Richard E. Grant was overcome with emotion as he was treated to a tour of the Gavin & Stacey filming locations in Wales.
The actor, 68, is currently working with Ruth Jones, 58, on a new period drama and revealed his co-star had taken him out in Barry to show him where she had filmed her scenes as Nessa Jenkins.
In a sweet Instagram video on Tuesday, Richard gave fans a glimpse of their day out and revealed the show had special significance for him because he used to watch it with his beloved late wife, Joan Washington.
Filming himself walking along the famous shores of Whitmore Bay in Barry Island, Richard looked sentimental as he confessed: ‘[It’s] really emotional to be here.
‘The last months of my wife’s life we watched Gavin & Stacey on repeat and it cheered us up endlessly.’
Richard was married to vocal coach Joan for 38 years before she tragically passed away in 2021 following a battle with lung cancer.
Richard E. Grant was overcome with emotion as he was treated to a tour of the Gavin & Stacey filming locations in Wales after admitting the show brought his late wife comfort
The actor, 68, is currently working with Ruth Jones, 58, on a new period drama and revealed his co-star had taken him out in Barry to show him where she had filmed her scenes as Nessa
Richard was married to vocal coach Joan for 38 years before she tragically passed away in 2021 following a battle with lung cancer (pictured in 2019)
Richard’s video began by showing him walking down the famous street in south Wales that was the backdrop for Stacey’s (Joanna Page) home.
He panned the camera round while saying: ‘I’m in Barry with…’ as Ruth suddenly appeared in frame smiling.
The pair then posed outside the house – which has become a tourist hotspot since the series aired in 2007 and welcomes visitors from around the world.
Richard then walked across the street to get a glimpse at Uncle Bryn’s (Rob Brydon) home before heading to Whitmore Bay.
As he posed for snaps by the seafront, Ruth slipped back into her iconic character as she called out: ‘oh Rich, what’s occurin”
Richard finished his tour by visiting Marco’s Cafe – which frequently appeared on the show – and met with owner Marco Zeraschi, who has appeared on the programme as an extra.
Sharing the video with his 791,000 followers, Richard penned: ‘Am finally working with Ruth Jones in Wales and she generously gave me a tour of the @gavinandstaceytv locations this morning, helped by Marko! LUSH’.
Richard and Ruth are currently working together on a new BBC drama which shares a link to another Gavin & Stacey star, Alison Steadman.
Richard’s video began by showing him walking down the famous street in south Wales that was the backdrop for Stacey’s (Joanna Page) home
He panned the camera round while saying: ‘I’m in Barry with…’ as Ruth suddenly appeared
The pair then posed outside the house – which has become a tourist hotspot since the series aired in 2007 and welcomes visitors from around the world
Richard then walked across the street to get a glimpse at Uncle Bryn’s (Rob Brydon) home before heading to Whitmore Bay
As he posed for snaps by the seafront, Ruth slipped back into her iconic character as she called out: ‘oh Rich, what’s occurin”
Barry Island has embraced the Gavin & Stacey theme with homages around the town
Richard finished his tour by visiting Marco’s Cafe – which frequently appeared on the show – and met with owner Marco Zeraschi, who has appeared on the programme as an extra
They will star in ten-part series, The Other Bennet Sister, adapted from Janice Hadlow’s novel, which delves into the tale of Pride And Prejudice but from the perspective of Mary Bennet, played by Call The Midwife actress Ella Bruccoleri.
Richard and Ruth will star as Mr and Mrs Bennet, Mary’s parents.
In a coincidental twist, Ruth is stepping into the role that Alison played in the 1995 adaptation of Pride And Prejudice.
Gavin & Stacey came to an end on Christmas Day with a feature-long episode, 17 years after the show first aired – with fans hailing the finale as ‘perfect’.
Fans tuned into the episode to see whether Smithy (James Corden) had accepted Nessa’s proposal from the 2019 Christmas Special.
And while the five-year time jump revealed that he was indeed set to tie the knot, not all was as it seemed.
It was revealed that Smithy had instead got engaged to his girlfriend Sonia (Laura Aikman), who failed to impress the Shipman/West clan when she met them in the last festive episode.
Fans were also treated to the surprise return of Sheridan Smith as Smithy’s sister Rudi, and Pam Ferris as his mum Cath.
Gavin & Stacey came to an end on Christmas Day with a feature-long episode, 17 years after the show first aired – with fans hailing the finale as ‘perfect’
Yet when it came to Smithy’s big day he realised that Nessa was his one true love and called off the wedding.
The entire family jumped into Dave’s coach and rushed to Southampton, where Nessa was preparing to set sail, and in a scene 17 years in the making, he declared his love for her, and asked her to reconsider leaving.
While an ever-stoic Nessa insisted she wouldn’t propose to Smithy again, instead he returned her offer from five years earlier, finally getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him.
The episode then cut to Smithy and Nessa exchanging their vows at long last in an intimate ceremony in Barry, with the series ending with an emotional montage of the family marking the occasion at The Dolphin pub, before posing for a family snap.
