Birthday for Barry woman crucial to TV's Gavin and Stacey

Glenda Kenyon lives at 47 Trinity Street, the residence of characters Gavin and Stacey Shipman.

The house is now a shrine to the hit show, which has seen over 35,000 people step through its doors.

It’s an astronomical figure considering the size of the two up two down terrace, but more amazing than that, Ms Kenyon is a self-admitted recluse, well she was…

The owner of Gavin and Stacey's house Glenda Kenyon is celebrating her 70th birthday (Image: Newsquest)

In an emotional conversation when we visited her the day before her 70th, she explained her life used to be very “lonely”, but, after a flyer came through her door from Baby Cow Productions asking if there were properties they could use to film in, Ms Kenyon thought this was a chance to “change her life”, and so she put her house forward to be considered, and, after a few visits from the production company, her home was picked.

Watch the video below as Glenda is sung happy birthday

Glenda was surprised by local Nessa impersonator Karyn Barrett (left) (Image: Newsquest)

From there, the rest is TV history… Although there were a few interesting moments along the way.

Glenda gave up her home for the shooting of Gavin and Stacey (Image: Newsquest)

For one episode the production team completely removed the kitchen window to film a scene – replacing it afterwards.

Glenda's home is a shrine to Gavin and Stacey (Image: Newsquest)

Often during filming on location, which could last from two days to almost two weeks, Ms Kenyon would be put up in a hotel by the filmmakers. However, during filming of Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas Special 2019, she stayed in the house, explaining, she got hungry…

Watch the video below as Glenda is surprised at her door

Thousands of people go on tours of the house (Image: Newsquest)

“I stayed upstairs for two days,” said Ms Kenyon. “On the second day I asked for a sandwich off the van because I was starving.”

Gavin and Stacey's bedroom (Image: Newsquest)

Looking back on her life, Ms Kenyon opened up about her reclusive struggles, saying it can still be difficult, but it’s a lot easier now.

The show filmed in Glenda's house on several occasions (Image: Newsquest)

“Before the filming my life was lonely,” said Ms Kenyon.

“I did not leave the house often. Only to get food. Then the film crew came along.”

Watch the video below as well wishes are read to Glenda

During filming, she met Nessa, Ruth Jones, and Smithy, James Cordon. In fact, Cordon, whose profile went through the roof after Gavin and Stacey, moving stateside to present The Late Late Show, is the person Ms Kenyon is desperate to meet again to get him to sign her book!

One of the reasons producers chose Glenda's home was the stunning views from the garden (Image: Newsquest)

When the filmmakers left Ms Kenyon turned her home into a shrine to the series, keeping everything the same and setting up tours with the help of local Nessa impersonator Karyn Barrett and Brit Movie Tours - we say everything is the same, one thing to change is the couch with so many people having sat on it.

Glenda has also raised thousands for the RNLI in Barry opening up her home, with fundraiser Judith Hunt (Image: Newsquest)

• Read more: Gavin and Stacey's Neil the Baby is spotted in Barry

She’s also raised a huge amount for the RNLI – a total of £7,400 since the tours began and £1,700 this year alone.

Incredibly, Glenda was a recluse before letting 35,000 people into her home. Happy birthday Glenda! (Image: Newsquest)

The most important thing to come out of it all this though is Ms Keyon is no longer lonely.

“Since the show I ‘ve been meeting a lot more people and opened up more,” said Ms Kenyon. “I still struggle, but it’s a lot easier now.”

Happy birthday Glenda!

Tours of Glenda's house run from the start of February until October. You can book to go on a tour by visiting britmovietours.com, or go on Trip Advisor and search for Gavin and Stacey Tours.

Search for 'knockoffnessa' on TikTok and give Karyn Barrett a follow!