‘Gavin & Stacey’ Finale Smashes U.K. TV Records for Scripted Show With Almost 20 Million Views

“Gavin & Stacey: The Finale” has broken viewing records in the U.K. since airing on Christmas Day.

According to the BBC, the final episode of the hit British sitcom — co-created by Ruth Jones and James Corden — is now the U.K.’s most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002. As per the latest data, ratings have already reached 19.3 million, smashing its own record from the 2019 “Gavin & Stacey” Christmas special, which reached 18.5 million in 28 days.

Watched by 12.3 million on Christmas Day — the biggest overnight for the day since 2008 — “Gavin & Stacey: The Finale” has since added more than 6 million to that total and it well on track to surpass 20 million views when the 28-day figures are published. Of the 19.3 million, 4.2 million are aged 16-34, making the episode the highest young audience for a scripted show since 2002.

“We are completely overwhelmed by the audience response to our show and to these astonishing viewing figures,” said Jones and Corden. “‘Gavin & Stacey’ really does belong to the audience and we are beyond thrilled that so many people enjoyed watching it this Christmas. A huge thank you to Charlotte Moore and the BBC for backing us these past 17 years.”

Added Charlotte Moore, BBC’s chief content officer: “The numbers are truly outstanding, unprecedented even! It’s the show the entire nation has been talking about over the last week so it’s no surprise that it’s not only smashed its own record but has become the UK’s biggest scripted show! Ruth Jones and James Corden’s creation is a true homegrown success story,  and their finale is a comedy masterpiece. It’s made us laugh and cry together in a way that only Gavin & Stacey can.”

“Gavin & Stacey: The Finale” was created, written and executive produced by Jones and Corden and was a Tidy and Fulwell73 production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.