Ruth Jones (I)

Where Little Britain produced bizarre, gross-out comedy, Gavin & Stacey is a very traditional sitcom. It works in the manner of Dad's Army or Birds of a Feather - the eponymous leads, played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page, provide a focus in front of a background populated by slightly grotesque caricatures, such as Rob Brydon's camp and simple-minded Uncle Bryn. Now for this third and final series, James Corden's Smithy is still living in Essex while Gavin (his best friend) and Stacey (Gavin's wife) have moved to Stacey's home town of Barry Island in South Wales. As the familiar characters reunite for the christening of Smithy and Nessa's son Neil, viewers who are new to the series (which has previously won two Baftas) may find that this opening instalment is not as immediately likeable or accessible as they might wish. Who, after all, would choose to spend time in the company of Gavin's shouty mother Pam (Alison Steadman) or Stacey's offensive best friend Nessa (Corden's co-writer Ruth Jones)? But as this first episode continues (next week's second is much funnier), it becomes obvious that these weirdly dysfunctional families makes a kind of sense - and that their ludicrous travails are no more ludicrous than most family's. So it's all very sweet, even if there's none of the innovation or edginess you'd find in The Office or The Thick of It.

The Sun interviews James Corden and Ruth Jones

But both believe the third series - which starts on Thursday at 9pm on BBC1 - is the best.

Ruth Jones cried for a week filming final scenes

Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones cried for a week as the cast filmed their final scenes for the BBC1 comedy, she has admitted.

Ruth Jones: I wish I was more like Nessa

Viewers can't seem to get enough of Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones... but there's little danger of success going to her head.

You can't blame BBC3 for constantly repeating its best-ever programme. Here's yet another chance to laugh along with a long-distance relationship conducted in Billericay (his home) and Barry Island (hers), complicated by the young lovers' ditsiness and their weird families and friends. The starry supporting cast (Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, plus writers Ruth Jones and James Corden) provide the vulgar belly laughs, all as larger-than-life loons who never quite tip over into caricature, thanks to the earthy, affectionate script.

Ruth Jones: Gavin & Stacey interview

The shy star of 'Gavin and Stacey' talks about her latest role, writing with James Corden and the pleasures of 'nice-com'.

Guest Host interview: Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones - actress, writer and co-creator of Gavin and Stacey - hosts Have I Got News For You for the first time tonight. She's met Barack Obama!

Gavin & Stacey Cut Short

The new series of Gavin & Stacey has been cut from seven to six episodes. James Corden and Ruth Jones - who write the comedy hit and star as Smithy and Nessa - are too busy to make the full run.

Gavin and Stacey star 'pressure'

Ruth Jones, the co-writer of the acclaimed comedy Gavin and Stacey, says the "pressure is on" as she starts work on the third series.

Gavin and Stacey ready to return

Gavin and Stacey co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones have announced there will be a third series of the hit comedy show. They made the announcement live on stage in Barry Island, where Jones was hosting an open-air edition of her BBC Radio Wales show.