Gavin and Stacey star ‘disappointed’ to be snubbed from final episode

A star of Gavin and Stacey has revealed he likely won’t be appearing in the show’s upcoming final episode.

After months of speculation, it was confirmed in May that the beloved sitcom would be returning for a Christmas special later this year.

The BBC comedy, which was first released in 2007, followed Mathew Horne’s Gavin Shipman and Joanna Page’s Stacey West relationship as their families – from Essex and Barry Island respectively– also got to know each other.

The show, which also starred creators Ruth Jones and James Corden as Nessa and Smithy, initially wrapped up in 2010, before coming back in 2019 for a Christmas special.

Although many of the original stars will appear in the finale, one has expressed his disappointment after not being asked back.

Oscar Hartland played Neil the Baby, the son of Smithy and Nessa in four episodes of season 3 before returning for the 2019 special.  

However, he’s been left disheartened after seemingly being snubbed this time around.

‘I’m disappointed. I was hoping to get the call. Neil must feature in the final episode because he’s Smithy and Nessa’s son, they can’t write him out. Neil would be 15, the same age as me,’ he said.

But, when speaking to The Sun, Oscar said he ‘loved working on the show’ when he did appear, adding: ‘Although I obviously can’t remember my first spell as baby Neil because I was so young.

‘But I had a great time working again when I was ten, especially as I had to have a month off school. All my scenes were with Ruth, and she was brilliant with me, we got on really well. She was my on-screen mum and my off-screen mum too. She really looked after me.’

However, the teenager, who is also a singer, said he hadn’t given up hope of returning to the role.

‘They filmed the last Christmas Special in August so they can’t be far away. But I know that the script is being kept a strict secret and even Joanna Page who plays Stacey hasn’t got a clue where the story is going to go.’

Oscar added this was his ‘last chance’ to play Neil again, but said he was glad the episode would ‘bring closure to the show that everyone has loved for more than 17 years’.

Since last appearing on Gavin and Stacey, the schoolboy from Caerphilly, South Wales, has been studying for his GCSE’s.

Last year he also reached the semi-finals of The Voice Kids in 2023 and was mentored by McFly singer and guitarist Danny Jones.

The last episode of Gavin and Stacey ended with a cliffhanger when Nessa pulled out an engagement ring and proposed to Smithy, with the upcoming special set to reveal if Neil’s on-screen parents tied the knot.

Oscar added that ‘the story needs to be completed and we all want to know what happened’, which he hoped was ‘a happy ending’ for all of the main characters.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk earlier this year the actor also shared his ideas for his character’s development, which came before the show’s return was revealed.

‘Neil should have a dark turn. He has always been very likeable, so that would be fun,’ he said.

Gavin & Stacey returns on Christmas Day to the BBC.

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