Gavin & Stacey's Pam and Mick actors reveal they faked Essex scenes

Ah Gavin & Stacey, the story of an Essex lad and a Welsh girl getting together and all the family drama that followed. Except not all was as it seemed, as two of the cast members have now let slip a surprising filming secret.

It's been three-and-a-half years since we saw Nessa (Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones) propose to Smithy (other Gavin and Stacey co-creator James Corden) in the 2019 Christmas special.

Since then rumours have been swirling around of a fourth series of the show or perhaps another special, with a number of stars saying they'd like to do more at some point.

Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb, who played Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, are now working together on travel show Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry which takes them between filming locations from the sitcom.

Only that's not strictly true, as while Gavin's family were meant to live in Billericay, Steadman and Lamb never actually filmed there.

BBC

Lamb told the Radio Times: "Gavin & Stacey was all filmed in Wales, nobody offered us the opportunity to go to Essex.

“They said, ‘Billericay’s where you’re from’, so we just got on with it, we just do what we’re told.”

Lamb and Steadman also opened up about whether they'd be keen to do a fourth series of the sitcom.

Steadman told the Radio Times she'd 'like to do another', but would prefer another special instead of a full series so it 'wouldn't be too draining and exhausting'.

She said she was 'really touched and moved' by the cliffhanger ending to the 2019 special episode.

Gareth Cattermole / Staff / Getty

Lamb said 'absolutely yes to another one', but like his co-star he said he'd prefer to do a special instead of a full series as that 'will do me'.

He said a potential return for Gavin and Stacey was 'like getting the family together again' so he'd certainly like to return for it.

The thing is, for there to be a return there'd need to be an episode for them to come back for, and that relies on Jones and Corden writing a new one together.

Corden said they couldn't really make the writing process work remotely and for anything to happen they'd both have to be 'ready and right'.

Corden said they had met up last Christmas and talked about Gavin and Stacey, but the conversation was more about what everyone was up to these days instead of how they'd all return for another episode.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.