Craig joins Still Game
Scots comedian who made it big in the States returns to his roots with role as former stuntman in TV favourite Still Game
FORMER US talk show host Craig Ferguson returns to Scottish TV tonight for the first time in almost 25 years with an appearance in Still Game – and he’s already talking about a spin-off with show favourite Isa (Jane McGarry).
Playing her long lost friend, retired Hollywood stuntman Callum Coburn, Isa’s pulse is set to race in the series finale as he returns to Craiglang.
“It would be like Frasier, which was the spin-off of Cheers, of course,” he said. “There are people in charge of that kind of thing and it’s their ball and I don’t get to choose, but can you imagine? I think it would be lovely and I certainly would think about that.”
The 55-year-old, Springburn-born star, has been in America for 23 years – but has actually been back in Scotland for a lot of that time too.
“What I stopped doing was, I stopped working in Britain, but I’ve continued to come back to my home in Ayrshire. I’m back here a lot. I spend a lot of time here.”
Craig got involved in the smash-hit sitcom through being a fan.
“I had been a fan of Ford and Greg (Still Game’s Jack and Victor and writers of the series) from the days of Chewin The Fat, which was a great show.
“I ran into them in Los Angeles of all places when they were out there writing this series and I said, ‘Well, you could at least write a part for me!”.
Greg said, “Well actually, it turns out there is something we’re thinking about’, so I said, ‘Well, let me know’.
“About a couple of months later, Greg texted me and said, ‘ We’ve written you a part – are you interested?’. I texted, ‘I’m in!’.”
His character Callum left Craiglang a long time ago to seek his fortune in America as a stuntman.
He’s now reached a point in his life where he’s returning home to check up on his old life and reconnect with old friends – Isa being one of them.
“I thought Jane was fantastic,” he said. “When I turned up on set and met this rather glamorous actress who wasn’t yet transformed into Isa, it was amazing.
“She’s a spectacular actress and was very kind, helpful and good fun. The way acting is at its best when you turn up on a set and it’s inclusive and helpful and supportive and that’s not as common as you would think. But it was just a lovely experience and Jane was j ust a terrific person.”
Overall, working with the iconic cast was “just delightful.”
“It was such a strange experience because, after the first hour, I felt like I’d been doing it for years.
“First of all, I knew a lot of the crew, people that I’d worked with in the BBC from ages ago, so it felt very comfortable. I haven’t loved doing a job as much in years.”
Wading through the Forth and Clyde Canal for the final episode was a highlight for Craig.
It was a lovely experience and Jane was just a terrific person
“At one point, I was thinking, ‘Ford and Greg told me it would be easy. You just put some talcum powder in your hair and wear a cardigan and you’ll be fine.
“But, there I was, standing in the canal which is freezing all the time and I thought, ‘Well, this has got a wee bit out of hand!’ But I loved it. It was so funny.”
Not only is the show’s popularity down to the fact that it’s funny, but the fact that it’s “honest” plays a part too.
“It has a lot of heart, but it’s not sentimental,” Craig explained. “Scottish people like that. Irish novelist James Joyce said, ‘Sentimentality is unearned emotion’. He’s right. The emotion in Still Game is a real thing.”
The first time Craig came back to Scotland to work was in 2012 when he brought his Late Late Show over. As a trailblazer for Scots breaking America, Craig said his time in the States has been “a mixed bag.”
“Some of it’s great and some of it’s tough but it’s where my life is,” he said. I’m very grateful to America for the opportunities it gave me. I’m grateful to have done well there and been given a lot of support there.
“It really changed my life going there, it’s lovely.”
On a final note, he added, “Wherever my family is, that’s my home. My hometown is Glasgow, of course, but I don’t know what ‘home’ is anymore!”
The series finale of Still Game is on BBC Scotland tonight at 9.30pm.