well-scripted, nicely acted and archly amusing. It's a good series, taking its place in a well-worn comedic progression, stretching back to The Liver Birds". Just before the third series aired, The Independent described how the show had developed from a respectable début on BBC Three to an award-winning show with mainstream popularity after the BBC One Christmas special, although it noted a perception from some that the show shouldn't "get above itself". With its mainstream acceptance, however, it was of the opinion that the show had all the ingredients to become an "audience-pleasing family sitcom in the tradition of Only Fools and Horses and The Royle Family – churning out series after series and Christmas special after Christmas special", although by then, the writers had already ruled out future full series. In 2019, Gavin & Stacey was named the 17th-greatest British sitcom of all time in a poll by Radio Times. Other appearances Characters from the show have appeared outside the series' episodes in aid of various charitable causes. Barry Islands in the Stream In the fifth episode of the second series (6 April 2008), for Gwen's birthday barn dance, Bryn and Nessa perform a duet of "Islands in the Stream". On 21 February 2009, this was adapted into "Barry Islands In The Stream", a musical mini-sketch aired for Comic Relief. In a storyline that sees Bryn and Nessa invited to compete in the World Karaoke Championships in Las Vegas, Nessa bumps into her old friend Tom Jones, who joins them on stage, and the sketch also features Bee Gee Robin Gibb. Also released as a charity single, it debuted in the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart on 15 March 2009. For Red Nose Day 2009 on 13–14 March, the main telethon event for Comic Relief, a second sketch was aired where James Corden, in character as Smithy, has a chance encounter with the England national football team and proceeds to give them some advice on tactics and teamwork. "Barry Islands In The Stream" was also performed live for the Top of the Pops 2009 Red Nose Day special. Smithy There have been two charity episodes depicted as a "spin-off" of Gavin & Stacey called Smithy, starring James Corden as the title character. For Sport Relief 2010 on 19 March 2010, Corden appeared again as Smithy in a long sketch about coaching, where he meets England footballers