14/19
Essex and Wales collide as Gavin and Stacey fall in love, bringing their friends, family and baggage with them. With the exception of scenes filmed on location in London in the first episode, the entire series was filmed in Wales, including scenes set in Essex. The house used as the Shipmans’ (Gavin’s family) home is in Dinas Powys, a village 1 mile (1.6 km) north-west of Barry, where the Wests (Stacey’s family) live. In Season 3, Bryn and Gavin’s cars have completely different registration plates to those in the previous season. Gavin’s blue Saxo has its T-plate (built in 1999) changed to an X-plate (built in 2000). Bryn’s green Picasso has its registration plate changed from CV02 (built in 2002, registered in Cardiff) to HV54 (built in 2004, registered in Portsmouth). They’re obviously different cars.. Featured in Gavin & Stacey: Outtakes (2007). Directed by Stephen Fretwell, played by Stephen Fretwell. This was a delightful, short, minimal production that I read through in two or three days. It’s nothing mind-blowing, and it doesn’t move mountains or shift paradigms. Rather, it’s a character study of two (extended) families that come together after a couple connect and marry – one from Wales, the other from England. It’s light, entertaining and pleasant to watch. I wish there were more shows like this, where each of the characters is kind-hearted, loving and community-minded, and thinks of and shows love to the people in their lives despite their faults. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s not contrived either. It’s an honest slice of life, and it’s beautiful. It’s not the slapstick comedy that makes you laugh all the time that British comedies often are. Rather, it is carried by the characters. Highly recommended.