Show 8.

Gavin and Stacey


Starring Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Ruth Jones, James Corden...


Originally starting on BBC Three, this is of the few shows to make the leap to BBC One. The titular characters are Gavin Shipman (Horne) and Stacey West (Page).  The show follows their long distance relationship from Gavin's hometown of Billericay, Essex to Barry Island, Wales where Stacey and her family live. The title characters aren't all that the show is about. Their best friends, Smithy (Corden) and Nessa (Jones) have a certain appeal to the audience. Even perhaps, their story throughout the whole three series and christmas special is more intriguing than the archetypal relationship of Gavin & Stacey. With many sexual encounters between them, one of them resulting in a baby called Neil. The supporting cast is filled with British TV stalwarts; Larry Lamb as Gavin's dad, Michael Shipman, Rob Brydon as Stacey's Uncle Bryn, Alison Steadman as Gavin's mum, Pamela, Melanie Walters is Gwen West, Stacey's mother.
I really like this programme because its a really likeable show that isn't pretentious at all, so lifelike. It doesn't sugar coat family life or sensationalise it in any way. Every single thing that happens in the twenty episodes is plausible in real life. The fact that James Corden and Ruth Jones are the writers of the show and they haven't made themselves the protagonists really lets their characters, 'Smithy' and 'Nessa' in fact become the people that the audience warm up to easiest. A cast of eccentrics are assembled round the writers' characters that compliment them perfectly. This romantic comedy will stand the test of time and will be remembered as most definitely the best thing to come out of BBC Three, probably ever, seeing what rubbish they are making at the moment. It is officially better than Robbie Williams, Oasis, Kylie etc, this is because that it has cracked America, thanks to BBC America, becoming a hit when broadcast on Friday evenings. All these things amalgamate to make this show a massive success, which has even resulted in an American remake by ABC. I do hope it doesn't ruin the franchise. That is all.