West Ham United, Gavin and Stacey
West Ham United featured prominently in the Gavin & Stacey finale [Credit: BBC iPlayer]
Dan Godfrey
Thu 26 December 2024 9:10, UK
West Ham United fans watching the Gavin & Stacey finale on BBC One on Christmas Day will once again have seen their club featuring heavily in the eagerly anticipated episode.
The long-awaited final-ever episode of the iconic sitcom, now available to view on iPlayer, again takes in an involvement of the Hammers, the club ardently supported by popular character Smithy – played by co-writer James Corden.
Without delving into any major spoilers, a stag party involving Smithy (is he getting married… and if so, to whom?) sees a host of memorable characters dress up in the famous claret and blue, donning shirts with “Smithy 16” on the back.
It also hints a great nod to sporting director Mark Noble’s famous 16 shirt in East London, which is also worn by Smithy’s son, Neil ‘the Baby’, in the penultimate episode – the 2019 Christmas Special.
Lead character Gavin Shipman, played by Mathew Horne, is also braving the Irons shirt despite being a Tottenham Hotspur fan – even Horne himself supports Spurs – though a subtle gag with his own jersey can again be noticed as he had a Tottenham crest stickered over the Hammers’ badge.
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And the superb Uncle Bryn, ever-enthusiastic, decides to go whole hog with a full kit, head-to-toe, in the West Ham threads.
West Ham once again feature in Gavin and Stacey finale
Millions of families all over the UK watched in anticipation from 9pm on Christmas Day, gathering round to watch BBC One to see how writers Corden and Ruth Jones finally laid the series to rest.
First blessing the British public in 2007, Gavin & Stacey is a show that tugged on the heartstrings of many and made us belly laugh in equal measure – with storylines having moved on significantly in the past 17 years.
Irons fans will have loved seeing their club feature so prominently in the finale, but it is certainly far from the first time their club has taken centre stage in a scene.
West Ham
West Ham flag at London Stadium [Credit: Imago]
With Billericay, Essex, acting as one of the two major settings for the show – the other being Barry Island in South Wales – West Ham were never going to be too far away when it came to several of the characters, Smithy especially.
Corden’s character is regularly seen in the original episodes in the claret and blue, while Horne’s character Gavin is often seen in Spurs colours. There are even mentions of Aston Villa and Coventry City along the way.
The Hammers can continue the festive cheer when they face Southampton on Boxing Day.
In other West Ham news, David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui get set for January.
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