This is not a drill.

We don't think we've ever been as excited about anything as we are for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. While the festive season is a good six months away, we do have a new photo of the cast in rehearsals for the episode to keep us going.

Rehearsals! pic.twitter.com/NS2ELAYXW1

— James Corden (@JKCorden) June 26, 2019

The image shows Robert Wilfort (Jason), Larry Lamb (Mick), Alison Steadman (Pam), Ruth Jones (Nessa), Joanna Page (Stacey), Mathew Horne (Gavin) and Melanie Walters (Gwen) sitting around a table with their scripts while someone just out of shot gives direction. It was taken by James Corden, who plays Smithy on the show. He shared it on social media with the caption "Rehearsals!". Filming for the special is set to begin in Barry, Wales soon, according to BBC News, with local residents told to expect disruption from mid-July. James Corden, who also co-wrote the show with Ruth Jones, announced the much anticipated news that Gavin and Stacey would be returning for a one-off episode in May.

Ruth Jones and I have been keeping this secret for a while... We’re excited to share it with you. See you on Christmas Day ⁦@BBCOne⁩ #GavinandStacey pic.twitter.com/gTRa3cp90t

— James Corden (@JKCorden) May 28, 2019

The episode, which picks up with the gang after almost a decade, will air on Christmas Day. “Over the last ten years we’ve talked a lot about Gavin and Stacey - where they might be today and what their lives might look like," said Ruth and James. "And so in secret we took the plunge and wrote this one hour special. We’ve loved revisiting Barry and Essex again and bringing the characters back together has been a joy."