‘Cracking’

‘Cracking’

Gavin & Stacey

Christmas Special

25^th of December, 2019.

‘Cracking!’

I mean, that is one word to describe the televisual experience form last night. Of course, I am referring to ‘Gavin and Stacey’; back after ten years away from our screens; it seemed like a flick of a switch since we had last seen them.

It warmed the cockles of my heart to see Gavin and Stacey re-kindle some of that pure love which emanated from them, cooked-up better than any omelette which Gwen could have concocted. It was a stroke of genius when Stacey got the hotel flip box of matches out and like a magician produced them and gave them to Gav – much more meaningful for them than any kitchen cupboards! It struck a chord with any romantics out there. Then in response, Gavla got their song playing, by the wonders of technology – you all know the one, I could say, in my  best Nessa voice; just like when Nessa said on that fateful night, when the four of them got into that London Hotel room,  they knew ‘what was happening’.

Then Stacey, looking stunning in a red dress, jumped into Gav’s body and snogged him un-ashamedly on the front in Barry – in the moonlight, near to where Dave Coaches had dropped her and Nessa off all those years ago; I was half expecting Dave to ghostly appear and ask them, ‘How’s sugar tits?’ but alas, we never saw him.

Bryn was in a panic as he had to cook for an un-lucky 13, with a reference to ‘Convoy’ being wasted, as he could have said ‘ten four for a crimbo pud anyone?’. Smithy was a happy soul and it was good to see him with a proper bona-fide missus but then, you knew instantly she would not fit-in. Smithy summed Mick and Pamela up by declaring they were his ‘real mum and dad’, just coming out with something which we had all felt for ages now.

Nessa was just Nessa as she had ‘Neil’ the ten- year -old ‘baby’ go around with her singing one-liners from Christmas Carols which is an art that is dying-out. Loved it when she said that they would take card – instantly whipping-out one of those, no doubt, contactless card accepting machines! Mind, she did, fair play, give the money – to Smithy who point-blank refused it; saying that Neil, ‘the baby’ would maybe need footy boots or ‘there is always something’, showing a real maturity.

And what about Pete Diddly? I mean, surely, he was just glad to be free of being the bad guy in ‘Killing Eve’ and being married to ‘Dawnie’ again and wrongly being accused of being a druggie! Just excellent when they were all dancing away sharing a spliff – well I could say you can’t make it-up, as it felt real enough and that’s the beauty of this comedy drama – it feels real; you are right there, one of them; better than any fly-on-the-wall documentary. Though, I don’t think I would still have wanted to have been on board, right there, right then, in my best Uncle Bryn voice, on that fishing trip, when it got freezing- just ‘What was occurring?’. They nearly blurted it out again last night, Bryn and Jason but for Gavla & Stacey’s three kids, the whole story may have, finally, tantalisingly, come out, but it never did and now maybe never will.

Superb as well when they were all in the pub and singing the best Christmas song, ‘Fairytale in New York’, I was just so, so, happy inside to see Gav and Stacey beaming, it warmed me no end as I sat there on my own; it just got to me – brilliant. No alcohol needed, just great tv and it did not get much better than this eagerly anticipated hour which just flew by minute by minute as I enjoyed it as much as any mouthful of the Christmas dinner me and my mum not only ate together but helped cook – with me actually doing smooth chicken gravy which even Smithy & Nessa may have approved of!

When they were stood outside and Nessa gave a drag to Smithy, after he made sure that ‘Cindy’ or whatever her name was could not see him anymore, I was not aware of the time, that the end was fast approaching.

And what a way to finish, on a cliff-hanger like that! Surely, surely, Smithy will say ‘yes’?

Another special will have to be written, to see what happens –that would be just cracking!

26/12/19 761 A. C. LEGS