Ah Boxing Day, the day typically used for seeing the ‘rest of the family’ or for recovering from a heavy day before.
But I for one need it just to recover from last night’s (25 December) big Gavin and Stacey: The Finale.
I mean, that had to be the most perfect last ever episode in TV. From having us hanging over the fishing trip to that Dave Coaches reveal, it was just brilliant.
And of course, it was emotional too – plenty of us had the tears flowing just over Neil the Baby singing at the wedding ceremony.
During a cast Q&A with press before the Christmas day release, they explained the reason why they got the lad to sing.
Very much not a baby anymore, the son of Nessa and Smithy is played by Oscar Hartland.
The Welsh lad has however been playing the role for quite some time as he was one of the original babies used back in series three.
But despite his appearance in the 2019 Christmas special, the now 17-year-old hasn’t quite pursued acting, opting for music instead.
Going to cry again in a minute… (BBC)
Hartland is a budding musician, previously being in grunge rock band Redwood City.
“Music is my thing at the moment, I’m loving it,” he told Wales Online back in 2022. “I want to do stuff like Guns n Roses, Queen, and The Darkness. I also love DJing as well, I have some decks.”
According to entertainment journalist Scott Bryan, the cast explained in a Q&A they decided to make him sing at the wedding scene because he sang on The Voice Kids.
Hartland took part as a solo artist in the 2023 series of the singing contest, with Gavin and Stacey creator Ruth Jones leaving him a message on the phone (in Nessa’s voice, of course).
Hartland on The Voice Kids in 2023. (ITV)
In the surprise from his ‘special friend’ ahead of his audition she said: “Oh, Neil the Baby, what’s occurin? We knows what’s occurin, you’re on The Voice Kids.
“Don’t forget you take after your mother when it comes to music.
“You go out there and you smash it kid alright!? Crackin!”
Jones obviously didn’t appear in the wedding scene as Nessa was busy making her way to go work on the ships and so was behind the cameras instead. She apparently cried watching as Hartland sang ‘Blackbird’ while playing an acoustic guitar.
And to be honest, I don’t know if I’ll be able to listen to that song the same way again. Love you Nessa and Smithy.
