Rob Brydon shares real reason he almost turned down BBC Gavin and Stacey role as he recalls James Corden intervention
Ahead of the Gavin and Stacey finale on Christmas Day, the cast have been reminiscing about their time on the classic BBC series.
For one final time, James Corden and Ruth Jones have revisited their classic characters in Barry Island and Billericay to wrap up some of the series’ best-loved storylines.
In an official synopsis released by the BBC, the plot line for the finale reads: “In Barry, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex; Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their 17-year marriage and Gwen is behaving most strangely.
“Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the Baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad.
“Over in Billericay Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship.”
While it’s bound to be an emotional affair for the cast and fans alike, things almost looked very different among the main line-up of characters.
Uncle Bryn star Rob Brydon has opened up on why he almost turned down Corden and Jones when he was first approached to play the iconic role.
“My earliest Gavin and Stacey-related memory is sitting on a bench at Manley Beach in Sydney, Australia,” Brydon began to the Beeb.
“I was over there filming a series I did called Supernova for the BBC and James was there, he was doing The History Boys World Tour, and I was umming and ahing about doing Gavin and Stacey, because I thought there were some similarities between Bryn and Keith Barrett.
“And at that point, I still harboured dreams of being Al Pacino, you know, and playing this wide range of parts.”
Luckily, Corden pulled Brydon aside and was able to convince him otherwise: “James and I sat together on the bench and talked about the show and that’s my first clear memory of Gavin and Stacey.”
Keith Barret was the alter-ego Brydon portrayed in the early noughties in his own spoof chat show.
In the role of Keith, Brydon would interview his guests – often celebrity couples – with particularly loaded or tone-deaf questions seeking relationship advice and the formula for a healthy marriage.
The Keith Barret Show only ran for two seasons from 2004 and 2005 and welcomed the likes of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, and several other celeb couples.
Having put his doubts aside, Brydon has been synonymous with the character of Uncle Bryn for 17 years and as such, the role is one he’ll forever hold close to his heart.
“It means a huge amount to me. Of the roles I’ve played it is the most recognisable role,” Brydon said.
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“It’s probably the most loved project of anything I’ve ever done, and it just seems to grow in the time from finishing the series to making that first special, it just grew. So it means a huge amount to me.
“Also, because of James and Ruth, I was at school with Ruth, so it’s especially sentimental or heartfelt, you know, acting with her in it. And I’ve known James for a very long time, I knew him when he was unknown.
“I adore both of them. So it’s probably the project that’s closest to my heart of all the ones I’ve done.”
The Gavin and Stacey finale airs on BBC One on Christmas Day at 9pm.