19 December 2023 , 23:00
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Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page has sensationally revealed that one of the comedy’s much loved scenes was faked.
The 46-year-old actress played lead character Stacey Shipman across all 21 episodes of the hit BBC comedy - which last aired in 2019 with a Christmas special. But there was another Christmas special that aired in 2008 that ended with a touching TV moment that saw all the characters gathered around a piano.
The scene in question included Stacey’s on-screen father-in-law Michael "Mick" Shipman who was played by Larry Lamb, 76, while he played piano. Mick had been gifted a keyboard by his wife, Pam - played by Alison Steadman, 77 - and he was seen sitting at the keys to play a rendition of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
But, it transpires, Larry couldn’t play piano for toffee and so the scene had to be spoofed with musical notes being added in post production. Joanne has revealed the blooper and explained that show bosses tried to teach Larry how to play the instrument for real - but he proved to be useless at it.
Joanna Page has reflected on a past Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey (FILE)She explained to The Sun: “Larry had piano lessons but it made no difference because he was absolutely dreadful at playing the keyboard. If you look closely at the end, he’s not actually touching the keys - his hands are hovering over them.”
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Joanna, who is married to actor James Thornton, 48, and shares four children with him, added that her kids refuse to watch the more recent Christmas Special and always demand to watch the 2008 version. She said: “The kids are like, ‘Can we watch the one where the man isn’t actually playing the keyboard?’ They think it’s hysterical.”
Fans of Gavin and Stacey hoping to see more Christmas Specials in the future could be encouraged or disheartened by a recent update from Joanna - as she neither confirmed nor denied there will be more episodes in the future. She told the MailOnline last month: “I can see them never doing any more because it was nice to leave it on a cliffhanger because it's up to the viewer to imagine what would have happened. So I can imagine them ending it like that.
The last Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey was in 2019 (PA)"I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't get the call, and I wouldn't be surprised if I did. But all I can say is, if they were going to do another one I hope it's soon because we're all getting so old, I don't particularly want to see Stacey get that much older."
Fellow Gavin and Stacey star Sheridan Smith, 42, also explained she's in the dark over possible future episodes of the show. Asked about the possibility of new episodes on Heart FM, the actress replied: "People ask quite a lot, I have not a clue if they’re going to do anymore or not, I really don’t know."
Meanwhile, Welsh star Joanna also recently announced she will be starring in a new TV show which will show her training to become a vet. She said: “I’m going to be doing a wildlife show where I’ll be training to become a nurse to some wildlife vets. I adore animals and we as a family just love them. My children are very excited about me doing this new show.”