Gavin and Stacey: Record-Breaking Finale Captivates the Nation

A Television Phenomenon Comes to an End

The final episode of Gavin and Stacey has made television history, becoming the UK’s most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002, with ratings at 19.3 million. The beloved British sitcom, which first aired in 2007, concluded its journey on Christmas Day 2024 with a 90-minute special that captured the hearts of millions across the United Kingdom.

Unprecedented Christmas Day Success

The highly anticipated finale was the most-watched Christmas Day programme of 2024, with 12.3 million viewers tuning in for the overnight broadcast. The figures continued to grow as the last-ever episode took the top spot on Christmas Day and has since added over 6 million to its total, putting the series well on track to reach over 20 million total viewers. This remarkable achievement surpassed the show’s previous 2019 Christmas special, which attracted 18.5 million viewers.

The 90-minute farewell was the biggest audience for a Christmas Day broadcast on UK television since the episode of Only Fools & Horses on December 25 2001, which attracted 21.3 million viewers. The BBC dominated Christmas Day viewing, with all ten of the most-watched programmes airing on its channels.

The Story Behind the Numbers

Created and written by James Corden and Ruth Jones, who also star as Smithy and Nessa, Gavin and Stacey originally ran for three series between 2007 and 2010. The 2019 episode ended on a major cliffhanger, when Nessa proposed to Smithy on Christmas Day, with the screen fading to black before viewers got a chance to hear his answer.

The finale resolved this five-year wait, featuring the romantic conclusion between Smithy and Nessa alongside the wider cast including Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, and Larry Lamb. Corden and Jones confirmed they had finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey, scheduled for Christmas Day on BBC One.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

The show’s success represents more than just impressive ratings. Of the 19.3 million viewers, 4.2 million are aged 16-34, making it the highest young audience for a scripted show since 2002. This demonstrates the programme’s broad appeal across generations.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s chief content officer, celebrated the achievement: “The numbers are truly outstanding, unprecedented even… It’s the show the entire nation has been talking about over the last week”. The creators themselves expressed their gratitude, stating they were “completely overwhelmed by the audience response and these astonishing viewing figures”.

Looking Forward

While the television series has concluded, Corden and Jones announced they will be releasing a book about the making of the beloved sitcom, titled “When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love and Friendship”, set to hit bookshelves on October 16, 2025. The book will explore how the pair turned the show into a cultural phenomenon.

The Gavin and Stacey finale represents a rare moment of collective television viewing in an era of fragmented streaming services, proving that quality storytelling about family, love, and community can still unite millions of viewers simultaneously.