Still Game to return to TV
- After a 9 year break, hit Scottish sitcom Still Game is to return to TV for a new series
- Creators Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill are working on six new episodes for BBC One
- Series 7 - which will feature all the cast from the original show - will be shown later this year
After a nine year hiatus, BBC Scotland's iconic sitcom Still Game is set to return to television.
The BBC has confirmed today that the show will return for six new episodes later this year. Series 7 will feature all the original cast, including writers and stars Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.
Still Game follows the adventures of a group of pensioners living in Glasgow, particularly focusing on the antics of friends Jack and Victor. The comedy launched in 2002 and ran for 44 episodes, concluding in 2007 with two festive specials. The show originally was shown in just Scotland, however transferred to nationwide broadcasts via BBC Two from Series 4. The new seventh series will see the show moved to mainstream prime-time, will the episodes set to be shown nationwide on BBC One.
The six episodes will be filmed over the summer months at BBC Scotland's Dumbarton Studios in a purpose-built set - the first time the comedy has filmed there - and will air on TV later in 2016. Jane McCarry will return as Isa, Sanjeev Kohli is back as Navid, Gavin Mitchell reprises his role as Bobby, Paul Riley will play Winston again, and Mark Cox will be back as Tam.
The news follows the success of the show's mammoth 21-night run of live shows at Glasgow's SSE Hydro Arena in 2015.
Ford Kiernan, who plays Jack Jarvis, is thrilled Still Game will make its TV return soon, saying: "We're super happy to come back with the show - we had no idea how much it had been missed until we played the Hydro! Myself and Greg are really excited about getting the gang together again and we are putting our all in to make our fantastic audience feel like we've never been away."
Greg Hemphill, who plays Victor McDade, adds: "We are thrilled to be given this opportunity, with the full support of the BBC Network, to don the bunnets once more! On behalf of all the cast, I'd like to thank Still Game fans for keeping the show alive after all these years. We'll save a seat for you in the Clansman."
Shane Allen, who ordered the new series, comments: "A comedy phenomenon, Still Game's return is much-anticipated as we, once again, meet up with Jack, Victor and their friends. The new series revisits one of the most iconic comedies of its time, a show which holds a very special place in the hearts of our audience. Ford and Greg are an exceptionally talented writing partnership and we're looking forward to catching up with Jack and Victor after all these years."
Ewan Angus from BBC Scotland adds: "It'll be fantastic to see Ford, Greg and the rest of the gang getting up to more comedy capers in Craiglang. Our audiences love Still Game. Whenever we show past episodes, we are guaranteed big audiences and I know this new series will again delight Still Game's legions of fans."
Further details on the new series will be revealed later in the year.
