Gavin and Stacey's baby Neil has very different career since first appearing in series

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Gavin and Stacey's baby Neil has very different career since first appearing in series

Neil the baby is all grown up

It's been a year since we tearfully waved goodbye to Gavin & Stacey, with co-creators Ruth Jones and James Corden delivering the perfect happy ever after in a finale which aired on Christmas Day.

The 90-minute episode saw Smithy (Corden) finally realise that Nessa (Jones) was the love of his life – but only after he'd planned a wedding and walked down the aisle with fiancée Sonia (Laura Aikman).

A high-stakes bus journey across the country later, and Smithy was finally able to declare his feelings for Nessa, moments before she was about to head off to work on 'the ships'.

We were also treated to an appearance from Nessa and Smithy's son Neil the baby, played by Oscar Hartland.

Neil the Baby is a baby no more! (BBC)
Neil the Baby is a baby no more! (BBC)

No longer the baby, Neil is now 16 years old and planning to begin an apprenticeship with his father.

He's also a talented musician, bringing viewers to tears with a heartfelt cover of 'Blackbird' by The Beatles during his father's wedding ceremony – a move which was a nod to Hartland's real-life passion.

Though he may have been an actor in his early years, Hartland is now pursuing a career in the music industry, regularly uploading videos of himself singing and playing guitar online.

The teenager's love for music goes back several years, as he was previously a member of grunge rock band Redwood City, which released two singles on Spotify.

Hartland also competed on The Voice Kids in 2023, with Jones leaving him a message in character as Nessa during the series.

"I have always wanted to make it as a musician in a band, and I’m ready to do it the hard way. I’m a grafter, and I’ll tough it out," he said in a recent interview with Caerphilly Observer.

The 17-year-old also revealed that he hadn't received the results he wanted in his GCSEs, admitting that he wasn't an 'academic'.

"I hated school, and classroom learning is not my thing," he explained.

The actor hinted at his dream profession during the finale (BBC)
The actor hinted at his dream profession during the finale (BBC)

"During my school years, my head was in other places, music was always my thing and I got an A, so I’m happy with that."

Revealing that he'd received two pass grades, including an A in Music, Hartland said: "Is an executive at one of the top recording labels going to ask me about my GCSE results? I don’t think so."

"He wasn’t too worried about his GCSE results, he’s only ever wanted a career in showbusiness," added his mum, Kirsty.

Given that his Instagram is filled with shots of him touring the country and playing live, it would appear Hartland is well on the way to achieving his dreams.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: TV, Gavin And Stacey