Gavin & Stacey star Oscar Hartland releases new single “Wild Bull” and talks music ambitions

Oscar Hartland, who played Neil the Baby in the 2024 Gavin & Stacey finale, has issued a new single titled “Wild Bull.”

The episode that featured his rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” attracted about 12.3 million viewers on Christmas Day, with Hartland’s character singing at his on‑screen father Smithy’s wedding.

Now 17, Hartland says the track reflects “being a bit crazy” and the challenges of growing up in the south Wales valleys.

He told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales that his band is on a “mission to create a new modern sound for Wales.”

Hartland added that the group wants to become the next ‘Phonics, or something like that’.

He described the past few months as a period of “figuring out the earth behind the sound” with bandmates Cayden Hughes (bass), Aiden Williams (drums) and Deacon Ball (electric guitar).

“We’ve had lots of people say it’s rocky, but it’s Welsh and it’s got lots of stuff behind it,” he said.

Reflecting on his youth, Hartland said, Growing up, I was just a wild bull, I was just mental… playing rugby, being wild, being crazy. It’s very hard as a young lad, especially Wales in the valleys, to keep yourself contained, because there is so much trouble to get up to.

He noted that he grew up surrounded by music and described himself as a “black sheep,” playing piano while others watched rugby.

Hartland said the new single is about “letting go and saying, ‘this is me I’m a wild bull’,” and that the response since its Friday release has been “brilliant.”

He also mentioned that his first tour is scheduled for 2025, marking the next step in his musical career.