James Corden reveals major significance behind the last line in Gavin and Stacey finale

On what might have been a sad day for Gavin and Stacey fans as we face a future with no more episodes, instead it's a time to rejoice because the finale was just that damn good.

It had pretty much everything apart from an explanation about that fishing trip, and even then it's probably better not to know for sure what really went down, and an appearance from Dick Powell (Gwynfor Roberts) himself.

All good things must come to an end and Gavin and Stacey ended things beautifully.

I'll be honest with you, dear reader, I spent much of the episode absolutely cacking it that Mick (Larry Lamb) was going to die after a family member round for Christmas said they'd heard there was going to be a funeral in the episode.

Fortunately that didn't happen and Mick stuck around to deliver one hell of a speech on Smithy's stag do, and then provide the decisive moment to convince Smithy (James Corden) that going through with his wedding was the wrong idea.

Instead of tragedy, Gavin and Stacey delivered a happy ending as Smithy finally tied the knot with Nessa (Ruth Jones) and the last major line of the last episode wrapped up this bit beautifully.

Right at the end the main cast of characters are all preparing for a photo and Stacey (Joanna Page) tells Gavin (Matthew Horne): "Smithy and Nessa, who'd have thought?"

Gavin then replies: "I know, only took 'em 17 years."

No prizes for guessing how long it has been since the show started.

Beyond a few calls from the group for them to get in place for the picture that's where Gavin and Stacey ends, with the last major lines delivered by the titular characters and viewers treated to a group photo of the beloved gang.

In an appearance on The Graham Norton Show ahead of the final episode, Corden and Jones opened up about the show and how they ended things in front of the camera.

Corden explained that they decided to schedule things so that the last line delivered on the show was done on the last day of filming so the actors would be going through the ending with the audience, saying they 'really felt like we wanted everybody to be there at the very end'.

The actor and co-creator of Gavin and Stacey said there were 'just a lot of tears' by the end, and joked that Stacey's actor Joanna Page 'basically cried every day'.

He added that there were 'a lot of tears' when they watched the final episode at a screening, describing the whole thing as 'a very, very emotional thing to do'.

This last gathering was pretty much the perfect send-off for the show, and leaving the very end until the last day was a chance for this cast who've been performing together for 17 years to bid farewell together.