We’re still Still Game, say Jack and Victor
Hemphill and Kiernan plan Hydro reunion
Thursday 24 OcTOber 2013 STI LL GAME double act Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill have revealed plans for a spectacular comeback after a six-year hiatus – with four shows at Glasgow’s new indoor concert arena.
The comics are also approaching BBC Scotland to revive their popular TV show, which made household names of Glaswegian pensioners Jack and Victor.
The acting pair, widely believed to have had a bust-up behind the scenes, revealed separate visits to a stage version of the sitcom, which neither were involved in, persuaded them to stage the reunion, which will bring together the full cast.
During a packed press conference at the Hydro, the pair said the prospect of putting on the show at the 12,000-capacity venue, as well as demand from fans, were key factors in their decision to revive Still Game.
Kiernan, 51, and Hemphill, 43, said they had been speaking regularly as they live near one another – but feared they would never work together again.
Kiernan told The Scotsman: “It was fatigue that was getting to us in the end. We were devoting practically the whole year to Still Game. There are sitcoms you can see getting tired. But when we came off the show, the writing was as good as it had ever been. That’s why we’ve no qualms about bringing it back.”
Jack and Victor debuted the Edinburgh Fringe in 1997, transferred
at to radio and TV in Chewin’ the Fat and starred in the spin-off TV show, which ran for six series. But Kiernan and Hemphill have not worked together since a 2007 Hogmanay special.
They laughed off questions about who made the first move to “kiss and make up”, saying they were inspired by separate visits to the Sonic Boom Theatre Company’s adaptation of Still Game.
Kiernan said: “I went to see it at the Gaiety in Ayr. I was standing outside and a guy and his wife came up and he said to me, ‘What are you doing out here? Should you not be in there?’ “When I told him I had only come to see it he said to his wife, ‘Seven and a half quid and they are not even ****ing in it’
and then they left. I did phone Greg to tell him about it. We have been talking for about a year about getting back together and doing something.
“But we weren’t in contact with one another [before then]. We weren’t talking – but that’s another story.”
Hemphill said: “We both saw the stage show and we were talking about it and saying that it felt kind of strange going to see it. It was quite a nice catalyst. It was kind of niggling us and we were thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do it again and be pals again?’
“We’re hoping to bring Still Game back on TV in some form. The horrible blocker stopping it has been removed.”
Kiernan and Hemphill meet BBC Scotland chiefs next week with the hope of persuading them to commission a new series or a festive special.
Tickets for the Hydro shows, from 30 September to 3 October next year, priced £30 and £45, go on sale tomorrow. got us. Navid: Aye, but let’s face it. You’re old. Decrepit. You’ll be deid within six months. Then where will a be? Now, what can I get ye? Jack: Two coffins, ya cheeky b******! BoaBBy: Jack: WiNstoN: (Toagroupofneds) I’ll get my grandson Joe here on ye. Neds: Ooooh. WiNstoN: He’s a boxer. Ned: Aye I can tell that, taking all