Joanna Page, beloved for her portrayal of Stacey West on the iconic BBC series Gavin and Stacey, is gearing up for the much-anticipated Christmas special, set to air on December 25. This festive treat marks Page's final appearance as Stacey, and she's taking it all in stride, excited about the culmination of this cherished series.
At 47, Page shares her plans for the day, mentioning in Fabulous magazine, "I want to be sitting on the sofa in my PJs with my feet up, thinking: ‘Right, we’ve got through Christmas Day." She notes her indifference about watching herself on screen, admitting she feels more like a viewer eager to see all the additional footage she isn't part of. “There’s so much stuff filmed, and I can’t wait to see all of it,” she added, hinting at the heaps of content viewers can expect.
Reflecting on her return to the series, Page, who juggles her acting career with family life (she and husband James Thornton share four children), expressed surprise when co-creators Ruth Jones and James Corden asked her to reprise her role five years after the last Christmas special. She recalled the phone call she received from Corden when she was feeling under the weather: "I had tonsillitis and felt s*** when I got the phone call... I was really surprised. But now this one is definitely the end. No more.”
The plot of the upcoming Christmas episode has been kept tightly under wraps, resulting in Page feeling 'terrified' about potentially leaking any information. She recounted the suspenseful moment she received the script under the code name 'Toffee Apple'. She read the script at various service stations to avoid being caught by potential onlookers: “It was exciting and stressful,” she said.
Meanwhile, Page’s long-time onscreen partner, James Corden, has faced scrutiny over accusations of alleged 'diva behavior.' Despite Corden's meteoric rise to fame, particularly during his tenure as host of The Late Late Show from 2015 to 2023, Page maintains he is still the same man she started working with back when they were both much younger.
Joanna declared, "James has become massively famous. But he’s still the same person. He’s just James." She reflects on their 16-year friendship, saying, "When we started, I was only 29 and now I’m 47. All of us have got married and had children. It feels like going back to the first series.”
This sentiment gains weight following controversies surrounding Corden's behavior. His alleged rude treatment at New York's Balthazar restaurant last year led to significant media attention. The incident unfolded when Corden's wife ordered an omelette made exclusively from yolks due to severe allergies, but the dish repeatedly arrived incorrectly containing whites. Frustrated, Corden reportedly made a sarcastic comment about cooking it himself. Balthazar's owner, Keith McNally, labeled him the “most abusive customer” before later rescinding the restaurant’s ban after Corden issued his apologies.
James addressed the incident candidly on his show, admitting he made "a rude, rude comment" and acknowledging it was unnecessary and ungracious.
Despite the challenges and drama outside the set, Page cherishes her time on Gavin and Stacey, reflecting on how far they’ve come since the series premiered. The finale marks not just the end of the beloved series but also the close of an era for many fans and cast members alike.
This Christmas special aims to reminisce about the happy moments and charmed escapades the characters brought to the audience, fitting for the entire family to enjoy during the festive celebrations. Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One at 9 pm on Christmas Day, followed by the documentary Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell on New Year’s Day at 7 pm, ensuring fans have more than enough content to relish for the holidays.
