Behind the Scenes: Photographing the Birth of Gavin and Stacey

When I first stepped onto the set of Gavin and Stacey, armed with my camera and a sense of curiosity, I had no idea I’d be documenting the humble beginnings of what would become a cultural phenomenon. I thought I was there to take photos - but apparently, my real job was to avoid laughing so hard I shook the camera. Spoiler alert: I failed. Capturing the behind-the-scenes magic of a show that didn’t yet know it would become a national treasure was an unforgettable experience.

The creative energy on set was dynamic, driven by the show’s brilliant writers and stars, James Corden and Ruth Jones. Their characters, Smithy and Nessa, were larger than life and they brought so much humor and personality to every scene. Matt Horne and Joanna Page, playing the titular Gavin and Stacey, were the perfect romantic leads, bringing warmth and authenticity to their roles.

And of course, there was Rob Brydon as Uncle Bryn, whose quirky lines and comedic timing were unmatched. The entire ensemble cast was phenomenal and watching them bring the story to life was a joy to be part of.

One of my favourite scenes to photograph was set in a Billericay pub - though in reality, we were filming at The Ship on Harbour Road in Barry.

It was a classic moment with Smithy and Gavin chatting after their wild night out in London. In the scene Gavin has asked Smithy to call Nessa to see if Stacey was ok, as she hadn't spoken to Gavin for ‘three hours’. Smithy reluctantly calls,

"Nessa, it's Smithy!"

"Smithy! From the weekend"

"Gav's mate, Smithy! You know, from the hotel?"

"In the en suite?"

Then he whispers, "with the toilet brush."

"Yes! Yeh, good thanks"

“Is Stace there? oh ok” he puts the phone down and casually delivers the news to Gav,

“she doesn’t want to talk to you”

I remember sitting next to them shooting episodic images as the scene was rehearsed and I uncontrollably burst out laughing as they finished.

It was a little unprofessional of me, but I just couldn't help myself. James, laughing with Matt, turned to me and said, "Oh, that scene works, it's got a big laugh from Neil the photographer!"

Looking back now, it’s amazing to see how much the show resonated with audiences. At the time, it seemed like they were just having fun, telling a story about love, friendship and family, with all their quirks and complications. Being part of that creative process was a privilege and knowing that those photographs now serve as a visual record of the early days of such a beloved series is incredibly rewarding.

Every time I see a clip of Gavin and Stacey, I’m reminded of the laughter, camaraderie and magic of being on that set. The final shot I took was of the four main cast at at Barry Island. They were filming in the amusement arcade, where Nessa worked and I had 10 minutes with them. I set up a light and posed them sitting on the wall and then against the striking red shutter doors.

They were laughing and joking at first, so I asked them to try to be in character for a few frames. That was it! I got the picture that has been used everywhere. I shot about six images of them in character and one of them has gone on to be used as the Season 1 image, on TV streaming services and DVD covers - even recently it was recreated by the four cast members for this Christmas Day finale.

It was a true team effort and I’m proud to have played a small part in capturing the essence of a show that has brought so much joy to so many people.

I can’t wait for the finale to a show that has taken everyone on a journey from Barry Island to Billericay! The mix of anticipation and sadness over a series coming to an end is always bittersweet, especially when it’s a story everyone has really enjoyed.

As the final chapter of Gavin and Stacey unfolds this Christmas, I’ll be watching with a mix of pride and nostalgia. Here's to the laughter, the love and all those unforgettable moments from Barry Island to Billericay. May your own holiday season be just as full of magic.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank you for being part of this incredible year - Tidy!

The friendship between Matt Horne and James Corden was clearly beginning to grow between scenes, they were joyfully acting like young lads meeting each other in week one of a new school - willing each other on with pranks and humour - which brought an infectious sense of fun to the set. Also the Director Christine Gernon, Ruth and James would often sit during a break in filming to discuss script tweaks with Rob, trying lines to test the humour, it was a privilege to see the creative process in ‘real life’.

Between Scenes at Pam and Mick’s House: Rob Brydon chats with Ruth Jones, James Corden and director Christine Gernon about the script.

Behind the Scenes: Matt Horne and James Corden sparked on and off camera with their infectious energy as their off-screen friendship grew.

Pub phone call: James Corden (Smithy) and Matt Horne (Gavin) bring the laughs in a memorable scene at The Ship in Barry, standing in as a Billericay pub.

The four lead actors share a laugh during a photoshoot at Barry Island and the Radio Times showcased how my original image was recreated 17 years later as the cast reunited to film the finale.

On set: Rob Brydon (Uncle Bryn), Joanna Page (Stacey), and Matt Horne (Gavin) relax between takes.

Joanna Page waits for the next scene to begin.

James Corden (Smithy) and Ruth Jones (Nessa) prepare for a scene.