Gavin And Stacey cast to take over BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show ahead of finale

The Gavin And Stacey cast will take over the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show ahead of the sitcom airing its final episode on Christmas Day.

James Corden and Ruth Jones, who created and starred in the comedy, will be joined by fellow cast members including Joanna Page, Mathew Horne, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Rob Wilfort on December 23.

Across the three-hour show, the stars will reveal insights into the making of the finale and share memories from the series, which began in 2007.

Ruth Jones as Nessa, Joanna Page as Stacey, Melanie Walters as Gwen, Rob Brydon as Bryn, and Matthew Horne as Gavin, in Gavin and Stacey: The Finale (Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson/BBC/PA)PA Media - Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson

They will also be getting listeners into the festive spirit by discussing their Christmas traditions and playing some of their favourite tracks.

Corden and Jones announced the takeover on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Tuesday, revealing they will kick off the December 23 show before the rest of the cast joins in.

“The entire cast will be here in the studio just two days before the last ever episode”, Corden said.

“We’re going to play Christmas songs, we’re going to try and have fun, we’re going to try and engage with everybody who’s listening, and we’re equally as excited as we are scared.”

Jones added: “What will be lovely about it as well, is it will be the last time that all of us will be in the same room together.”

The finale will air on December 23 followed by a documentary on January 1 (Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson/BBC/PA)PA Media - Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson

Reflecting on leaving the characters behind, she added: “We feel like they still exist. So for us, they’re carrying on living their lives in Barry or in Billericay, it’s just that we are not party to what goes on in their lives any more.”

The duo also revealed that Tuesday marks the last day they are working in the studio on the finale edit.

Fans of the character Pam, played by Steadman, can also hear the actress choosing the songs that have soundtracked her life and career for Tracks Of My Years with Gary Davies, who is sitting in for Vernon Kay on Radio 2, across the Christmas week.

Alison Steadman as Pam, on the set of Gavin And Stacey: The Finale (Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson/{PA)PA Media - Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson

Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, said: “This one-time-only Gavin And Stacey takeover of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show is going to be such a special festive treat for us all ahead of the must-see broadcast of the final ever episode on Christmas Day.

“I can’t wait to welcome Ruth, James and their brilliant co-stars to the station, to spread some Christmas magic to Radio 2 listeners.”

The hit TV series aired between 2007 and 2010 and returned in 2019 with a one-off festive special that ended on a cliffhanger when Jones’s character Nessa proposed to Corden’s character Neil “Smithy” Smith.

A documentary, Gavin And Stacey: A Fond Farewell, which will air on New Year’s Day and feature behind-the-scenes footage.

Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer.