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One beloved character didn’t make it into the final episode.
After 17 years of laughter, tears, and unforgettable moments, the Christmas Day finale of Gavin and Stacey was the perfect send-off for one of Britain’s most cherished TV shows.
From Neil the Baby tugging at heartstrings with his rendition of Blackbird to the unresolved mystery of the fishing trip and Nessa and Smithy’s heartwarming ending, the episode had everything fans could hope for.
The finale also delivered a delightful surprise by bringing back many characters from previous seasons. Let’s be honest, the reveal of Dave Coaches caught us all off guard!
While no one was clamoring for Sonia’s return, even supporting characters like Smithy’s mum (played by Pam Ferris) and Sheridan Smith’s Rudi (Smithy to her friends) made appearances.
However, one character who was supposed to return didn’t make the cut.
Who Is Dick Powell?
True fans of Gavin and Stacey will recognize the name Dick Powell immediately, even though he only appeared in two episodes over the years.
Played by Gwynfor Roberts, Dick Powell was a bit of a Del Boy figure in Barry, selling dodgy knock-off goods to the locals. His most memorable moment came in Series 3, Episode 5, when he sold stolen meat for the big BBQ at Gwen’s house. Uncle Bryn even claimed Dick was the only person in Barry who spoke only Welsh.
Why Was He Left Out?
Despite his minor role, Dick Powell was a beloved character, and creators Ruth Jones and James Corden originally planned to include him in the finale.
During a Q&A session, Jones explained why he didn’t make the cut: “I think in the original script we had Dick Powell. There just wasn’t room for him, God bless him.”
It seems the finale was so jam-packed with iconic moments and returning characters that they simply couldn’t fit him in.
Unexpected On-Set Surprises
While the finale script didn’t include Dick Powell, there were some unexpected and hilarious moments during filming.
One standout incident happened during the wedding scene when guests on Smithy’s side began standing up to stop him from marrying Sonia. Surprisingly, two women seated on Stacey’s side also stood up—completely unscripted!
James Corden shared the funny story: “When Anna said, ‘Please stand,’ there’s two ladies at the back on Stacey’s side who stood up! We didn’t tell them to. They were just real fans of the show who were so in it [the plot], that they just stood up and were like, ‘I just thought he shouldn’t be marrying her!’”
Where to Watch the Finale
If you haven’t yet seen the heartwarming and hilarious finale, you can catch it now on BBC iPlayer.
While fans may have missed out on seeing Dick Powell one last time, the finale still managed to capture the magic that made Gavin and Stacey such an iconic series.
