Gavin & Stacey star James Corden insists 'you can't fake these friendships' as new photos of finale are unveiled after insiders spilled all on the 'strained relationships' on set

James Corden has insisted that you 'can't fake these friendships' he has made with his Gavin and Stacey co-stars over the past 20 years as new photos of finale were unveiled on Monday.

The actor and TV presenter, who created the show with pal Ruth Jones and stars as Smithy in the BBC series, said there is 'so much warmth and love' between the stars after insiders spilled all on the 'strained relationships' on set. 

Discussing why he believes the show is still so popular with fans after it was first released nearly 20 years ago, James said the group are like family. 

He said: 'It’s difficult for me to say why the show is popular and loved. I think fundamentally the show is about love and about people who like each other. 

'It's about family and friendship. There’s just so much warmth and love within them as a group. None of that is faked, that’s all there in our relationships as a cast really. 

'I think there’s something very pure about watching people who get on and love each other without conflict. I hope people feel that on Christmas day.'

James continued and gushed that he is 'proud' of what he and Ruth have created as it has 'changed his life'. 

He said: 'Gavin & Stacey is just a huge part of my life, it changed my life in every way. The thing it means to me most, is my friendship with Ruth. 

'To have an idea with a friend in a hotel in Leeds 20 years ago and then be sat here today with what it’s become… if you think about it too much you could really just start crying all the time. I love her so much and I’m so proud of what we’ve done.'

James stars in the British sitcom alongside Ruth as Nessa, Mathew Horne and Joanna Page as Gavin and Stacey, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon portrays Stacey's uncle Bryn.

In new photos the cast are seen drinking champagne and limboing while throwing a party in the Mick and Pam's Essex home.

Uncle Bryn and Pam can't contain their smiles as they limbo under a stick in the living room before Gwen follows behind the pair. 

In another photo, Smithy, Nessa and Gavin are seen laughing as they pile on top of one another on the Shipman's sofa.

A third photo shows Pam looking stressed in her kitchen assuming before any of the gang arrived for the festive bash. 

Daves Coaches (Steffan Rhodri) also makes a special appearance in the snaps as he beams while driving his coach full of people. 

The new pictures from the finale show scenes not just in Essex but based at Stacey's home in Barry Island, Wales. 

Uncle Bryn was seen looking worried as he clutched onto some bags before heading to his car to chat to Stacey. 

The cast were seen packing their suitcases before Bryn drives Gavin, Stacey, Nessa and Gwen to Essex for Christmas.  

It comes after James was seen mixing with fans and even filming them for a BBC documentary about the making of the Christmas special. He was said to be overtly friendly with both supporters and the paparazzi.

But within the cast there have been reports of tensions – particularly between James and his once-close friend Mathew, 46, who plays Gavin Shipman. 

The pair had their own Horne & Corden TV show, and were often to be found at Cardiff's Tiger Tiger nightclub during filming for previous Gavin & Stacey series.

However, the Mail has since been told that contact between them was more limited this time. 

The pair fell out after critics savaged their show, and James moved on to make friends with those higher up the fame chain such as David Beckham, Adele and Prince Harry. He has not looked back.

Sources say their relationship hasn't improved, disclosing that while they both stayed in suites at the five-star Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff during filming the Christmas special, they didn't socialise.

A source told MailOnline: 'James and Mat's lives went in completely separate directions,' says a source who knows them both.

'They were inseparable, spending most days together, but then when their projects started to go wrong, that was it.'

Meanwhile Joanna Page revealed she found filming the final day of Gavin and Stacey Christmas special 'traumatic' as she opened up about the 'emotional' last day on set.

During a new interview the Welsh actress, 47, revealed filming the last-ever episode left her 'hysterically crying and laughing'.     

Joanna said: 'Being on set for the last time with everybody for the last day was traumatic. I knew I was going to cry as soon as I walked on set.

'I saw Steve's face, our first AD, and I just burst out crying. Then I saw Sophie Hebron, our second AD, and I burst out crying again. So then I went into my trailer and Julia Davis came in and sat with me, and I couldn't stop crying, because it just felt it was such a huge journey that was ending. 

'So I found it very emotional but then in between that, hysterically funny, because the last scene we filmed was a funny one, so I just alternated between hysterically crying and hysterically laughing.'

Recalling the final moments on set, she continued: 'Right at the very end, on our last bit of filming, I just got this sense of calm wash over me. 

'I remember standing there and looking around at everybody and everybody's faces, and I just remember smiling quite calmly to myself and thinking ‘wow, look where we've all come, look where we all are now’. 

'I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to, and the way that I needed to, and then when they shouted, “it's a wrap” and then they clapped all of us goodbye and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying.'

Filming for the series finale first began on September 2, and since then the cast have been pictured in a string of locations, including the famous Barry Island in Wales, which takes centre stage in the iconic comedy.

One of the main plot points that's emerged appears to be Nessa's wedding, which could provide an answer to the cliffhanger that ended the 2019 special.

Stars Ruth Jones and James Corden were said to be filming scenes for a wedding in October.

However, the cast themselves have yet to confirm if Smithy and Nessa will indeed get their happy ending.

The cast recently confirmed that they had finished filming scenes on the famous Trinity Street, which acts as the backdrop for the homes of both Stacey and Gavin, her mother Gwen and uncle Bryn.

'You haven't seen anything because we've been indoors, which shows you're true committed fans of the show and we hope that you won't be disappointed on Christmas Day, when all will be revealed,' Ruth 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.'

James added: 'Thank you very much to everyone, we'll see you soon.' 

Ruth has since told The Big Issue: 'I keep telling people this finale might not be what you are expecting. And I guarantee we will definitely not be coming back.'

James added: '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.'

It will be the first episode of the BBC sitcom since the last Christmas special in 2019.

That episode, which was watched by 12 million viewers, ended on a cliffhanger with Nessa down on one knee as she proposed.

The show centres around the ups and downs of Gavin and Stacey's initially long-distance relationship, with him living with his parents in Billericay, Essex, and her in Barry Island.

The pair eventually marry, while their respective best friends Smithy and Nessa have a son, Neil, who is now 15 and will also return for the final ever episode.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer and Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell will air at 7pm on New Years Day on BBC One and iPlayer.