Gavin and Stacey: The Finale to air on Christmas Day teaser trailer
Gavin and Stacey "villain" Laura Aikman, who played Smithy's (James Cordon) fiancee Sonia, has apologised to fans of the show after they vowed they would "cancel their TV licences" following her return.
She took to her Instagram stories reacting to the final episode of the BBC sitcom, which was the most watched show on Christmas Day with a whopping 12.3 million viewers, writing: "Many apologies for my behaviour... x"
She seemed to find peoples hatred of her character amusing as she also shared posts calling her "everyone's favourite Christmas Day villain", and revealed her family got to see Sonia "ruining Christmas again" after she hid her return from them.
The actress, who has admitted she takes "an NDA very seriously", and producers had gone to great lengths to keep her return to the show a secret.
Director Christine Gernon admitted: “@Lauraikman spent the whole G&S shoot being hidden away. Staying in a different hotel, not allowed to come to wrap or screening parties so no-one knew Sonia was back. Such a great reveal. And she’s amazing as both actor and person.”
The actress had previously only appeared in a single episode of the show back in 2019 when she was introduced as Sonia who was dating Smithy.
As fans tuned in to see if he had accepted Nessa's (Ruth Jones) proposal after the cliffhanger ending in that episode they were horrified to discover he was in fact engaged to Sonia.
It transpired that not only had he not given Nessa an answer when she proposed but he had also asked Sonia to marry him the very next day meaning they were together five years at this stage.
The entire episode focused on the build up to their big day as Sonia proved to be an insufferable bridezilla who clearly wasn't right for her groom to be.
The insufferable Sonia was Smithy’s long-term fiancée in the show, who he eventually left at the altar while realising he wanted to marry Nessa instead. Fans never knew she’d be back for the Christmas special 2024, and the cast went to extreme measures to keep it that way.
Fortunately, Laura seems to know very well that her character was set up to be the villain of the piece by being in the way of Smithy and Nessa finally getting together, and it didn't help that she ended up being quite the Bridezilla.
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Fans were devastated with the outcome after spending half a decade hoping Nessa and Smithy would end up together and took to X to vent about it.
"Sonia is a good and valid reason to cancel the tv license! #GavinAndStacey #tvlicense #bbc," one ranted. "HE PROPOSED TO SONIA THE NEXT DAY?! #GavinAndStacey," another exclaimed. Another chimed in: "I don’t dislike Sonia, I just don’t think she’s a good fit with Smithy. #GavinAndStacey."
A fourth opined: "I don't even care if Nessa and Smithy get together or not so long as he doesn't get married to Sonia #GavinAndStacey."
"What I want to know is how the hell has Smithy lasted 5 years with Sonia in the first place, she’s a nightmare and they aren’t suited at all #GavinAndStacey #gavinandstaceythefinale," a fifth queried.
Viewers finally got their wish when Smithy eventually left at the altar after realising he wanted to marry Nessa instead and the whole gang headed to find her so he could propose. The episode ended with the pair finally saying "I do".
