The Isle of Wight featured twice in last night’s epic Gavin and Stacey finale – but only the eagle-eyed will have spotted the subtle references…
Around 14 minutes into the Christmas Day special, which aired on BBC One as the nation recovered from a food overload, viewers instantly recognised the opening chords to Wet Leg’s ‘Wet Dream’.
The band – which hails from the Isle of Wight – has seen massive success in recent years but has now been engrained in comedy history by featuring on the finale of Gavin and Stacey, which is estimated to have been watched by as many as 20million last night.
26 seconds of the hit song, written by the Isle of Wight’s very own Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, features.
Just moments later, as Uncle Bryn set off for Essex with his Citroen Xsara Picasso fully laden, another Isle of Wight connection popped onto the screen.
The observant Islanders tuning in would have spotted that Uncle Bryn’s car was sporting a HW reg numberplate – HW53 HWX – suggesting the car originally hails from the Isle of Wight.
It’s thought that the vehicle was supplied new by Central Garage in Newport back in February 2004 and has lived on the Island for most of its life. With just 34,000 miles on the clock it may have life beyond the TV screen – although a corroded rear axle might put off any buyers!
There are just 300 of the exact model – Xsara Picasso Exclusive A – left on the road, with a further 122 registered SORN.
‘Southampton’ also featured in last night’s finale, but only in name. Nessa travelled to the Port of Southampton to board a vessel, but for those in the know it was clear that the scenes had actually been filmed elsewhere.
After 17 years, the comedy has come to an end. There will be an opportunity to see behind the scenes in a special documentary, Gavin And Stacey: A Fond Farewell, at 19:00 on New Year’s Day.
Am I the only one who hasn’t watched a single episode of this series?
I don’t expect Caulkheads to understand the
show, different mentality.
Lol
Your loss is someone else’s gain.
Happy New Year
It’s terrible. Watched it once, never again.
A great ending to a great show.
The port scenes were filmed in Newport Docks, but South Wales, not IOW!