The last-ever episode of the hit sitcom Gavin and Stacey will be shown on Christmas Day, the BBC has confirmed.
The show, which has been watched by more than a quarter of the UK’s population, making it the most popular scripted programme of the last 10 years, will make a final return five years on from a dramatic cliffhanger.
The stars and creators James Corden and Ruth Jones celebrated finishing writing the show’s last script in a joint post on Instagram.
It said: “Some news ... It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin And Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James.”
The BBC confirmed the programme with reference to a much-quoted takeaway curry order from Corden’s character, Smithy: “We’ll have: A chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and the last-ever episode of Gavin And Stacey!!! Coming this Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer.”
The comedy series revolves around the characters Gavin and Stacey, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, as they pursue a long-distance relationship between Billericay in Essex and Barry in Wales.
The show ran for three series from 2007 to 2010, returning in 2019 for a festive special that ended with an unanswered marriage proposal.
At the climax of the episode, Nessa, played by Jones, got down on one knee to propose to Smithy, but viewers did not get to hear his response.
That episode was watched by 11.6 million people, smashing the show’s own viewing record and marking the biggest festive ratings success in more than a decade.
Jones had previously shut down rumours that the series would return. The Welsh actor said it was “sadly a rumour” on RTÉ Radio 1 in February.
The show also stars Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin’s mother, Pam, and father, Mick, while Melanie Walters and Rob Brydon play Stacey’s widowed mother, Gwen, and her eccentric uncle, Bryn.
During its time, it moved from BBC Three to BBC One and picked up accolades including Bafta and British comedy awards.
At the height of the show’s popularity in 2009, Brydon achieved a UK No 1 alongside Sir Tom Jones and Robin Gibb with the song (Barry) Islands in theStream, released in aid of Comic Relief.
Corden quit the CBS Late Late Show and Carpool Karaoke last year after an eight-year stint in the US.