Actor I’m living the high life.. every day
And he’s now wearing the kilt every day, with his company Highlander Tours taking tourists to locations in Scotland where the series is filmed.
Andy met Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series of novels, when they were filming in Culross, which doubled as an 18th-century Inverness.
He said: “I owe her and Outlander everything. It has completely changed my life. Being an electrician was fine but not particularly fulfilling.
“I have really fallen in love with it all. It has enriched my life, as it has for thousands of others.
“Diana deserves a medal in recognition of what she has done for Scotland.”
Andy the Highlander started out as a member of the Kilmacolm Amateur Dramatic Society, later enrolling in the Real People Casting Agency in Glasgow.
Father to Daniel, 17, Patrick, five, and Lana, two, his wife Ana-Marija is fully supportive, given that she has also appeared on Outlander along with their eldest son.
Daniel played the part of a Harvard student in season three and Ana has been filming for season four.
Andy said: “In season two, I was a Highlander and – don’t tell anyone – a Redcoat, a town guard and also Jamie’s leg double.
“A lot of the main actors, because they are away doing more important scenes, will have body doubles. I had Jamie’s trousers and boots on. I had some movements to do. It’s quite common.
“I was asked to go to the bootcamp for training for the Battle of Prestonpans in season two. Amazingly, it was on September 21 – that’s the anniversary of the battle in 1745. I then filmed for 35 days for that season. I loved every minute of it. We filmed all over Scotland.
“We were filming at the camp in Crieff and it was so cold. Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser, and Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire Fraser, were there. We were all in it together. It was freezing but Sam and Cait just got on with it. They are both absolutely lovely.”
Andy did 25 days in season three and is hoping for “a good part” in season four.
Until then, Highlander Tours – which he founded in July – is his main job.
Dressed in his Highland regalia, he loves taking Outlander fans from all over the world to the locations they have seen on screen.
He said: “Sometimes the tears run down their faces when they recognise the locations. It’s a very emotive experience for them.
“Sometimes we have a sword fight to add to the sense of occasion. I’m booked solid for seven months next year. One American company have booked me for a 14- day tour. It’s amazing how this has kicked off”.
Research by VisitScotland shows that their Outlander locations map has received hundreds of thousands of downloads.
The Outlander effect far outperforms Braveheart, Harry Potter and that other Highlander.
Doune Castle – which doubles as Castle Leoch in the show – has seen an increase in visitors from 47,069 to 90,279.
Blackness Castle, which provides the setting for Black Jack Randall’s HQ, is up from 16,559 to 30,053.
Other famous attractions which have benefited are Glencoe Visitor Centre, up 53 per cent; Glasgow Cathedral, up 35 per cent; and Preston Mill, which has seen an 18 per cent rise in tourists.