The areas of Essex and Barry are represented in ways which are very stereotypical. For example, the island of Barry is shown to be a quiet and reserved place, and when an establishing shot is used to show the area around Stacey's place of work, there is no visible sign of urbanisation and it looks relatively peaceful. Also, seagull sounds are played at the same time as the shot, showing that Barry is in a coastal area where possibly, not much happens. In contrast, Essex as a whole is portrayed as a much more urbanised and wealthy location, as the first shot is the outside of Gavin's house, which is a large detached house with a lot of space and bright colours in it, and it seems very up to date technology wise. It is also a very nice house. This all gives the impression that they have a better standard of life than the people of Barry, and are possibly of a higher class. Stacey's house is a small terraced house that is very common, has rather plain colours and doesn't have much that separates it from any other house. The fact that Barry is a portrayed as a relatively remote location, it also means they act as if they do not know about London, which gives the impression that they are very secluded people who don't get out much. For example, Stacey's uncle Bryn tells her to equip herself with a rape alarm just in case she is raped in London, implying that he possibly doesn't know much about what it is actually like, and is just going on what he has heard in the news or other types of media. The accents of the characters are exaggerated very much for their regions as well, most likely so that it is easy for us to know where they come from and for comic purpose.
Women are possibly the most stereotypically portrayed figures in the show. On nearly every occasion, they are seen to be doing or saying something that is generally associated with women. As an example, when Stacey returns home from work, she comes home to find her mum working around the house and in the kitchen - something that is most commonly, if not always, linked with women. Again, when Gavin comes home, he finds his mum lying on the sofa doing nothing, like she has no work to do, and that the men in the house do the majority of work. She also acts a bit 'thick' at times, as if she is deliberately stupid. For instance, when she says she is 'exhausted' from watching badgers lose their litter on a television programme. This makes her look weak in a sexist manner. A similar situation in which women are portrayed as weak is when Stacey is being given a rape alarm demonstration by her uncle, and he asks her to attack him. She gives him a feeble punch on the arm, making her look frail and slightly flimsy. Women are also associated with bright colours, such as yellow and pink, which appears many times in the clip in the presence of women. Pamela, Gavin's mum, is also a self-concious character, who worries a lot about what she eats - another stereotype linked with women.Men are seen as much more sensible and clever figures than women. At the dinner table, Mick, Gavin's dad, lies to Pam about playing golf, but gets Gavin to back him up - exploiting the 'thickness' of Pamela. They are also linked with the colour blue, which appears many times. Gavin's car, the paint in his house, his shirt; all examples of times when the colour blue appears. Men are also portrayed as greedy. When Smithy arrives, and is offered steaks, he says 'I've just had a shepherd's pie, but I'll definitely take on two of them'. He and Gavin then go outside to drink beer and smoke, arguably implying that they are being stereotypical blokes.
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