Gavin and Stacey fans baffled as much-loved character missing from show

ok.co.uk:

The Gavin and Stacey Christmas special returned last night to widespread acclaim - but long-term fans of the show spotted one key character was missing from the action.The special Christmas Day episode kicked off with Gavin and Stacey Shipman talking weddings, but it quickly emerged that Nessa's proposal to Smithy back in 2019 hadn't led to their getting married.

Instead, Smithy had popped the question to his girlfriend Sonia, whose controlling nature saw her set up as a hate figure in the previous episode.

A pre-stag party at Pam and Mick's welcomed James Corden's character's nearest and dearest to Essex, yet sharp-eyed followers spotted a missing face in the crowd as the rest of his regular pals filed in alongside Dirtbox, played by Andrew Knottis, and the rest of the lads.

Deano, who was one of Smithy and Gavin's mates and played by Ghosts star Mathew Baynton, 44, was nowhere to be seen while all the others appeared for their old pal's stag, albeit looking a lot older than when we last saw them.