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1. Footage of the fishing trip exists

One of the best running gags in Gavin & Stacey is the mystery of Jason and Bryn’s fishing trip. Whatever happened, it apparently defied the laws of gravity and is definitely illegal in the United Kingdom. Viewers have never had the full gory details, but Robert Wilfort, who plays Jason, reveals that he and Rob Brydon (Bryn) once shot part of that fabled trip.

Natalie Cassidy, Joanna Page, Adrian Scarborough and Robert Wilfort in the Off the Telly studio.

“We did film a flashback,” says Robert, “but they couldn’t use it.” Not for the reasons you might be thinking. It was meant to be in the final episode of the first series, “but [director Christine Gernon] rang me and said ‘The episode is running 14-minutes, so we’ve got to cut it.’ So, there is stuff out there.”

2. James Corden’s favourite location is Pam and Mick’s

There are some great locations used in Gavin & Stacey, but it doesn’t take James Corden, the show’s co-creator and the man behind Smithy, long to choose his favourite.

“I really love filming in Pam and Mick’s,” he says. Is it the ambience? The scenery? No, the seating. “There is always a comfortable chair. Always somewhere comfy to sit.”

3. Alison Steadman couldn’t stop laughing about Patch Adams

There is a lot of laughter on set while filming the show, but one day it tipped over the edge. During the scene in which Pam (Alison Steadman) and Dawn (Julia Davis) talk about Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christine Gernon had to clear her set for “the only time probably in the last 20 years”.

“They were talking about Philip Seymour Hoffman," and the script refers to him as ‘the big strawberry blonde fella from Patch Adams.’ Gernon explains, "They could not get it out… I told them to go out and have a think about themselves.”

4. James fell asleep in the first ever episode

It turns out James Corden is something of a method actor. In the very first episode, when Stacey and Nessa travel to London to meet Gavin and Smithy, there’s a scene with the boys sleeping off a big night. “[James] actually fell asleep,” says Christine Gernon. “He’s genuinely asleep.” Well, it certainly looked very convincing.

James Corden and director Christine Gernon speaking to Nat and Jo from the final Gavin & Stacey edit.

We hadn’t written things like Mick and Nessa switching tops, which I thought was really funny.

James Corden on filming his favourite scene.

5. The Madness scene was the most fun to film

There’s wide agreement about one of the best shooting days ever. “If I had to pick a [favourite] scene that I’m in,” says James Corden, “I really loved the scene where we were all dancing around to Madness.”

Some of the most fun elements were made up on the day. “We’d written that we were all dancing around,” continues James, “but we hadn’t written things like Mick and Nessa switching tops, which I thought was really funny.”

Christine Gernon says it was one of the easiest scenes to direct. “I don’t have to do anything… ‘You’ve all had a drink, you’re all dancing – off you go.’”

6. Adrian Scarborough’s favourite scene makes him cry

Asked to choose a favourite scene, Adrian Scarborough, who plays Pete, starts to well up. “It’s the scene between [Stacey] and Gav where they go back to the island,” he says. “I think that scene is so beautifully crafted and written. It’s about two people who are – look, I’m welling up now! – they’re both in a marriage and they’re worried about their marriage getting stale, and they’re so communicative with each other. They talk it through. It’s the best advert for talking therapy.”

7. Natalie auditioned to play Smithy’s sister

In something of a bombshell, Natalie reveals that Off The Telly could have been presented by two Gavin & Stacey stars.

“Can I tell you a secret?”, she says. “I have one tiny link to Gavin & Stacey: I auditioned for the part of Smithy’s sister.” Yes, Natalie could have been Rudi. “You would have been amazing,” says Corden. The part ultimately went to BAFTA-winning actress Sheridan Smith, so if you’re going to lose out to anyone…

8. It really is the end

Natalie asks, somewhat hopefully, “Do you really think this is the last last episode?”

Adrian Scarborough says the script for the Christmas Day episode is pretty definitive. “I like what they put at the end of the script,” he says. “They put: ‘The end, forever and ever, amen.’”