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TV & Showbiz

Viewers find just ONE flaw with ‘perfect’ Gavin and Stacey finale

Spoilers lie ahead.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th December 2024
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Gavin and Stacey aired its last-ever special on Christmas Day, an hour-and-a-half-long farewell to the characters so loved by most of the British public.

The hit series, which follows the lives and loves of Gavin and Smithy in Essex and Stacey and Nessa in Wales (along with all their hilarious, familiar family dynamics), returned after five years for a final send-off.

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale has been hailed a ‘perfect’ ending, with emotional scenes that moved viewers to tears of laughter, nostalgia and sadness.

But there was one flaw, one missed opportunity, that viewers can’t stop pointing out.

In the final episode, which picks up five years after Smithy (James Corden) proposed to Nessa (Ruth Jones) in a cliff-hanger that had us all shouting at our tellies, we’re back in Barry and in the frantic midst of wedding preparations. But whose wedding is it…?

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Sadly it quickly transpires in the episode that Smithy is going ahead with his wedding to Sonia, a pretty and prim but passive aggressive Essex girl who has been named as one of TV’s best villains.

(Side note – Laura Aikman, who plays Sonia, kept her return in the show a complete secret even from her family – look at the moment they found out here).

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Neil the Baby singing in the Gavin and Stacey finale. Credit: BBC
Neil the Baby singing in the Gavin and Stacey finale. Credit: BBC

Throughout Gavin and Stacey: The Reunion, we see how Smithy’s relationship with his son Neil, now a teenager, has blossomed, with the teen singing at his wedding to Sonia and taking on an apprenticeship with his dad.

For almost 20 years, Neil The Baby has been a crucial part of the Gavin and Stacey storyline throughout and is even still played by the same actor, keeping Smithy and Nessa, who co-parent him, intrinsically linked.

So when he suddenly goes ‘missing’ during the climax of the finale, fans were pretty fuming.

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In the dramatic final scenes, Smithy runs out of his wedding and goes to find Nessa, realising that she has been his true love all along.

But despite departing in a huge coach (oh yeah, Dave Coaches is back), he weirdly leaves their son behind?! Gavin and Stacey also just abandon their children at the cancelled wedding.

Smithy and Nessa finally, finally get together in a beautiful moment with a great monologue from Smithy, and their own son isn’t there to witness it. Wild.

One person said: “Gavin and Stacey was actual perfection apart from a tiny thing. Why didn’t Neil the Baby get on the bus to get Nessa? They were his parents and it would have been perfect him seeing Smithy propose! It’s just a very minor thought probably me being way too picky!”

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Featured image: BBC

TV & Showbiz

Brits baffled at Americans pulling Christmas crackers in Netflix film

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix
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If you’ve immersed yourself in all things Christmas in recent weeks, whether it’s eating non-stop festive food or binge-watching anything with a bough of holly on the cover, you might also have felt the simmering rage induced by A Kindhearted Christmas.

This typical Hallmark movie, starring 90210’s Jennie Garth, follows its lead character as she spreads festive cheer around her picturesque town through anonymous gifts.

While she hopes to remain the town’s well-wishing Secret Santa, she risks exposing herself when she starts to fall for a local news anchor.

So far, so tacky (which is exactly what a Christmas film should be).

But it’s not the wishy-washy script or woeful audience reviews (27% on Rotten Tomatoes) that has sent Brits into a fiery rage.

It’s one particular scene of A Kindhearted Christmas, about an hour in, when the starring couple pull Christmas crackers together.

But rather than the traditional way, where you share a cracker with someone else and tug it to see who wins the bigger half, usually elbowing someone in the head in the process, they… pull the crackers by themselves (?!).

In the scene, lead character Jamie is having a romantic dinner with Scott (Cameron Mathison), when he presents her with a pair of novelty Christmas crackers.

“These are Christmas crackers from England,” he tells her.

“Typically, you open them before the meal, but my parents always used to make us wait until dessert. 

“I’m gonna show you how to do it.”

Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix
Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix

Strap in guys because he’s about to explain exactly how NOT to pull a Christmas cracker.

“So you go in here and you find the little tab,” (here he shoves his fingers into the hollow handle of the cracker), “And I’m gonna show you right here why they call them a cracker.

“Make sure you squeeze them hard, and then on the count of three, everyone pulls at the same time.

“There it is, you see, isn’t that good?” 

The sight of two people pulling Christmas crackers on their own might be the most bleak thing we’ve seen all season – and of course, other viewers have agreed.

When one person shared the clip on TikTok, Specsavers replied: “What have we just seen…”

@mlouise1981

#akindheartedchristmas #netflixmovies #netflixfail #hallmarkchristmasmovies #christmasmovies #christmas #christmascrackers #christmascrackerjokes #ukchristmas #netflixx #cheesychristmasmovie #romcoms

♬ original sound – Louise Ft Bailey the Pugalier

Someone else said: “Hang on America doesn’t have them and this is how they think we open them. I’m confused about where they got this info from.”

