According to Deadline, BBC is defending the controversial song featured on the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, a song that includes lyrics that some in the LGBT community find inappropriate and an affront on their identity. In the Gavin & Stacey special, Nessa Jenkins, played by Ruth Jones who’s inhabited the character in its three previous seasons, sings The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York, a Christmas song that enjoys repeated radio plays when the holiday season lingers. Jenkins, along with her uncle Byron who’s played by Rob Brydon, recite the song lyrics which include a slur that the LGBT community in particular are sensitive towards. With Fairytale Of New York being about three decades old, its inclusion into the show has resulted in a collective passionate reaction within the LGBT community revolving around the song’s relevance, or lackthereof, in today’s climate.
BBC defended usage of the song in a statement, Fairytale Of New York is a very popular, much loved Christmas song played widely throughout the festive season, and the lyrics are well established with the audience.”
In Ruth Jones’ interview with The Sun, she also chimed in on the fierce debate. “It is a different climate, but we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were. Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful. But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be politically correct or be aware of political correctness.”
Despite these controversies, the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special was a success, gathering 11.5 Million viewers who all decided to spend the Holidays with Gavin & Stacey for Christmas day. The Gavin & Stacey Christmas special was written by James Cordin, who plays Smithy on the show, and is a sort of sequel to the Gavin & Stacey TV show that aired from 2007-2010 for three seasons on BBC.