

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But a quick trip back to where they first declared their love in Barry Island soon reignited the spark in the marriage.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just those two who were feeling the Christmas love, as, in a shocking twist, Nessa decided to lay her feelings bare too.

In perhaps the most stressful cliffhanger in TV history, Ruth Jones' character got down on one knee and popped the question to James Corden's Smithy - with whom she shares son Neil.

The moment prompted the hashtag #sayyes to do the rounds on social media instantly, as fans of the pair were adamant there had to be another series to wrap things up and give them the wedding they truly deserved.

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However, ahead of the episode's release, Ruth said: "Honestly, hand on heart at the moment there is no plan, there have been no post it notes, there's been no sitting in a room mapping out another episode.

"But I think obviously there is room for it to move on. All I'm going to say now is: who knows."

We'll take that as a strong maybe, then. They can't just leave it there, surely?!

Topics: BBC, gavin & stacey,

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

@joannafreedman