We’re a modern-day Rab and Mary Doll. We all need a good laugh
Forget Jack and Vera and Rab C and Mary Doll – there’s a new comedy couple in town who will have you peeing your pants with laughter. Drama queen Colette and her longsuffering big-hearted beau Darren are the stars of new BBC Scotland sitcom The Scotts, which is being touted as the next Still Game.
The unlikely couple played by Scots Squad’s Louise McCarthy and professional wrestler Lee Greig – aka Jack Jester – have hysterical on-screen chemistry and some of the best one liners in the show.
While diva Colette’s on a mission to become a global superstar, living a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget, gentle giant Darren is happy to bumble along catering for his beloved’s every whim.
The series, which starts on Monday night, comes from Burnistoun creators Iain Connell and Robert Florence and centres on the lives of Colette’s hilarious family – the Scotts – and their other halves.
Colette and Darren’s comical and heartwarming relationship will have you spitting out your tea and biscuits and yearning to see more of their farcical exploits.
Comedy veteran Louise, 36, who plays DC Andrea McGill in Scot Squad, says she instantly hit it off with acting newcomer Lee, 34, who is a former ICW Heavyweight Champion.
The actress, who is also part of cheeky double act The Dolls with River City’s Gayle-Telfer Stevens, said: “Darren and Colette are just the funniest couple and if Lee and I didn’t have good chemistry it just wouldn’t work. He is hysterical and we hit it off and clicked straight away. We have a right laugh together.
“Poor Darren is tortured by Colette but he would do anything for her even after she threatens to “put his baws in his NutriBullet” – I would not do that in real life so Lee is safe enough.
“You never know, Colette might end up as a wrestler if the Scotts becomes a regular series, which I hope it will.
“Lee said he could get me some time in the ring but I can’t even fight sleep so I think I will leave all that to our characters, who are always up to something – well Colette is and Darren just comes along for the ride. The fact they really love each other makes them very endearing.” Louise, who is mum to Danny, two, added: “Colette is a total maniac. I love her. She’s the funniest character I have ever played on telly. “I am not like her at all but I wish I had her brass neck. She says what she thinks and means what she says and I just love that about her. She’s mental. “She’s got total heart and loves Darren and her family but she just can’t articulate that well so it’s all quite aggressive. I was able to go much further with her than with any of the others I have played in the past.
“It was thrilling to be able to throw everything at it because life has been so mundane for so long. People need a laugh so the series is coming at the right time.
“I’ve got a good feeling about The Scotts. The boys have written a really strong series and it deserves a second and a third and so on.
“There are no Scottish family sitcoms about, we are so in need of a modern-day Broons or Nesbitt family so I’m keeping my fingers crossed it will be a hit with viewers.”
Lee, whose alter ego Jack Jester is one of the scariest wrestlers on the circuit, says playing Darren is a dream come true and working with Louise was an amazing experience.
The 6ft 1in hunk, who has been wrestling for 20 years, said: “I’m so proud to be part of The Scotts. This is my first ever TV series.
“I had wanted to go into acting for years but I have been so focused on my wrestling that I’ve only just got around to it now and who could say no to Iain and Rab.
“I am a massive Burnistoun fan and have grown up watching folk like Barbara Rafferty, who plays Colette’s mum Moira, and Shauna Macdonald, who plays her sister-in-law Vonny Scott.
“I was so in awe of the cast that I found myself drifting off during filming just watching them in action and forgetting I was part of it too.
“The whole cast could not have been lovelier. They helped, guided and supported me and gave me the odd wee wink or nod to let me know I was doing okay. I loved every minute and I just know the show is going to be a success. It’s too funny not to be.”
He added: “I’m so lucky to have been paired up with Louise because she is fantastic and oh so funny. She doesn’t know how good she is. Everybody is laughing and she is a wee bit embarrassed. She helped me so much and answered all my questions when I was trying to get my head round things.
“You would not put Colette and Darren together physically or mentally.
“She’s into the Instagram lifestyle and is all about her image while he is this big bloke with a beard, who wears vests and big earrings. You would not think she would go for someone like him but it works.
“It’s lovely as it shows you don’t have to look compatible to be compatible.”
Lee, who has to wear hilarious tiger print trunks which leave nothing to the imagination in the unforgettable hot tub scene in episode one, says it was great to play a character that was completely different to him.
He said: “I really like Darren. He’s the polar opposite to my wrestling persona. He is not sarcastic, he’s innocent and doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. I wish I had an ounce of his patience and self control. “Darren is just happy to be involved and is madly in love with his girlfriend, who is a nightmare but loves him deeply.
“He doesn’t see the negatives in Colette that everybody else sees.
“I suppose the one thing we do have in common is that we are both big softies at heart, which wrestling fans are shocked at when they come up to me outside the ring.
“I think every bloke should be more like
Darren.”
Louise McCarthy on why sitcom is coming along at perfect time ‘Poor Darren, he’d do anything for her, even after she threatens to “put his baws in a NutriBullet”. I wouldn’t do that in real life so Lee’s safe enough’ Louise McCarthy