The child star who reprised his role as Neil the Baby in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas episode has revealed he wasn’t given special privileges and had to audition for the part alongside other hopefuls.
Oscar Hartland, who is now 10 years old, was one of two tots who played Nessa and Smithy’s son in the show’s initial run.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he has now revealed how he ended up back on Barry Island and featuring in the record-breaking festive special.
Hartland explained that his mum saw a tweet about the programme, and his initial response was to not “really get my hopes up because there were other people that did acting.”
“I was in a couple of newspapers because I was in it before and then they noticed me,” he said. “ I did an audition in cardiff and a few weeks later, I found out I got the job. It was so exciting.”
Hartland also revealed that he didn’t know he was auditioning for his old role.
“I thought I was getting a different part but I actually got Neil, so I was really excited to start filming,” he said.
In the wake of the episode - which fast became the most-watched Christmas special of the last decade - fans have been calling for more instalments.
A number of the show’s cast appear to be on board with Larry Lamb (who plays Mick Shipman) urging fans to keep the pressure on the comedy’s writers, James Corden and Ruth Jones.
Addressing whether the special would be our last ever update from the Barry Island and Billericay clans, Jones previously admitted: “I don’t think I could ever say never.”
