Radio Times

• Episode 1/7

  Newlyweds Gavin and Stacey return from their honeymoon to a big welcome from both families. But when Smithy joins them for a celebratory meal out, he seems none too happy with his best mate. And as Nessa makes a shocking confession, and a tearful Stacey realises she's about to leave home, the entire evening slowly relocates to the restaurant toilets.

  RT Choice (Jack Seale, 16 March 2008)

  Undaunted by the pressure of following an award-winning first series, this lovely comedy takes it easy on its return. Stace and Gav-lah are reunited with the family after their honeymoon and, for half the first episode [of this double bill], that's it: we just spend time with the characters. The big gags arrive when Smithy (James Corden) joins the clan[…] but [much of what ensues] is played as soapy, almost soppy drama.
  
  It's a brave approach for a flagship sitcom, but this show's utter lack of pretension is disarming - and Rob Brydon is turning naïve Uncle Bryn into something approaching a classic character.

• Episode 2/7

  Devastated by the news of his impending fatherhood, Smithy goes AWOL. Gavin, Bryn and Mick finally track him down, but can they persuade him to do the right thing? Meanwhile, Stacey is shocked to hear of her mum's new domestic arrangements - and the prospect of moving to Essex to live with Gav's parents finally hits her.

• Episode 3/7

  Stacey's new life as an "Essex wife" is not as exciting as she'd hoped, so she's looking forward to a trip back home to see her family in Barry at the weekend. Smithy travels down too and accompanies Nessa to her initial pregnancy scan, where they see their little bundle of joy for the first time.

  RT Choice (Jack Seale, 23 March 2008)

  How they filmed this without laughing themselves into spasm, I don't know. I saw a smirk on James Corden's face during Smithy and Bryn's semi-nude workout, but otherwise they've got the funniest episode ever on tape without cracking. Watching it, I howled, spluttered and wept throughout.

• Episode 4/7

  Mick becomes a (very) minor celebrity for the night after finding a dead body. Stacey and Gavin start house-hunting - with disappointing results. Nessa comes to visit and shows the others a thing or two at the bowling alley. And as tensions between the newlyweds come to a head, Nessa and Smithy find themselves alone with a KFC meal…

• Episode 5/7

  It's Gwen's birthday and back in Barry Bryn has arranged a special treat - a surprise birthday barn dance. The stress of organising it is getting the better of him, though, and starting to arouse Gwen's suspicions. At the party, an uninvited guest arrives, Stacey tells Gavin of her big decision, and there's an all-singing, all-dancing finale.

  RT Choice (Jack Seale, 6 April 2008)

  Yet another lung-rippingly funny episode[…] pure comic joy.

• Episode 6/7

  Following Stacey's shock announcement that she's moving back to Wales, Gavin is in Essex without his wife and Stacey is in Barry without her husband. In an attempt to cheer Gav up, Smithy plans a boys' night out, while Stacey goes to the bingo. But with the newlyweds living separate lives, what's become of love's young dream? Will Gavin and Stacey find a way to resolve their problems or will they soon be just Gavin and just Stacey…?

  RT Choice (Jack Seale, 13 April 2008)

  Last year, the penultimate episode was a big duffer, as G&S tried to be a drama and forgot to be funny. They've done it again! Gav and Stace's mooning about becomes foot-through-screen annoying, and the comic bits feel like leftovers from other episodes. Fingers crossed for next week's finale…

• Episode 7/7

  After a heartfelt reconciliation over the phone, Stacey returns to Essex to sort things out with Gavin - but it's not quite as simple as that. Back in Barry, Nessa goes into labour a month early, throwing everyone into panic. Mick and Pam drive Stacey back to Barry to be with Nessa, but no-one can get hold of Smithy. Can a frantic Gavin find his best mate in time to get him to the birth of his child?

  RT Choice (Jack Seale, 6 April 2008)

  This warm hug of a comedy concludes with the soppy finale its fans want[…] In terms of laughs, it's like a frantic relay: first Alison Steadman is hilarious as Gavin's jittery mum, then Rob Brydon takes over as Bryn, the surprisingly handsome midwife, before James Corden bursts in as Smithy, the dad-to-be who's 10p short for the Severn Bridge toll.
  
  So much classic comedy comes from hysteria - this episode's pace and pitch build beautifully, with the jokes, like Nessa's contractions, getting stronger and more frequent.

Go to Series one