Gavin & Stacey

Cosy comedy Gavin & Stacey returned for its third - and if rumours are to be believed, final - series in 2009. There was more screen-time for supporting characters like Pete, Dawn and Doris, while the final scene of the series was a universal crowd-pleaser. We won't lie, though, at times the show became a bit too 'knowing', but at its heart it remained more appealing than Smithy's bhunas.

Gavin and Stacey: Series three, episode five

The Smithy-Nessa-Dave love triangle is hotting up - and someone in Barry Island tourist office is very happy indeed.

It's a madly unseasonal episode, but a superb one. Picture a bank holiday with all the regulars in Barry for a day on the beach. Soon Uncle Bryn is rubbing sun cream onto Mick, while Nessa and Smithy make sand castles with the baby. The only fly in the candyfloss is poor Gavin, who is still down in the mouth, at least until a chat from his dad puts things in perspective - the kind of scene this series conjures out of nowhere that can have you blinking away tears before you know it.

In the final ever episode (well, until they're talked into another Christmas special), preparations are being made for the wedding of Nessa and Dave. Nessa wants to make a splash on her big day. After all, she says, how many times does someone get married in their lifetime? Two? Three? So her fingernails are painted black, her dress is inspired by Boadicea - and everybody is suitably stunned. And that's even before they arrive at the church, where - in the briefest and unlikeliest guest appearance on record - someone entirely unexpected is ushered into the church. Elsewhere, Stacey has some news for Gavin that will change their lives. You'll never guess what. It culminates in a homage to Four Weddings and a Funeral, which is as good a way as any to round off this warm-hearted series.

Rob Brydon on life as Gavin & Stacey's Uncle Bryn

Rob Brydon on the ups and downs of life as Gavin & Stacey's Uncle Bryn.

Gavin and Stacey: Series three, episode four

The plot's gone a bit crazy, but an edge-of-your-seat ending bodes well for the Christmas Day episode.

TV ratings: Gavin & Stacey pulls in nearly 6m

BBC1 comedy Gavin & Stacey wins slot at 9pm with 25% share, gaining 100,000 viewers on previous episode.

Poor Gavin. He's just discovered Stacey has been off the pill for a year without telling him - now Bryn's giving him advice on sex. The only thing that could make it worse is Stacey's mum being there, too... which, of course, she is.

While Gwen and Bryn keenly discuss Gavin and Stacey's sex life, traumatised Gav is left flailing, and perhaps considering poking twigs in his ears to make all the bad words stop. Meanwhile Stacey is telling Ness she's worried she'll be like Barren Karen from down the road.

So Barry's least convincing psychic does her a reading - using a paperweight. After Gavin and Stacey opt for a more conventional method, and visit a doctor to find out why Stacey isn't pregnant, it's time for them to head to Billericay to see Pete and Dawn renew their wedding vows.

Half of Barry appears to be going to the ceremony, many a bit puzzled why they're invited (they must have missed the memo telling them they're legally obliged to gather on a weekly basis).

Smithy has been given the job of playing father of the bride and, thanks to a comical shopping trip with his mum and sister, has a smart suit to wear.

But first it's Pete's last night as a 'single man' (I know. So does everybody else. But Pete is a bit of a spanner) and he and Dawn will have stag and hen nights, albeit ones lamer than a limping horse. Still, they act as a perfect set-up for what wouldn't in a month of Sundays be considered a picture perfect ceremony.

Gavin And Stacey series 3 episode 4 review

Charm and poignancy come through as Gavin and Stacey get some difficult news...

TV ratings: Gavin & Stacey pulls in tidy 6m

BBC1 sitcom pulls in 2m more than The Bill in most-watched show of its third series.