Reason why Gavin and Stacey character was removed from finale episode

WARNING: This article contains spoilers.

The Gavin and Stacey gang reunited last night for the final time - 17 years after the debut episode first landed on BBC One.

But it seems not all cast-members were invited back for the grand soiree, with fans noticing that one much-loved character was missing from the big-name line-up.

Despite producers, writers, cast and crew members being sworn to secrecy over what the last ever episode would consist of, fans were assured when the finale was announced earlier this year that the episode that all loose ends would be tied up.

They certainly were.

We finally learned what went down after Nessa proposed to Smithy back on Christmas Day in 2019, with the pair returning to plan a wedding.

Sadly, however, the nuptials weren't their own, with it being revealed that Gavin had actually interrupted that night and that Smithy had never given Nessa an answer, going on to get engaged to stick-up-her-a**e girlfriend Sonia.

The titular twosome came back with a bang - literally! - with Stacey hoping that some time away from the kids to help with planning the wedding would spice up her sex live with Gavin.

Pam and Mick made their long-awaited return with the pair attempting to acclimatise to retired life, with their troublesome neighbours Dawn and Pete also coming out of hiding, having since split up (but - spoiler - they do end up back in bed together...).

The Wales lot - Bryn, Jason and Gwen - also made an appearance, with the latter revealing she's actually been keeping a secret boyfriend behind the scenes.

All of the main lot returned (BBC)

As well as the central characters, viewers were also delighted to see several other supporting stars make their come-back after all these years - including many that chose not to appear during the last Christmas special five years earlier.

We saw Dave Gooch - also known as 'Dave Coaches' - revealed as Gwen's new lover, despite him having previously been engaged to Nessa, where he very nearly spilled the beans on what really went down on Bryn and Jason's fishing trip.

Smithy's sister Rudi and his mother Cath - played by acting mega stars Sheridan Smith and Pam Ferris - also appeared for his wedding.

Several of Gavin's school friends - including 'Budgie', 'Chinese Alan', 'Dirtbox' and 'Fingers' - attended Smithy's pretty catastrophic stag-do.

As we say, however, die-hard fans of the series were somewhat disappointed to learn that one particular supporting star wouldn't be included in the line-up.

We are, of course, talking about Dick Powell, the Welsh-only-speaking salesman who was made famous in the first three series' for supplying the group with stolen goods, from Sat-Navs to barbecue meats.

Despite only having made a physical appearance in two episodes ever, Dick - played by Gwynfor Roberts - is ceaselessly referred by the group, particularly Bryn.

Dick Powell was missing from the line-up (BBC)

Naturally, therefore, fans were gutted when he was left out of last night's proceedings.

Writers Ruth Jones and James Corden - who play Nessa and Smithy in the hit funny-fest - previously revealed that they did try their best to find a place to Dick in the hour-and-a-half long episode, but that they simply couldn't retain him.

"I think in the original script we had Dick Powell," Jones revealed during an early screening for the production. There just wasn’t room for him, God bless him."

Discussing the rest of the cast getting together again, she added, however: "It was lovely to bring them back."