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Gwen West (b. between 1960 and 1963) is a fictional character in the television series Gavin & Stacey. She is portrayed by Melanie Walters.

Gwen is in her late forties at the start of the series, living with her daughter, Stacey West, in Barry, South Wales. Her son, Jason, is living in Spain. She became a widow in 2004. Her brother-in-law, Bryn, lives across the road and is always at hand. At the end of series 3, Stacey and Gavin, her son-in-law, are residing with Gwen, who is expecting her first grandchild. By the 2019 Christmas Special, she is living alone but next door to her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren: Harri, Caitlin and Megan.

Characterisation[]

Gwen is Stacey and Jason's mother. She is a widow in her late forties and has two children, Jason and Stacey. She is a housewife and regularly offers to cook omelettes. She's a caring, kind woman who lets herself be taken advantage of by Stacey's best friend, Nessa. She's very close to Stacey as they spent many years living together. In Series 3, Stacey and her husband, Gavin, move back in with Gwen. On the day of Nessa's wedding, Nessa told Gwen that she was like a mother to her before kissing her on the lips, which gobsmacks Gwen but does not affect Nessa.

Born around the early 1960s, Gwen is Stacey West's mother. She is a widow in her late forties and has two children, Jason and Stacey. She is a housewife and a caring, kind woman who sometimes does a bit too much for Nessa. On the day of Nessa's wedding, Nessa told Gwen that she was like a mother to her. She's very close to Stacey as they spent many years living together. She's also close to her brother-in-law Bryn, who lives opposite.

Character History[]

Stacey lived with her during Series 1. Nessa lived with her in Series 2, when Stacey was living in Billericay. As of Series 3, both Stacey and her husband Gavin live with her. Like the other Barry characters, she is very open-minded. Stacey mentions that Gwen is completely unfazed by the sound of Gavin and Stacey having sex in her house (unlike Gavin's mum Pamela, who found it extremely embarrassing).

Although thought to be a good cook she is only ever seen cooking omelettes; with the exception of Series 1 when the Shipmans come to stay and she prepares Chili Con-Carne and Cauliflower Cheese for Pam (which turned out to be just cauliflower and onion because she thought Pam might be vegan). Her favourite song is "Islands in the Stream", which Bryn and Nessa sing for her at her birthday barn dance.

Trivia[]

  • Gwen has an intense hatred for an unseen character called Jean (as do Doris and Nessa). It is not known why, only that it involved a pair of scissors, however, it must be for something severe in that this is out of character for Gwen. Gwen also has dislike for Doris's daughter Moira as heard in S2 E3 when Doris disaproves Nessa of going through with her pregnancy. She then goes onto say that becoming a mother was the worst thing that ever happened to her. Then says "She was horrible wasn't she Gwen" Gwen's response is "What your Moira we were in school together" then says "I don't like to talk ill of people" then bitterly says "But she was a nasty piece of work"
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