When the next set of Barb figures are issued in three weeks, reflecting 28 days of catch-up viewing, it's expected that Gavin & Stacey will have passed or be close to passing the

The finale of the sitcom, which aired on Christmas Day, is nearing 20 million views, the most for a scripted show since current records began.

Perhaps the real lesson of Gavin & Stacey’s success is to give shows time. Line of Duty grew from a show in the summer of 2012 on BBC Two to one of the most watched dramas of the 21st century. Wallace & Gromit, a claymation that started out as a student’s graduate project, attracted more than 10 million viewers on BBC One on Christmas Day.

The British sitcom, co-created by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones, is the U.K.'s most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002.

The Finale' has broken the UK ratings for a scripted show for the BBC after the Christmas Day special with James Corden and Ruth Jones

Fans of Gavin and Stacey are suspended in a state of mourning following the utterly perfect Christmas finale, which saw Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones) exchange vows at long last. The series, written and created by Corden and Jones, also stars Matthew Horne as Gavin, and Joanna Page as Stacey.

Mathew Horne reprised his role as Gavin Shipman in the Gavin & Stacey finale. He played the role throughout the TV series (2007 – 2019). Joanna Page reprised her role as Stacey Shipman in the Gavin & Stacey finale. She played the role throughout the TV series (2007 – 2019).

A star of Gavin and Stacey has donated a signed copy of the series finale's script to raise money for charity. Robert Wilfort, who plays Stacey's brother Jason West in the popular BBC show, has given the script to a charity in his hometown of Chesham,

The British sitcom Gavin & Stacey ended its three-season, 22-whole-episodes run on the highest of notes. The series finale, titled “The Finale” and released on Christmas Day, premiered to 12.3 million same-day viewers,