One comment reads: “The whole of England is so confused right now.”

Someone shared: “‘We should add a scene with British Christmas crackers!’ ‘OK, but how do you open them?’ ‘Who cares!'”

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One person said on X: “So the scene with the christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas is just ridiculous. It just shows that absolutely zero research was done at all. I can not believe the movie was released with that scene left in. I hope the director is embarrassed.”

Someone else said: “I’m watching A Kindhearted Christmas and they’re trying to claim you pull Christmas crackers with yourself… Nooo the whole point is it’s a fight to the death”

Another wrote: “Thank you for the nod to the British tradition of Christmas crackers, but you broke hearts everywhere here by having them pull their own!”

And someone posted: “Watching A Kindhearted Christmas on @NetflixUK. Do Americans really not know how to pull Christmas crackers?” (Technically, they are Canadian).

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Featured image: Netflix

TV & Showbiz

Five of the best things to watch on TV this Christmas 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant
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We all know Christmas is a hectic time.

For some of us, if the run-up to Christmas wasn’t already busy enough as it is, there’s often not a moment to breathe on the big day itself between presents being opened, travelling to see people, entertaining guests, slaving over a hot stove for hours, and eating plenty of food.

Sometimes though, you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs with some time to spare, and that’s why the distraction of festive television is so brilliant.

For others, sitting around to watch the TV is an important part of Christmas itself.

No matter what your situation is, there’s some cracking things to watch on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year – with classic seasonal films, to festive specials of our favourite shows, and a few family-friendly additions all on the agenda.

So, just like we have done for the past couple of years, we’ve once again rounded-up the best of the bunch to create our TV guide.

Here’s just five of our picks.

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Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024

BBC One

Christmas Day – 3:55pm

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024 / Credit: BBC

We’ve all come to expect a Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special at this point, haven’t we? After the iconic ballroom dance competition programme has been bringing us smaller, festive editions of the show we all know and love since 2004, it’s back once again this Christmas Day.

Six celebrity contestants will be taking to the floor to impress judges the judges and battle it out for the Christmas glitter ball trophy.

You can catch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One at 3:55pm on Christmas Day.

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Doctor Who Christmas Special

BBC One

Christmas Day – 5:10pm

Doctor Who Christmas Special / Credit: BBC Studios

What would Christmas be without a Doctor Who special?

The long-running sci-fi series is back where it belongs with another festive episode on Christmas Day this year, and we can’t wait.

The episode introduces Joy, played by Nicola Coughlan, who checks into a London hotel in 2024, only to discover that her quiet stay is anything but ordinary. When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs, and the Doctor… but a deadly plan is unfolding across Earth, just in time for Christmas.

You can catch the Doctor Who Christmas Special on BBC One at 5:10pm on Christmas Day.

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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

BBC One

Christmas Day – 6:10pm

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl / Credit: BBC

Wallace & Gromit make their long-awaited return with a new feature-length adventure.

Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects after a recent crime wave of stolen garden goods across the region… but while Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or Wallace will never invent again.

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Who could possibly be behind such evil actions? Rightfully behind bars after all this time, Feathers McGraw is back with vengeance.

Directed by Nick Park, Reece Shearsmith provides the voice of Norbot, and Peter Kay is Chief Inspector Macintosh, alongside other famous names such as Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, and Lenny Henry.

You can watch Wallace & Gromit: Most Vengeance Fowl on BBC One at 6:10pm on Christmas Day.

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Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

BBC One

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Christmas Day – 9pm

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale / Credit: BBC

9pm. Christmas Day 2024. The end of an era is here.

It’s been five whole years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her… and a lot has happened in those five years.

This Christmas, fans of the long-running sitcome will be able to join on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time, and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip.

You can watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on Christmas Day on BBC One at 9pm.

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Outnumbered

BBC One

Boxing Day – 9:40pm

Outnumbered / Credit: BBC

Our final long-awaited Christmas Special comeback is here… are you ready to be Outnumbered once again?

In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their children – who are now adults, and have their own hurdles to navigate in the real world – and one grandchild to try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas.

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Their new house is smaller, the children are bigger, and within the chaos, an uninvited house guest overstays their welcome.

You can watch Outnumbered on Boxing Day on BBC One at 9:40pm.

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Fancy something extra?

If you’ve got even more time on your hands to kill, and you’re looking to get stuck into even more festive TV action, not just being newly released this year, then we’ve rounded up what we think are 10 of the best Christmas Specials of all time.

10 of the very best British Christmas specials and episodes to watch on TV this holiday season

What’s your thoughts on this – do you agree? Or are we missing your favourite pick?

Featured Image – BBC

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