GAVIN and Stacey viewers were left baffled after spotting a series of products on screen during the finale – despite the BBC’s strict rules.
Fans have questioned if the various moments were in fact product placement, including the visit to KFC, which saw sparks fly between Nessa and Smithy.
The Beeb typically won’t allow any promotion in its programming but exceptions can be made if there is editorial justification and the product is deemed relevant enough to the story telling.
During the finale, Gavin and Smithy bumped into Nessa and Stacey on their way home from the stag and hen dos and they all headed to KFC.
Gavin asked the Nessa and Smithy if they wanted to share a corn-on-the-cob – which fans will remember was a moment back in series two.
The pair famously got together after seductively tucking into KFC corn-on-to-cob.
One person wrote on Reddit: “I thought the BBC didn’t allow product placement and promotions but there were a few heavily promoted stores/products in the finale. Or it felt that way to me. Did anyone else think the same or was I just focusing on the wrong things?!”
Someone replied: “I thought the same. John Lewis/Strava/Samsung it was blatant!”
Others discussed it on X, with a viewer commenting: “Worst product placement I’ve ever seen.”
Another added: “Seems to be a lot of product placement.”
Other moments which featured products included Smithy asking for a Red Bull and Uncle Bryn discussing the brand of his phone.
Yesterday James Corden thanked fans for tuning in after the hotly anticipated episode secured the highest Christmas Day ratings since 2008.
The co-creator of the BBC comedy, with Ruth Jones, wrote an emotional farewell to the show, which drew an average audience of 12.3 million on Christmas Day, according to overnight figures.
He wrote: “Here’s some behind the scenes photos from the special. Thank you so much to everyone who watched last night.
“It means more than you’ll know. All my love, James xx.”
James also shared photos of him as Neil “Smithy” Smith, and Ruth as Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins along with the cast filming Gavin And Stacey: The Finale in Wales.
This included Sonia (Laura Aikman) – Smithy’s girlfriend from the 2019 Christmas Day episode, which ended with a cliff-hanger when Nessa proposed to him – returning as a bride to be.
In the final episode, many guests stood up when asked if anyone objects to the marriage, and Smithy realised he has to confess his true love to Nessa, who the finale revealed had her proposal interrupted in 2019 before Smithy could give his answer and the pair never discussed it again.
After racing to meet Nessa before she goes to work on the ships again, Smithy proposed to her and the final scene featured a heartwarming montage of a low-key wedding, with her sporting a black dress and the couple finally getting their happily ever after.
The series originally aired between 2007 and 2010, and told the long-distance love story of title characters Stacey Shipman (Joanna Page) and Gavin (Mathew Horne).
It returned in 2019 for a special episode that at the time held the record for the highest overnight Christmas ratings since 2008.
The 2019 Christmas episode had an overnight audience of 11.6 million.
The Sun has contacted the BBC regarding the product placement.
Gavin and Stacey best moments
With the news that the show is set to make an exciting return to screens, let's take a look at some of the comedy programme's biggest and best moments...
