Creators Gavin and Stacey EDIT OUT controversial lyrics Fairytale Of New York

Gavin and Stacey edited controversial lyrics from the Fairytale Of New York scene in a rerun of last year’s special Christmas event.

When the festive episode returned last Christmas day, some people questioned the inclusion of the word ‘f **** t’ when Ruth Jones character Nessa Jenkins and Bryn’s uncle Rob Brydon sang the classic The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

However, after reconsideration, the production company decided to edit the scene to reflect modern views and prevent any insult from being inflicted.

A spokesman for production house Fulwell 73 told The Sun: ‘In keeping with the themes of joy, love and inclusiveness of the program, Fulwell 73 has decided to re-edit the song. We are grateful to the BBC for allowing us to make this change. ‘

A BBC spokeswoman, meanwhile, added: ‘Attitudes change over time and we appreciate that language is a sensitive and important topic for some people. We respect Fulwell’s decision. ‘

In January, actor Mathew Horne – who plays the titular character Gavin Shipman – defended Ruth and her co-writer James Corden for making a special image, which sees Nessa and Bryan performing a cover of a song featuring the line ‘you bastards, worms one, fuck you nerd!

The use of the song sparked nearly 900 complaints on the BBC, but Horne defended its inclusion because it would be popular among the characters.

He had previously said, ‘Yes, it was [anger]. I wasn’t exactly a stranger to it because I don’t actually read the news, but it’s a popular song that’s been used for decades.

‘We thought it appropriate to use it at Christmas time, and that’s what the song wrote.

After the initial reaction, the BBC insisted it was “not intended to offend viewers”.

The statement read: “Fairytale of New York” is a well-established, much-loved Christmas song about a troubled New York couple in the 1940s.

‘The origin of their relationship is reflected in the increasingly violent and offensive terms they address each other; insults aimed at reflecting the language that such characters could have used at the time.

‘The origin of the word includes a definition that describes it as a contemptuous and obsolete word for laziness, and the author of the poem cited this conclusion behind his inclusion of that line.

‘Although it is now widely acknowledged that the word‘ f ***** ’is potentially offensive, the poem never suggests or implies that this is or has ever been an appropriate way to address another person, nor does it link homosexuality.

Repetition of special Christmas shows 2019 on Christmas Eve at 20.40 on BBC1.