Gavin and Stacey, Tuesday 10pm, BBC2

Posted by Will Parkhouse

Our rating:
It really is a cracking little show, this. It’s hard to single out the best performance – as soon as you start with the “Rob Brydon’s brilliant…” stuff, you think, “Damn, what about Alison Steadman?” And then there’s Joanna Page and Mathew Horne as the sweet and sane central couple, James Corden as the jovial calamity-magnet best mate, Ruth Jones as the cynical sidekick. We could go on.

If that wasn’t enough, last night’s show – which involved the gang heading off to a wedding fair in preparation for the big day – had some memorable guest appearances. There was Matt Lucas’s stag weekend planner (the only words in his hilariously simple Powerpoint presentation were “Prague”, “p***-up” and “t**s”) and Brendan Patricks’ magician, whose extraordinary lack of enthusiasm was a sight to behold. Perhaps best of all was William Thomas, looking eerily like Gordon Brown, as a vicar, whose “God is like sandwiches” sermon was a great parody of those priests who’ve gone one trendy analogy too far.

“The point is,” he screamed, as Gavin refused to name his favourite sandwich filling, “That the bread is the Holy Spirit, the mayonnaise slash butter is the Father and the filling is the Son. We all like different fillings, but ultimately the bread remains a constant – just like God. But forget it, you’ve ruined it. NOW SIT DOWN!”

Apparently the BBC has commissioned a second series. I should think so too.

Comments

[Amanda Butler]

Absolutely fabulous....watched it and bought it on DVD and sat and watched it all. Being from up the road myself they have totally got it spot on, love it, hope the next series is as good...sure i had my wedding at the same place years ago...sampe pictures. So refreshing, actors are paired together brilliantly. Well done.

[caz]

This is a really excellent series and already i can't wait for the next one.. roll on the wedding and happily ever after...!? Anyone who has been through wedding planning etc will understand and cring in al the right places.