James Corden shares emotional significance of last line in Gavin and Stacey finale

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Gavin and Stacey: The Finale

Gavin and Stacey fans were left in tears last night as they tuned in to the last ever episode on Christmas Day, as the gang’s story came to an end in suitably dramatic fashion.

There were groans up and down the country as it was revealed Smithy (James Corden) was set to marry not Nessa (Ruth Jones), but the high maintenance Sonia (Laura Aikman) we met the last time we had a Christmas special.

However, things took a more positive turn when he brutally decided to ditch Sonia at the altar and run off to confess his love to Nessa before she left the country.

Thankfully, our rightful couple eventually tied the knot before everyone headed to the pub to celebrate.

Smithy eventually left Sonia at the altar and rushed off to Nessa (BBC)

Speaking about filming the finale on The Graham Norton Show ahead of the episode airing, Corden and Jones admitted there were tears ‘basically every day’ from Stacey actor Joanna Page.

Mind you, it sounds like it wasn’t a particularly easy ride for anyone else, either.

Speaking about the emotions they felt as production wrapped, Corden said of their last day on set: “It was a very, very special day.

“We really kind of scheduled the show so that the very last line that we’ll ever hear in the episode is the last thing we shot - which anyone will tell you is so rare that you ever do. Normally, your last day, you’re out on a motorway on your own in a car, and people go, ‘Well done’, and you go, ‘Bye then’.”

He added: “But we really felt like we wanted everybody to be there at the very, very end, and it was just a lot of tears.”

The episode concludes with Smithy and Nessa’s small-scale wedding and their reception at a local pub.

After saying their vows, Smith’s invited to ‘kiss the bride’, but the couple explain that they ‘don’t kiss’ - “Never have. Never will.”

Instead, they shake hands, as Nessa asks him: “All right?”

Smithy replies: “Tidy.”

Smithy and Nessa sealed the deal with a handshake (BBC)

Smithy then pulls his new wife in for a hug, as the others clap and cheer.

At the reception, Stacey tearfully says to Gavin: “God, Gav, I can’t believe it... Smithy and Nessa. Who’d have thought?”

Gavin replies: “I know. Only took them 17 years.”

Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house...