Without doubt, Gavin and Stacey will go down as one of the most iconic British comedy series of all time.

It’s hard to believe the main series ended over a decade ago back in 2010. Becoming an instant classic since it first hit our screens in 2007, the BBC comedy has seen three series and two Christmas specials in its time.

Despite calls for the series to make a comeback, it seems there are no current plans for the show to return to our screens. However, fans of the show continue to fondly remember the characters and catchphrases, which are now part of pop culture.

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Since the show ended, a lot has happened to the actors in the show. The comedy went on to serve as a springboard for the careers of James Corden, Joanna Page, Ruth Jones, Mathew Horne and Rob Brydon. However, since the final episode of the main show aired, things have not always run smoothly.

North Wales Live has put together a guide to what the main cast members have been up to since the show ended. From continued TV and film success, break ups, Tinseltown, a close shave with death and the sad passing of one of the show’s older actors.

Mathew Horne (Gavin Shipman)

Title character Gavin, nicknamed “Gavlar”, or “Gavalar”, played by Mathew Horne, 43, was shown building his relationship with Stacey, who later becomes his wife. Since the show concluded, after its third series, Horne has continued to work regularly in film, theatre, and TV as an actor and presenter.

He played a leading role in Bad Education, which he reprised in the subsequent film. His other credits include Lesbian Vampire Killers, Horrid Henry: The Movie and Death in Paradise.

Before being cast as Gavin, he appeared in The Catherine Tate Show in a number of roles, most notably as the foul-mouthed Nan’s grandson Jamie. The Nottingham-born actor is also set to reprise his role in the upcoming film Nan The Movie.

Matthew and co-star James Corden were virtually joined at the hip and one year confessed to spending 263 days together. But their partnership hit stumbling blocks, with their comedy sketch show Horne and Corden being slated by critics, while their flop film Lesbian Vampire Killers was slammed.

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Their disastrous presenting role at the Brits put a huge strain on their ‘bromance’ – with both actors later claiming it was “so poor” they couldn’t even watch it back. They went their separate ways amid claims of a bitter falling out and stopped speaking for a few months as Horne admitted he “retreated” after the backlash.

In December 2018, Horne miraculously escaped death when he was hit by a train following a night out at a pub, escaping with just a scratch. A friend said it was a “miracle” he is still alive after being knocked backwards after coming into contact with the East Midlands Trains passenger train at a level crossing.

Horne now splits his time between East London and Helmsdale in the Scottish Highlands. He married set designer Celina Bassili in September 2021. They had been romantically linked since July 2019.

Joanna Page (Stacey Shipman)

Joanna Page, 45, plays Stacey, a hopeless romantic from Barry who has had five failed engagements. She falls for Gavin after a series of long phone calls through her work, and they decide to meet.

Once the show ended, the actress did voice-overs for a number of commercials such as Kingsmill bread, the Carphone Warehouse and Superdrug. Joanna also appeared in Doc Martin, The Syndicate, Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger and as Queen Elizabeth I in the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who.

Her more recent credits include the film Doolittle (2020) which filmed scenes in Menai Bridge. She currently co-presents (with Melanie Sykes) the BBC One consumer series Shop Well for Less.

She is married to Emmerdale actor James Thornton, who played John Barton, and they have four children together.

James Corden (Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith)

The show’s co-creator and co-writer James Corden, 43, appeared in the BBC series as the lovable cheeky chappy Smithy. The protective best friend of Gavin, he has a complicated relationship with Stacey’s best friend Nessa.

As mentioned earlier in the story, Corden tried to build a TV partnership with best pal Matthew Horne and even admitted for a while they might as well have been “one person”. However, the relationship was rumoured to have soured after a number of failed projects and they parted ways – with James going on to front Sky 1’s League of Their Own and starring in Doctor Who.

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In 2011, Corden was cagey when asked about Horne by Piers Morgan on his Life Stories, and revealed they only spoke “occasionally” as he discussed the decline of their friendship. He said: “There was lots of horrible stuff about us…If I have one regret, it was we just rushed those things. We never stopped to think about the work enough.”

In 2015, he landed a £10m three-year deal to front The Late Late Show in Hollywood and is known for singing along with some very famous faces in his Carpool Karaoke sketches. James has twice hosted the Grammy Awards, has been nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actor award and starred in the films Into the Woods, Gulliver’s Travels and Cats.

Ruth Jones (Nessa Jenkins)

Ruth Jones, 55, from Bridgend, is best known for playing Nessa Jenkins on the show – which she co-wrote with co-star James Corden. The character, introduced as Stacey’s best friend, quickly became a fan favourite with iconic catchphrases.

