Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones says fans could see Nessa and Smithy get married after Xmas special pulled in 12.3m viewers
GAVIN & Stacey smashed its rivals with the best Christmas Day TV ratings since 2008, pulling in 12.31 million viewers.
The episode, written by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones, revisited Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa nearly ten years after they left our screens. It ended with Nessa, played by Ruth, 53, proposing to Smithy (Corden, 41).
But asked whether the two characters would get together in any future episodes, Ruth told The Sun: “Well, genuinely I don’t know the answer to that.
“You could go either way with it. It could be the most ridiculous thing, or it could be a marriage made in heaven. But don’t you think it would end the interest? If they did become a proper couple, would that spoil it? These are all questions that we ponder.”
It's the largest audience recorded that day in a decade, but some of those who watched were offended by the "f****t" slur during a karaoke song with Nessa and Uncle Bryn.
When the Christmas special aired at 8.30pm on BBC, half (49.2 per cent) of all TV viewers tuned in with an average of 11.5million viewers.
The Queen's Christmas Broadcast was the next most-watched programme, with Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders and Michael McIntyre's Big Show finishing in the top five.
Fans are already begging for more after the episode ended in a cliffhanger.
But the show - written by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones - came under fire for its homophobic language.
In a rendition of The Pogues' Fairytale of New York, Nessa and Uncle Bryn (played by Rob Brydon) sang the word "f****t".
Gay rights campaigners said the word was "pejorative" to the LGBT community and that the BBC should bleep it out.
But it was kept in while being aired to families on Christmas Day last night.
One angry fan said: "Such a shame @JKCorden thinks it’s OK to use homophobic language in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
"How are the gay kids sat watching with their family meant to feel as everyone guffaws at “f****t” being shouted on Christmas Day? You let us down.'
Another said: "Well #GavinandStacey ruined Christmas by allowing every family to sing f****t in the living room. Well done @JKCorden. You absolute mess." Someone else said: "Well done for writing the word f****t into your script you inconsiderate pair of c***s x."
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Ruth defended the use of the word and said she and James decided to remain "true to the characters" in the highly-anticipated new episode.
She said: "It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were.
"Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful. But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness," she added.
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The BBC also argued that the song is played on national and regional radio throughout the Christmas period.
A spokesperson said: "Fairytale of New York is a very popular, much-loved Christmas song played widely throughout the festive season, and the lyrics are well-established with the audience."
Shane, who celebrates his 62nd birthday on Christmas Day, spoke about the backlash last year and said he had "not intended to offend" with his lyrics and added: "Not all characters in songs and stories are angels."