The much-loved BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey is gearing up for its final episode on Christmas Day. The series, which initially aired between 2007 and 2010 on BBC3 and BBC1, has also been a popular fixture in the festive TV schedules, with Christmas specials in 2008, 2019 and, finally, 2024.
Over this period, fans of the show have engaged in a range of activities including discussing the series online, and visiting the filming locations in Barry, south Wales to engage in fan tourism. As the end of Gavin and Stacey approaches, they must now deal with the loss of their favourite characters and stories.
The emotional connections fans have with TV shows can be especially strong because they often air for several years, allowing viewers to grow up with certain characters and recognise similarities with their own lives. As a result, the ending of these series can lead fans to experience feelings of grief and mourning. They may go through different stages of coping with a series finale, experiencing “parasocial grief” for the fictional characters.
