Melanie Walters on Gavin and Stacey Reunions: “Old Friends Reuniting”

Melanie Walters, the actress who portrays Gwen West in the popular series Gavin and Stacey, has stated that each time the cast gathers for filming, it feels like “old friends reuniting.” Walters has been a part of the hit sitcom since its debut in 2007. The program is scheduled to return to television on Christmas Day for its long-anticipated concluding episode. This installment is expected to finally reveal the outcome of the cliff-hanger proposal from five years prior, when Nessa asked Smithy to marry her. Despite being aware of the resolution, Melanie has disclosed that she plans to watch the final episode for the first time along with the general audience. Walters, who will soon be performing in a pantomime in Weston-super-Mare, also indicated that the production team is still applying the final adjustments to the 90-minute episode, meaning she has not yet viewed a preview screening of the finale. She commented, “Obviously I’ve read the script so I know what happens, but they’re still editing it because we only finished it in October.” Having developed a passion for the industry at four years old, Melanie has appeared in numerous films and television series, but none as prominent as Gavin and Stacey. She informed BBC Radio Bristol, “The love for it from the public is extraordinary, and it’s been 17 years.” She further expressed, “I’m just incredibly proud of it as a show, and will always be hugely grateful for having been cast in it.” The 62-year-old actress mentioned that people still approach her in the street “at least four times a week,” making references to fresh omelettes and Welsh expressions. She laughed, “I don’t think anybody knows my name is Melanie Walters. I’m known as Gwen,” adding, “You can’t be cross at that though. It’s because people like it so much.” This year’s festive reunion is set to be the ultimate farewell to the show’s eccentric yet beloved families. However, Melanie believes their narrative will persist through the lasting friendships forged among the cast members on set. She recalled the immediate familiarity during a read-through for the last Christmas special, stating, “When we entered that room for the read through for the last Christmas special, within 10 minutes it was just like we’d seen each other yesterday.” She likened it to reuniting with a close friend after a prolonged separation: “It’s like that really close friend you’ve not seen for years and years, and when you finally see them, it’s like you’d never been apart. “So that just shows there is such a lovely bond there, a true bond.” Following her sustained success on the show, Melanie began receiving a multitude of job offers, but she was “very careful about not saying yes to everything.” She explained, “It was just about making sure that I stayed on the path I wanted to stay on.” The actress has since found her calling on the stage, having starred in 13 pantomimes and currently preparing for another. Melanie is scheduled to embody ‘Fairy Camembert’ in a pantomime production of Beauty and the Beast, which will be held at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare from December 7 until 31.