Supporting Actors Reflect on Enduring Recognition from *Gavin & Stacey* Roles

Catrin-Mai Huw continues to be recognized for her part in the series *Gavin and Stacey*, despite having appeared in only one scene. Huw portrayed Natalie Lewis, a character identified in the script as Stacey’s adversary, whose father and brother reportedly had a past altercation with Nessa. A 32-second silent confrontation between Stacey and Natalie in a pharmacy was interrupted when a customer inquired of Natalie, “Where to’s your fake tans?” This particular moment is among numerous relatable instances that have resonated with fans of the popular sitcom. With Gavin, Stacey, and their extended family preparing for a concluding Christmas episode, BBC News engaged with some of the supporting characters who contributed to the series’ vibrant world. Catrin-Mai Huw, who now works as a teacher, reports that individuals, including her own students, still reference the pharmacy scene when they encounter her. “I think a few years ago they’d done a meme out of that scene,” stated Huw, 36. She added, “So I had several pupils saying ‘miss, can I show you something on my phone please?'” Huw characterized the solitary scene, which was filmed in a single day, as “really simple.” She further commented, “There’s hardly any dialogue but it’s fun.” Huw also remarked, “But because it’s literally one scene, it is funny how people still recognise me 15 years later!” William Thomas, upon being offered a role in *Gavin and Stacey*, already possessed an extensive acting resume, which featured previous appearances in productions such as *Only Fools and Horses*. However, he was surprised by the specifics of his initial appearance as the unconventional vicar Father Chris. Thomas recounted, “I saw this five page scene and I thought ‘crikey’.” This scene, which has become legendary among fans, depicts Father Chris insisting on knowing his parishioners’ preferred sandwiches. When Gavin states he does not “see the point,” Father Chris reacts explosively, declaring: “You don’t see the point!? Well, I’ll tell you the point, you jumped up little…” Thomas mentioned he was “incredibly nervous” while filming the scene in the presence of “all the names,” specifically Ruth Jones and James Corden. He noted, “[But] there were laughs coming from the congregation, so I thought ‘well it seems to be working’.” Thomas, 78, subsequently made two additional appearances as Father Chris, officiating at the christening of Baby Neil and the wedding of Nessa and Dave. He commented, “I don’t think anybody expected [Gavin and Stacey] to be as big as it is – my wife and my son are absolutely obsessed with it.” When asked if he believes Smithy will accept Nessa’s marriage proposal, Thomas responded, “My instinct says yes he did actually, because I think there’s a very deep affection and love there.” He added, “But he probably won’t say it right until three minutes from the end!” Steven Meo’s portrayal of Owain Hughes, Gavin’s new colleague, caused confusion among the show’s viewers. In series three, after commencing a new job in Cardiff, Gavin introduces himself to Owain, shaking his hand: “Hi, nice to meet you. [I’m] Gavin Shipman.” Owain replies, “Owain Hughes,” and then adds: “And before you ask, no I don’t!” This seemingly humorous remark elicits laughter from Owain and the boss, while Gavin appears perplexed. Regarding the meaning of the joke, Meo stated it signified “absolutely nothing.” He disclosed, “It is literally just a red herring designed to wind people up.” Meo further commented, “A great bit of the comedy in Gavin and Stacey comes from the differences in cultures between Wales and England, and I think that was just Ruth [Jones] playing a little joke.” He observed, “The amount of people you see online going ‘no I know what it is, I’m Welsh, I know what it is!’” He concluded, “[But] it was literally just to throw a curveball.” Meo, who is presently performing in a West End production of *Fawlty Towers*, continues to be recognized for his role in *Gavin and Stacey*. He remarked, “Whenever I do anything new on TV there’s always an article that reads ‘Gavin and Stacey star unrecognisable in new role’, and I kind of want to say ‘it was 15 years ago mate!’” Meo attributes the enduring legacy of *Gavin and Stacey* to the high quality of its scripts. He stated, “There’s a lot of love, a lot of hope and a lot of redemption.” He described the show as, “It’s essentially a feel good comedy with really endearing characters and really endearing family units, and you root for them.” Dic Powell, a character known for selling stolen goods and speaking exclusively Welsh, made only two appearances across the entire series. However, actor Gwynfor Roberts, who portrays Dic, noted that his character was “kept alive” through multiple script references, such as when Bryn informs the Essex contingent that Dic is the “one man in Barry that speaks Welsh.” Dic’s most prominent appearance occurs in series three, where he sells stolen barbecue meats to Mick and Bryn. He enumerates the items for sale in Welsh, including “kebabau,” before Mick suggests the products “look like they’ve fallen off the back of a lorry.” “No Mick!” Bryn responds. “It’s not fallen off the back of a lorry. It’s been stolen!” Roberts, who spent nearly 40 years working on the Welsh soap opera *Pobol y Cwm*, mentioned he continues to be recognized for his portrayal of Dic. Roberts stated, “It has happened on numerous occasions to be honest, especially as I live in Barry anyway.” He recounted, “I was stopped once outside Marco’s (cafe)… it was quite a youngster, late teens or early 20s, who sort of did a double take and said, ‘are you Dic Powell’s double?’” Roberts affirmed his intention to watch the finale on Christmas Day. He commented, “It’s sad when anything comes to an end and they call it a day, but it’s good that they’ve decided to do a final episode I think, so that they can answer a few unanswered questions.” He added, “Although, I don’t think they’ll answer the fishing trip one!” *Gavin & Stacey: The Finale* is scheduled to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One starting at 21:00 GMT on 25 December.