Gavin and Stacey star reveals character went into HIDING after ‘top secret’ return as she shares secret wedding dress

ACTRESS Laura Aikman has revealed her role in Gavin & Stacey's finale episode was so 'top secret' that she was forced to hide to keep the storyline under wraps.

Laura, who plays Smithy's hated bride Sonia in Gavin & Stacey, was a surprise to viewers watching the beloved BBC sitcom on Christmas Day for its finale ever episode.

Her involvement was kept heavily secret, and even included her staying in different hotels to the rest of the cast in an effort to keep her character a secret until the episode aired.

Now Laura has revealed she was kept a secret, with the crew behind Gavin &; Stacey forced to source a wedding dress for Sonia without taking Laura dress shopping.

Writing on Instagram, Laura revealed to fans: "We couldn’t go wedding dress shopping (because of the secrecy), so this was from Vinted, (it probably belonged to someone who watched the show!)

"Shout out to our costume designer #ShanJames who had to alter it massively as 48 hrs before we shot the wedding it didn’t fit.

"Our formidable make up designer #marcuswhitney found me this amazing wig, yes IT’S A WIG.

"It was fitted & styled by gorgeous @alisonwebbxxmakeup who also did my make up and hid with me."

Costume designer Shan James then clarified in the comments that the dress was Facebook Marketplace find, as she revealed the original owner had spotted the dress in the Christmas Day episode.

Shan wrote: "Thank you gorgeous lady! It was a pleasure to dress you an absolute pleasure even though it was a massive job altering that gorgeous dress for you.

"It was from FB Marketplace and the lady selling the dress thought I was ‘well dodgy’ when I was so secretive!!"

She then added: "She messaged me on Boxing Day..

"I just watched Gavin & Stacey and had the oddest feeling that was my wedding dress that Sonia wore - can I ask if that’s what you used it for?"

Shan then revealed that it was the woman's dress, which had been sourced due to Laura being kept so secret that she couldn't even try dresses on in shops in case she was spotted.

Laura was also forced to keep the role a secret from her family, with them only realising she was in the comedy as it aired on Christmas Day.

The star revealed to fans she signed a non disclosure agreement (NDA) as part of her return for the finale meaning she couldn't spill the beans about being involved.

In the final episode of Gavin and Stacey, viewers watched as Sonia planned her wedding to Smithy - with many left wondering if he would ever come to his senses and return to Nessa Jenkins instead.

The episode took a dramatic turn as Smithy realised he couldn't marry Sonia, leaving her at the altar and instead chasing after his unique Welsh love instead.

In an emotional scene on a cargo ship, Smithy dropped to one knee and told his true love, who had proposed in a 2019 festive cliffhanger: “Five years ago on Christmas Day, you asked me a question and I didn’t answer you.

“And I thought about it every day. And I’m sorry I left you hanging.

“I know it’s been messy and not perfect. But that’s because we’re messy and not perfect. But I love you, Nessa. I always have. Will you marry me?”

In a flash-forward the pair then got hitched before the entire cast celebrated at the wedding after party, closing the last ever episode.