The long-awaited Gavin and Stacey finale aired on Christmas Day, drawing in a massive 12.3 million viewers to witness the much-anticipated moment between Smithy and Nessa. After 17 years of will-they-won’t-they tension, fans finally saw the pair admit their feelings for each other and tie the knot in front of their family and friends.

However, a major oversight left fans scratching their heads: Where was Neil the Baby?

Neil the Baby’s Absence in the Final Scene

Neil, played by Oscar Hartland, has been a central figure in Smithy and Nessa’s storyline since his birth, with the character often serving as a catalyst for emotional moments. So, it was a curious decision to not include him in the finale’s key scenes. Despite being an important part of the show’s climax—where he stood up during Smithy’s wedding to show support for his dad—Neil was missing during several crucial moments, including:

The drive to Southampton to find Nessa.
The final group photo where Smithy and Nessa posed with family and friends after their wedding.

Fan Reactions: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle

The absence of Neil didn’t go unnoticed, with fans quickly taking to social media to express their confusion and disappointment.

Missing someone? (BBC)

Some of the more notable comments included:

“Why was Neil ‘the baby’ left at his dad’s failed wedding with nobody he knows whilst all the others went off to Southampton?”
“Really feel for Neil the Baby. Smashes his ‘Blackbird’ performance but isn’t invited on the bus to see his mum and dad finally get together.”
“Only issue I have with the whole episode is that Neil the Baby was left behind! It’s his mum & dad.”
“Poor Neil the Baby not involved in the final pic, and how he didn’t make the trip on Dave’s coaches.”

The Significance of Neil’s Absence

Despite the grumbles, it seems the decision to leave Neil out of the finale scenes may have been more symbolic than anything else. As fans pointed out, Neil did have a memorable role in the episode with his impressive “Blackbird” performance, marking one of his few significant moments in the show.

Neil the not so baby also wowed viewers with a performance of 'Blackbird' by The Beatles (BBC)

However, since the final photo was more of a closure shot for the original characters we’ve followed over the years, it might have been a deliberate choice to focus on the main adults. After all, Neil—the once “baby”—is now a teenager, and perhaps the show’s creators felt it was time for him to be left behind in the photo, signifying the end of an era.

A Final Nod to the Characters We Loved

While Neil’s absence in the final scenes might have irked some fans, it could also be seen as a final, heartfelt nod to the show’s evolution over the years. Much like the growth of the characters and the passage of time, Gavin and Stacey chose to keep things somewhat nostalgic, allowing viewers to reflect on the original core group that started it all.

In the end, the finale wrapped up the long-running saga of Smithy and Nessa, even if it left us with one last question: Where’s Neil?