The characters in Gavin & Stacey look set to have a happy ever after as final scenes will include a wedding.

The hit BBC show is returning for a last ever episode on Christmas Day this year – with filming taking place in Wales and Essex over the past few weeks. Show creators James Corden and Ruth Jones, who play Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith and Vanessa Shanessa ‘Nessa’ Jenkins respectively, have reunited with titular stars Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, who plays Gavin Shipman and Stacey West, along with the wider cast.

Filming for the festive special is wrapping up and sneak peak photographs from the set of the show appear to show that two beloved characters will be swapping vows in emotional scenes. Former talk show host James, 46, and Welsh actress Ruth, 56, have been snapped in formal wear.

And eyewitnesses from the set of the comedy have provided some insider details which appear to give away major plot points for the grand finale special. Fans who want to be surprised once the show finally airs may want to look away now or have the surprises spoiled.

Nessa actress Ruth Jones was spied with a wedding ring on ( 
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As was James Corden when dressed as Smithy ( 
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It appears Smithy and Nessa will finally say “I do” in wedding scenes for the last ever episode of the show. A source told The Mirror: “Nessa and Smithy are married! The pair are seen filming the final scenes to the Christmas special wearing matching wedding bands.

“The filming scenes are a wedding celebration party back in Barry, after they get married in Essex in the show. Nessa was seen in a flowing black dress, very much in the style of the character with Smithy in an England M&S Blazer.” The source added that there were scenes of happiness and joy on the set.

They revealed: “The group were heard doing the conga as they wrapped on filming. In a cute twist, the very first Gavin and Stacey scenes were shot in the Tadcross Arms, the same venue for the very last scene.”

A source has confirmed the characters will get married in the last ever episode ( 
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Photos from the set show Ruth wearing a flowing black wedding gown – with a ring clearly on her finger. The star was joined by Joanna while filming, and the ladies wrapped up in warm winter coats between takes. While show stars Larry Lamb – who plays Gavin’s father – and Matthew also joined Ruth on set.

Matt looked colourful in a cucumber green shirt, green trousers, and a designer cardigan. While Larry added even more pops of colour in a jazzy purple shirt and salmon pink trousers. Meanwhile, James looked smart in his suit and dark coloured shirt and trousers. He joined the others at the same location where filming continued.

Back in May, the BBC confirmed Gavin& Stacey would return for a last ever episode following weeks of speculation that James and Ruth had penned a new episode. Amid rumours of a bidding war between the BBC and Netflix to show a grand finale, the Beeb revealed they had secured a final episode of the show.

The corporation wrote via X at the start of the summer: “We’ll have: A chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadums and the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey!!! Coming this Christmas Day on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer.” The message accompanied an image of James and Ruth hiding behind a script for the last episode, which is simply titled: “Gavin and Stacey: The Finale”.

Alison Steadman – who play Gavin’s mother Pam alongside Larry’s Mick – previously expressed their joy over the fact the show was returning for a last hurrah. Alison told Radio Times in August: “A special would be great fun and it wouldn’t be too draining and exhausting.” While Larry added: “A one-hour special, which is three weeks of really intense work, that will do me.”

Fans of the show have been furiously speculating what will happen in the grand finale. One fan told the BBC they think a long-running joke about Rob Brydon’s character Bryn will be resolved. They said: “We’ll find out about the fishing trip, there’ll be a big wedding and they’ll all end up having a curry. They can’t leave it on another cliffhanger, otherwise they’d have to do another one, wouldn’t they?”

Matthew Horne was spied wearing a medley of greens ( 
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Larry Lamb also wore bright colours on the set ( 
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And another fan also hoped the show will avoid a cliffhanger – as the last special which aired in 2019 landed on something of a teasing final note. They said: “They left it on a bit of a cliffhanger so it will be good to find out what happens. A lot of people, including myself, are anxious to find out what happens. What do I think happens? I reckon they get together, Nessa and Smithy. A happy ending.”

Gavin and Stacey first started airing in 2007 – when it began life as a BBC Three comedy. It went on to become a huge hit and moved over to BBC one where it enjoyed regular audiences in excess of 7 million.

The 2019 Christmas special – which was the last episode of the long-running show to air – pulled in over 18 million viewers, being one of the biggest hits of that year. The episode focused largely on the relationship struggles of Nessa and Smithy – who continued to raise their son, Neil, together despite Smithy living hundreds of miles away in Essex.

Joanna Page has joined Ruth for scenes of the last ever episode ( 
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The cast have expressed their excitement about the grand finale ( 
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Huge crowds of fans have gathered in Wales where Gavin and Stacey has been filing – much to the delight of the cast. Approaching fans after a day of filming last month, Ruth told the crowd: “Thank you so much for standing here today and being so patient. You haven’t seen anything because we’ve been indoors, which shows that you are true committed fans of the show and we hope that you won’t be disappointed on Christmas Day, when all will be revealed.”

Joanna has also shared her joy over the fact fans have continued to support the show. She told a podcast last month: “We’ve been filming down by Stacey’s house recently and we did have barriers up for the last special, but the barriers set back quite far apart now, so, you know, like, far down the road, so you can’t really see anything or see what’s going on. But it’s mad! You pull up in the car, and then you get out, and the crowd just go, ‘Whay!’ and cheer. You genuinely feel like a pop star or something.”

She also teased some key scenes that she has with fellow Welsh star Ruth. Joanna said: “I’m having so much fun. Absolutely loads. It’s mad, though. It’s absolutely mad. I mean, we’ve been down the slots, and I’ve been filming my stuff with Nessa down the slots and it’s just mad because there’s so many people. We will be filming, and then the beach will suddenly, you know, get full of people coming to watch.”