What time Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is on TV and which stars are returning

James Corden, Mathew Horne, Joanna Page and Ruth Jones are all back tonight (Image: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)

The BBC is gifting fans with a 90-minute Gavin and Stacey Christmas delight as the Yuletide celebrations draw to a close.

It's been half a decade since the beloved series delivered a Yule surprise complete with a cliffhanger ending. Eager devotees of the treasured BBC comedy are on tenterhooks, desperate to discover whether Smithy (played by James Corden) responded to Nessa's (portrayed by Ruth Jones) marriage plea and whether the enigma of the fishing trip will ever be unravelled.

Teasing the much-anticipated final chapter, Ruth Jones has shared her sentiments, revealing that the characters "really do exist" in her mind. The celebrated co-creator continued: "It's not like they're dying well, watch the final. But the thing is, we feel like they still exist so for us, they're carrying on living their lives in Barry or Billericay, just we are not party to what goes on in their life any more."

With confirmation that this emotional whirlwind will indeed bring the series to an end, audiences can scarcely contain their excitement over the unfolding plot. Reports from the Manchester Evening News indicate a narrative rich with familiar faces and startling developments: Uncle Bryn (enacted by Rob Brydon) gearing up for his excursion to Essex, Gwens odd behavior stirring the pot, Nessa launching into the world of entrepreneurship, and Neil the Baby venturing into an apprenticeship.

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Rob Brydon will be doing the limbo at the festive party in Billericay (Image: BBC/Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson)

The suspense doesn't end there, as Pam grapples with her anxiety to be the exemplary hostess, while Mick's freshly embraced retirement pastime of indoor golf promises to rouse familial sparks. To top it all off, Pete and Dawn continue to add to the domestic fray, reports Belfast Live.

If you're ready for a pop at the limbo stick, Bryn's festive antics in the BBC teaser suggest it will be a hoot.

Wondering when the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is on? Set your reminders for the much-awaited Gavin and Stacey finale airing on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Gavin and Stacey fans can't believe its the end of an era (Image: BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Who will grace our screens in the full cast of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special?

Alison Steadman, reflecting on the final moments of production, shared: "We were all dreading that final scene when we finished. I think 90% of us were in tears, some people braved it, because it's been so fantastic."

Steadman called the series "fabulous" and acknowledged the cast are going to "miss filming it".

Boasting the highest overnight Christmas ratings in over a decade, the 2019 special captivated an average of 11.6 million viewers. Furthermore, it clinched the impact award at the 2020 National Television Awards, during which Ruth Jones went full Nessa and cheekily told Sir Tom Jones: "You never write, you never call! There's still a lot of electricity between me and Sir Tom, and don't you knows it! ".

On her stint on The One Show, Joanna Page opened up about her first impressions of the script nearly two decades earlier: "I just opened the script and thought 'I know this person' and to have something where I can be Welsh and use my own voice, you feel so much closer to the character."

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The actress disclosed her feelings about leaving the role of Stacey, asserting, "She's in me and she'll always be there."

She underscored her sentiments by saying, "The thing I will miss the most is the whole of our family, that has been the best bit."

Fans are reminded to tune into "Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell" airing on New Year's Day at 7pm on BBC One, offering a 60-minute homage to the cherished series and its remarkable 17-year run.