In Wales will not afford England a free ride to potential grand slam, published in The Guardian (London and Manchester, England) of Saturday 23rd February 2019, Robert Kitson, rugby union correspondent, used Gavin and Stacey as an attributive modifier, meaning Anglo-Welsh, of the noun derby:
The Six Nations retains its passion and lustre, in defiance of societal changes and Britain’s shifting political sands. The desire to make England pay for the perceived crime of being English is always strongest on days like this, regardless of the championship table.
To describe it as just another game of rugby also blithely ignores history, both ancient and modern. Wales are unbeaten in their last 11 Tests while England, having re-found their attacking mojo with 10 tries against Ireland and France, have not felt so buoyant in some time. In the event of Principality Stadium success, both sides will fancy completing a grand slam. There has not been a more eagerly-anticipated Gavin and Stacey “derby” since the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Robert Kitson was referring to Gavin & Stacey, the name of a British sitcom which was broadcast on the BBC from 2007 to 2010. In the web pages devoted to this comedy series, the BBC presents it as “the comic tale of love between an Essex boy and a Welsh girl” and says:
This is the story of how a nice boy from Essex and a sweet girl from Barry fell in love and got married. Only their life isn’t quite so simple – family and friends make sure of that…
Gavin spoke to Stacey everyday on the phone for months before he met her, and when he finally did, there were fireworks.
There were noisy disturbances of a different nature when their mutual sidekicks Nessa and Smithy had their first encounter, but that’s another story. Ahem.
The Welsh actress and comedian Joanna Page (born 1978) interpreted Stacey. The English actor, comedian, television presenter and narrator Mathew Horne (born 1978) interpreted Gavin. The sitcom was written by the Welsh television actress, novelist and screenwriter Ruth Jones (born 1966), who interpreted Nessa, and by the English actor, comedian and screenwriter James Corden (born 1978), who interpreted Smithy.
photograph of Matthew Horne and Joanna Page in Gavin & Stacey—from The Stage (London) of Thursday 24th May 2007:
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