Gavin & Stacey clapperboard raises thousands for charity

A clapperboard signed by the Gavin & Stacey cast has raised £3,700 for charity in an online auction.

The item was donated to children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan by one of the camera crew who filmed the show’s final episode.

The auction, which took place on eBay and saw 38 bids before finishing on Friday, was described by the charity as “beyond our expectations”.

Gavin & Stacey was first screened in 2007 and more than 19.1 million viewers have watched the final episode of the show which aired on Christmas Day.

The show follows the story of Gavin, from Billericay, Essex, and his romance with Stacey from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and the intertwined lives of their friends and family.

The clapperboard was signed by 12 members of the cast, including Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon and Larry Lamb.

John Mladenovic, Tŷ Hafan’s director of retail and lottery, said the response to the clapperboard auction was “huge” and “really captured people’s imagination”.

“Our hospice is based right next door to Barry so we’ve had a long-term sort of connection with Gavin & Stacey,” he added.

Mr Mladenovic said Tŷ Hafan was “shocked” the clapperboard sold for such a high amount, and has now become the charity’s highest-selling auction item.

“When we put this up for auction we thought it would go for maybe a couple of thousand pounds,” Mr Mladenovic said. “So yeah, it really did go beyond our expectations.”

He said the charity needs to raise £6.9m every year to help children with life-shortening conditions and their loved ones.

Tŷ Hafan is currently reaching one in 10 families in Wales that need help. Mr Mladenovic said the money raised will provide bereavement support, help children access play therapy or reach them in their homes.

“We’re so grateful for this kind of donation as it just helps us so much to generate publicity as it gets people to think about us,” Mr Mlandenovic added.