CRAIGLANG STARS TOGETHER LANDS ROLE IN STAGE SHOW
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to the duo. She previously worked with Ford on his Happy Holidays sitcom and recently appeared in Greg’s BBC horror comedy West Skerra Light.
But the casting of both her and Bruce is more than just an old pals’ act. It has to be when you are entertaining thosuands of people every night.
Greg, 46, said: “I think ultimately we’re loyal to the show. The story has to come first but, if you have a great part and a great cast, it just clicks together.
“The benefit of knowing who you are writing for is a great luxury. With Still Game, we know all the cast members really well.
“Bruce is a great performer. He is a natural. And I had just finished working with Lorraine. She is a phenomenal actor as well as being a great singer. She has done Ken Loach movies and does a lot of great theatre work.
“She was over the moon, really excited, and it was great to find she is such a fan of Still Game.”
The singer is not alone. When Ford and Greg returned to the show in 2014 after a seven-year break, they sold out 21 nights, playing to 210,000 fans. That led to a recommission of the series, which aired last year.
It was given a prime-time UK-wide network slot for the first time, which drew an average of four million viewers, with two million south of the Border.
Bon Voyage has already had its run extended and they are determined to repay the faith which has been shown in them by fans, which is why they are not bringing out a DVD of the show, passing up a certain fortune.
They felt the film of their return show didn’t quite capture the live event. It’s a special relationship with their fans and they want to keep it that way.
Ford, 54, said: “It’s very humbling to think that many people are going to come out and see you in February when it’s freezing. It’s very comforting to know they are there and always have been.
“The TV show came back and they watched it in their millions. In England too which was a surprise.
“We were worried about that because we have been away for many years and who knows if they wouldn’t quite be there for us but they were. You don’t
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bring them out unless you have a good reason and we have got a good reason – it’s a great show.”
Still Game 2 Live: Bon Voyage, which runs from February 4 to 16, will feature Jack, Victor and the regular cast including Sanjeev Kohli as Navid, Jane McCarry as Isa and Paul Riley as Winston.
But beyond its two guest stars and the title, they are keeping their cards close to their chest.
Ford added: “When we finished the Hydro the first time, we thought we would love to do it again but only if we had a big idea. You want to bring people back and give them better and that’s what we think we are doing.
“It is set in real time in February, when