June 16, 2008
GAVIN and Stacey has been such a huge hit its hotly anticipated Christmas Special is set to air on BBC One, as opposed to BBC Three.
BBC Vision director Jana Bennett said at the Banff World Television Festival in Canada -where the Beeb was also honoured for shows such as Cranford, Top Gear and Extras – she’s keen to see the smash show transfer to the higher profile channel.
She said: “We removed it from the glare of ratings – playing the first two series on BBC3 – and it found a devoted following, averaging 1.6m on the digital channel.
“This year, I’d love to see the Christmas special play out on BBC1.
“To give you a sense of just how much artistic space we’ve given these new writer-performers – in the three years since they brought Gavin and Stacey to us there have been just nine emails between the BBC and its authors.
“Its story is similar to the way in which we have nurtured other new talent and new comedy – that most high risk and fragile of genres. The Office was allowed to grow in a very similar way on BBC2.
“It gives the slow burners room to breathe – shows that in the end may burn very bright indeed.”
Her comments also referred to the criticism of BBC Three, led by Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrys, who called for the youth channel to be axed to save cash.