Everything we know about the Gavin & Stacey finale: Which stars are returning, will Smithy and Nessa get their happily ever after and what happened on THAT fishing trip?

After 17 years, Gavin & Stacey will finally come to an end on Christmas Day, with one last episode to say goodbye to the beloved comedy.

The upcoming special will mark the BBC's sitcom's return for the first time in five years and fans are desperate to know what writers James Corden and Ruth Jones have planned. 

At the climax of the last Christmas episode in 2019, Nessa Jenkins got down on one knee to propose to Smithy, but viewers never got to hear his response.

And while viewers were left with a host of unanswered questions, the finale is sure to wrap up many loose ends.

Despite the producers and cast working hard to keep the finale's key storylines under wraps, there's several details that have been confirmed for fans to look forward to.

Read on to see everything we know so far about Gavin & Stacey: The Finale.

When will the finale air and how long will it be?

After five years of waiting, viewers will finally get to see Gavin & Stacey: The Finale on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

While the original series' episodes were 30 minutes long, fans will be treated with an super-sized 90-minute finale to properly say goodbye.

What is the plot of the episode?

The BBC has released a synopsis of the upcoming special, teasing a reunion between the Shipmans and the Wests.  

It reads: 'The final ever episode of this much-loved comedy classic. It's five 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. In Barry, Bryn's packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex, Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their 17-year marriage, and Gwen is behaving most strangely.

'Nessa's started a new business venture and Neil the Baby's about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad...

'Over in Billericay, Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room, and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn's relationship.'

Did Smithy say yes? 

The 2019 special's massive cliffhanger has kept viewers desperate for answers about Nessa and Smithy for years.

The pair had an on-off relationship during the series after several unplanned one-night stands led to their son, Neil the Baby.

In the last episode, which caught up with the characters 10 years after the previous installment, it was revealed they were successfully co-parenting their son.

And as the family gathered in Barry for the festivities, Nessa got down on one knee to ask Smithy to marry her, with the special ending before we got to hear his answer.

Star and co-creator Ruth Jones has confirmed the episode will pick up exactly where it left us, meaning we will finally get to know what happened next.

So far nothing has been given away, except a short clip in the trailer showing Smithy and Nessa sharing a flirtatious moment together while dancing alongside the other characters.

But the biggest hint that the pair are finally going to get their happily ever after is snaps of the cast filming what appeared to be a wedding.

Many of the stars were seen boarding the famous Dave's Coaches to head to the church for the big day, all dressed to the nines.

While they were also spotted filming in their smart outfits at The Tadross Hotel in Barry for was was said to be a wedding reception.

The photos showed Nessa and Smithy wearing matching gold bands as they partied with friends and loved ones, including their best pals Gavin and Stacey. 

Nessa was dressed in a flowing black dress - a suitable wedding gown for her gothic style - that she teamed with knee high boots and fishnet tights. 

While Smithy looked dapper in a M&S blazer that he paired with trousers and a navy trainers. 

Last week James and Ruth spilled that fans will find out a lot more about Ruth's character Nessa's past as well as her future with Smithy.

'Nessa has had this unbelievable checkered life and you find out more about that in this special — some really fun bits that we wrote,' James explained.

He mused that the reason fans have taken Smithy and Nessa to their hearts is because 'on TV or films, you very rarely see people that look like Ruth and I fall in love.'

'You just don't. I'd be dropping off a TV to Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones and Ruth's like working on a newsstand when someone buys a newspaper.'

'What I like about the show is that it's so messy and complicated and they just clearly have fantastic sex. I really enjoy that confidence.'

There will be tears

One of the things about Gavin & Stacey that made it so popular was its pitch-perfect combination of humour and heart.

And as the special will mark the final time fans will get to see their favourite characters on screen, it is almost certain there won't be a dry eye in the house.

Star Rob Brydon previously confirmed the episode was going to be very 'emotional', as he admitted he was was 'moved to tears' when he saw the script.

Speaking to Chris Evans in August about the final episode, he said: 'It was a couple of months before the cast saw the script.

'I only saw it, we were on holiday, we were away, about a month ago. I read it. Oh, it's so good.'

When Chris asked Rob if he was saying that because he had to, Rob replied: 'No, I kind of wouldn't, actually. I don't want to tempt fate, but I think it's fantastic.'

He revealed: 'Do you know what? I was moved to tears, because it's emotional.'

While co-star Larry Lamb, who plays Mick, previously called the ending episode 'so emotional' and 'really beautiful'.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he explained: 'You become a family... it was a whole trip down memory lane because suddenly there we are and we are facing the fact that effectively this is the end of this adventure, the end of this journey and it was so emotional.

'Chronologically we were filming on the last day, on the last day of filming, we were filming the end of the story which is so unusual... the end comes bursting out at you and it is just beautiful, really beautiful.'

Nessa has yet another new career venture

While Nessa's past is still much a mystery, the show has offered several insights into her varied career - from working at the SH Amusements arcade, to being a news producer for the BBC. 

She also once revealed she previously worked as a driver for Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Who and Eddie Stobart. 

And the finale sees her back on the road, this time working as a rickshaw driver on Barry Island.

In the trailer, Nessa can be seen escorting BFF Stacey for a ride in the eye-catching vehicle and offering her some music for the journey.

As Stacey says: 'Why not?' Nessa proceeds to pull out a harmonica and serenade her pal while cycling along.

And a first look clip saw that despite the new career, Nessa is still at her wheeling dealing ways as she tries to charge her customers £75 for a two minute ride.

Taking an elderly couple for a ride, she suddenly stops and says: 'Right, that's your lot, you're going to have to walk the rest. I'm done.'

She then informs her passengers of the eye-watering fee, who gasp in shock and the woman exclaims: 'What? But we've only been on for a couple of minutes.'

An annoyed Nessa hits back, saying: 'Oh love. I'm just speaking my truth but I find your abusive tone very triggering. You're damaging my mental health. Now if I were you, I'd leave it there.'

As the couple rush to apologise, she then adds: 'You got Apple Pay? I've got Bluetooth in my bra.'

What happened on the fishing trip? 

It's probably the most highly requested question of the series. 

Fans are desperate to know what really happened on Bryn's notorious fishing trip with his nephew Jason which they both refuse to speak about, a long-running joke on the series.

Stacey's brother, played by Robert Wilfort, would pop up in the sitcom from time to time as he visited the family from his home in Spain.

And while the fishing trip was often alluded to, fans never found out what did happen that day between him and Bryn, only knowing that whatever they did, is 'legal in Wales’.

But the finale might reveal all at last, with the synopsis teasing: ‘Join us 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'.

While the trailer released last week saw Gwen confront her son and brother-in law once and for all, demanding they fess up.

The clip sees her telling a very distressed looking Bryn and Jason: '30 years ago you two went on a fishing trip that almost tore this family apart'.

Could this finally be the moment we learn what really happened all those years ago?

Will Dawn and Pete's marriage have survived?

Another duo who have yet to be seen filming is the iconic Dawn Sutcliffe (Julia Davis) and her disappointing husband Pete (Adrian Scarborough).

A break-up was on the horizon between the pair last time we saw them, but thankfully Pam and Mick were able to save them from the brink of divorce once again.

And fans will be delighted to see that not only are the fiery couple back for the finale, but they are also back to their usual bickering ways.

In the trailer for the special, Dawn pulls out another one of her cutting insults, as she can be seen calling Pete 'despicable little rat', signalling the pair haven't changed one bit.

Dave Coaches WILL be back

Dave 'Coaches' Gooch, played by Steffan Rhodri, was also absent from the 2019 Christmas special, after Nessa left him at the altar in the series three finale.

His return to for the finale was therefore in doubt, until Steffan delighted fans when he confirmed he would be back as Dave after 14 years.

Speaking to Metro about his return, the actor kept tight-lipped over plot details, but teased one small spoiler.

He said: 'My character Dave is a bit of an outsider, but they planned it so that with the last scene we did, which is the ending, we were all together and it was very touching.'

Steffan also gushed about reprising the role, saying: 'I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was like putting on a pair of old trousers. It was really lovely to hang out with them again.'

Fans know coach driver Dave for his iconic line about what he will and won't put up with on his coach - 'fags and weed, glue and speed, but I draws the line at crack'.

But what they may not know is that Steffan based the character on his uncle who is a coach driver with a similar attitude.

Neil the Baby is grown up 

Neil the Baby was born back in 2008 as the result of a one night stand between Nessa and Smithy, and was last seen by viewers as a 10-year-old in the 2019 special.

But, now actor Oscar Hartland is all grown up at 15-years-old, looking worlds away from his last appearance on the show. 

The actor was spotted filming in September, sitting in the passenger seat of his dad Smithy's iconic car and waving to fans.

While the trailer also showed a quick glimpse of Neil the Baby all grown up, as Nessa shows she is still the no-nonsense mum by offering him a stern warning.

Neil can be seen sporting a mischievous grin, as Nessa demands of Stacey: 'Pass me those nunchucks'.

Will Rudi return for a final duet with her brother? 

Smithy and his sister Rudi's rendition of Estelle's American Boy will never be forgotten as the pair proved they had a rapping ability second to none. 

Sheridan Smith played the larger-than-life character in series one and two of the hit show, but didn't return for the last Christmas special much to the disappointment of fans.

However, it's been reported that the finale will see the return of Rudi at last, with Sheridan spotted filming a surprise cameo in September.

 A source told The Sun the actress stepped right back into Rudi's shoes and it was 'like no time had passed at all'. 

They added: 'Sheridan was over the moon she could go back into the fold and her scenes are brilliant.' 

Will it definitely be the end?

Ruth and James have declared that the episode will definitely be the last we will see of Gavin & Stacey, with the beloved sitcom finally wrapped up.

Ruth recently told fans: 'This is our farewell now to Barry and to Trinity Street, so you won't be seeing us here anymore but we've had a wonderful 17 years, it's been fantastic.'

Despite the pair now promising the upcoming special actually is the finale, there's been a flurry of fan speculation that there could be more to come.

However, speaking to last week's Big Issue, they both were adamant that the story will end on Christmas Day for good.

Ruth said: 'I keep telling people this finale might not be what you are expecting. And I guarantee we will definitely not be coming back.'

While James went on: 'What people are going to see on Christmas Day is the culmination of a 20-year love story, which hopefully shows, if nothing else, that love is complicated and messy and for everyone.'

And in an ominous warning to fans hoping that there could be future episodes, he added: 'It can't carry on. When you'll see it, you'll know.'