THE end credits may have rolled on the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, on Christmas Day, but off-screen some Barry people played their part in ensuring the July filming went without a hitch.

Café owner Marco Zeraschi, of Barry Island; ice-cream vendor Che Hunter and tattoo artist Lee Clements, both of Barry, all were asked to get involved.

Mr Zeraschi, whose café again featured in the special show, could be described as the fixer.

“If they couldn’t get it, I supplied it,” he said.

“I could source it because I know local people.

“We entertained them by giving a ‘green room’ in Zio’s Gelateria and basically had a catch-up on the last 10 years.

“They haven’t changed one bit – in fact they are even nicer.”

Mr Zeraschi used his Barry ice-cream vendor contact to enable the hundreds of people, that had gathered in Trinity Street to watch filming, to enjoy a free cone and he also recommended that British Tattoo Artist Federation member, Lee Clements advise ‘Nessa’ on the art of creating a tattoo.

“I took Larry Lamb on a nice little tour,” he added. “He phoned me up. He was bored in Cardiff, had nothing to do. So, I picked him up and took him to Porthkerry Park.

“We took him to Zio’s and showed him how gelato was made.

“We took him to Marco’s – my staff would have hung me if I didn’t – and he was there for half an hour doing selfies. He never said no to one of them.

“He loved Barry Island and he was really impressed with Porthkerry and the viaduct.

Dad-of-two Che Hunter, who owns Hunter’s ice-creams and also served David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff in the summer, was overwhelmed when writer and actor James Corden called him up when the cast was on set.

“I was doing a football event in Cardiff and it was quite busy and I had a queue,” he said. “Then I had a call off Marco in Barry Island and he said they were looking for an ice-cream van to support Gavin & Stacey.

“He asked if he could give James my number and would I be interested in helping out.”

“Five minutes later James rang me himself.

“I could see Los Angeles on my phone and I didn’t know anyone there.

“It was quite overwhelming.

“I had a queue. I could feel the pressure and there was James on the phone. It was surreal.

“He said he’d been given my number by Marco and “is there any chance you can come down and support the guys.”

He said there were a lot of supporters there and an ice-cream would top it off nicely.”

When Mr Hunter arrived in Trinity Street, one of the directors asked if he could put a note, from Mr Corden and co-writer Ruth Jones, in the window.

People began arriving at his van expecting to pay.

He said: “If you read the note guys, it’s already paid for. Before you knew it everyone had swamped the van.

“The 99s went down a treat – it was everyone’s favourite. They all took pictures of the ice-cream and the note as well – it was a really nice touch.”

Lee Clements, 42, who co-owns Chimera Tattoo Emporium, in Holton Road, Barry, with Ren, was called on to act as tattoo adviser to Nessa.

The dad's previous well-known clients include New Zealand rugby union legend Jonah Lomu.

Mr Clements said: “We did a bit of work on it.

“We got asked to provide some equipment and set up a small tattoo studio area for them because Nessa was going to be doing some tattooing in the Christmas Special.

"We were working with one of the producers for a little bit because we had to provide the equipment and set up there.

“It was really interesting to work on something like that.

"Ren has worked in TV before, but I haven't so it was interesting for me to see it all happen.

“The one thing that struck me was the amount of work and the amount of staff that go into such a small scene.

“There must have been 20-30 crew and that’s without people helping out."

The studio, used in the award-winning comedy, was set up in the Western shelter, in Barry Island, away from onlookers.

“Ren and I were on location pretty much the whole day. I set up a studio for Nessa and ran her through roughly how to use the machine," he said.

Mr Clements has been working with the Welsh Government as a leading expert on hygiene and creating safe barriers between the tattooist and the client, but 'Nessa' was having none of it.

“She refused to wear gloves which I specifically wanted her to do," he said.

"But she said Nessa does what she wants.

“We were trying to keep it as tight and hygienic as possible so it’s not our fault!

"We were just behind the scenes if they needed anything.

"Things were set up and suddenly it was, 'Lee on set' setting up bits and bobs and explaining what we were doing and then 'off you go' on your toddle again, off set. We are going to start recording.

“It was really good fun.”