Ruth later went on to co-create and co-star in another successful Wales-set series, Stella, which premiered in 2012. She played the title character, who was a 40-something mum juggling life and love. She also had her own chat show specials, including Ruth Jones’ Summer Holiday, Ruth Jones’ Easter Treat and Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker.

Jones shocked fans in 2020 when she revealed there currently “aren’t any plans to write more Gavin & Stacey” despite the BBC’s insistence the comedy will come back “one day”. She has set up a production company with husband David Peet and has released her first novel, Never Greener.

There may be no new Gavin & Stacey episodes planned right now, but Ruth is teaming up with Rob once again to travel to the Scottish Highlands to make a half-hour BBC comedy called Ray & Gaynor.

Alison Steadman (Pam Shipman)

Award-winning actor Alison Steadman, 75, was was one of the series’ standouts, playing the role of Pam Shipman. She was a successful film and TV actress by the time she appeared in the sitcom, and had already won two Laurence Olivier Awards, two BAFTAs and been made an OBE.

Steadman played the role of Gavin’s doting mother, who was often excitable and is portrayed as stereotypically Essex. TV viewers will also recognise Alison from The Syndicate, Boomers, Inside No. 9 as well as Orphan Black. She also reunited with Gavin and Stacey co-star Sheridan Smith in the TV drama Care – released in 2018.

As well as presenting three-part Channel 4 series Little British Islands, Alison has appeared in the films Burn Burn Burn, Dad’s Army and will be in The King’s Man. In real life, Steadman is the partner of actor Michael Elwyn and has two sons from a previous relationship.

Larry Lamb (Mick Shipman)

Gavin’s father, Mick Shipman, is played in the BBC comedy series by actor and radio presenter Larry Lamb. Mick – who runs his own company – is a calming influence on his wife, Pam, and is content with their life.

During the show’s initial run, Lamb, 74, also played villain Archie Mitchell on Eastenders from 2008 until 2009. He later went on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in 2016, where he came seventh.

Lamb has also had acting roles more recently in true crime film The Hatton Garden Job and in New Tricks. He notably led the cast of the short-lived show Pitching In, set in a fictional North Wales caravan park in 2018, where he was reunited Larry with Gavin and Stacey co-star Melanie Walters.

In his personal life, Larry has four children, including radio presenter George Lamb, and is also a grandfather.

Rob Brydon (Bryn West)

Stacey’s naïve and eccentric Uncle Bryn is played by comedian and actor Rob Brydon, 56, from Glamorgan. He’s perhaps best remembered in reference to a mysterious fishing trip that’s teased throughout the show.

Aside from Gavin and Stacey, Rob is known for presenting BBC panel show Would I Lie to You? since 2009. He also starred alongside fellow funnyman Steve Coogan in several series of The Trip between 2010 and 2020.

He’s also appeared in The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Holmes & Watson as well as in The Gruffalo franchise. Outside of his career, Rob is husband to producer Clare Holland and father to two daughters and three sons.

Melanie Walters (Gwen West)

Melanie Walters, 60, played the role of Stacey’s caring mother, Gwen West, in the series as well as in the festive special. The widowed character is a fan of cooking omelettes and is considered to be a maternal figure to Nessa.

Between 2007 and 2009, Melanie also appeared on soap Hollyoaks as Elliot Bevan’s overbearing mother. The actor, who lives in Mumbles, later had roles in Stella, alongside co-star Ruth Jones, and Being Human.

Walters has since turned her focus away from acting and set up Practical Pilates in Swansea to help locals improve their posture. She also lets self-catering holiday rentals on the Gower Peninsula, but she was tempted back in front of the cameras in 2019 by Larry Lamb to appear together in four-part BBC drama Pitching It.

Margaret John (Doris O’Neil)

Possibly the funniest character in the entire show, man-eater Doris was always hooking up with younger men and making suggestive comments to nervous Gavin. Doris was played by BAFTA award-winning actress Margaret John, who has appeared in Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Little Britain, Emmerdale and Last of the Summer Wine.

Sadly, the actress passed away in hospital in 2011 aged 84, just days after telling friends that she was looking forward to getting back to work. Co-stars Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon were among the 150 mourners at a ­crematorium near her home in Swansea, while James Corden paid tribute by saying: “She was a great actress and an incredible lady and will be sadly missed. All our thoughts are with the family.”

Her final ever role, which was released after her death, was as Old Nan in Game of Thrones.