Alison Steadman has claimed that ‘Gavin and Stacey’ was only written after she agreed to do the show.
The television veteran, 78, plays Pam Shipman in the BBC Three comedy series from 2007 until 2010 – and for its 2019 and 2024 Christmas specials.
Alison previously worked with Gavin and Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden on Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends in the years prior.
Now, the actress has revealed that she laughed ‘so much’ at Ruth and James’ speculative script for the pilot that her co-stars decided to write the full series.
‘It just made me laugh so much. Having said: “Yes, I’ll do it,” they wrote the first series.’
Alison Steadman claimed to Prima Magazine on Tuesday that ‘Gavin and Stacey’ was only written after she agreed to do the show
The television veteran, 78, plays Pam Shipman in the BBC Three comedy series from 2007 until 2010 – and for its 2019 and 2024 Christmas specials
Gavin and Stacey follows the lives of the Shipmans and the Wests, who become intertwined Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page) begin a long-distance relationship from Essex and South Wales respectively.
She told Prima Magazine on Tuesday: ‘I’d worked with Ruth and James on Fat Friends, and they sent me one episode.
‘The first scene I read was the one when Pam’s lying on the couch with slices of cucumber on her eyes.
‘Gavin comes home from work, and says: “All right, Mum?” And she says: “No, I’m not actually. I’ve been watching this programme about these badgers, and they’re crying because the little badgers have died.”
‘He says: “Mum, badgers don’t cry.” And she says: “Gavin, I know what I saw”.’
Alison said the pilot made her laugh so much she immediately said she would be up for taking part – which inspired Ruth and James to then go and write the full season.
The show returned in 2019 for a festive special which ended on a cliffhanger which Nessa Jenkins proposed to Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith and will be back on screen over the upcoming Christmas period to answer all questions.
Filming has since taken place in Barry Island, Wales, and it recently wrapped up, with the cast bidding a final farewell to the show.
Alison previously worked with Gavin and Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden on Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends in the years prior
Now, the actress has revealed that she laughed ‘so much’ at Ruth and James’ speculative script for the pilot that her co-stars decided to write the full series (Pictured with co-star Larry Lamb)
Alison added: ‘It was wonderful to meet up again with Ruth and James for this year’s Christmas special. And with all the cast.
‘They are like our family to me.’
BBC shared earlier this month that after five weeks of filming, work on the beloved comedy series had concluded.
Sharing a clapperboard from the episode’s last scenes on Instagram, the post was captioned: ‘And that’s a wrap… for the last time ever. See you on Christmas Day!’
Filming for the series finale first began on September 2, and since then the cast have been pictured in a string of locations, including the famous Barry Island in Wales, which takes centre stage in the iconic comedy.
One of the main plot points that’s emerged appears to be Nessa’s wedding, which could provide an answer to the cliffhanger that ended the 2019 special.
Stars Ruth and James were said to be filming scenes for a wedding last month.
The Gavin and Stacey finale has wrapped filming ahead of its much-anticipated release on Christmas Day
The cast recently confirmed that they had finished filming scenes on the famous Trinity Street, (L-R Robert, Joanna, Ruth, Melanie, James, Rob)
However, the cast themselves have yet to confirm if Smithy and Nessa will indeed get their happy ending.
The cast recently confirmed that they had finished filming scenes on the famous Trinity Street, which acts as the backdrop for the homes of both Stacey and Gavin, her mother Gwen and uncle Bryn.
‘You haven’t seen anything because we’ve been indoors, which shows you’re true committed fans of the show and we hope that you won’t be disappointed on Christmas Day, when all will be revealed,’ Ruth told fans.
‘This is our farewell now to Barry and to Trinity Street, so you won’t be seeing us here anymore but we’ve had a wonderful 17 years, it’s been fantastic.’
