Gregor Fisher & Greg McHugh to star in BBC One sitcom Only Child
- In Only Child, Greg McHugh stars as an author returning home to look after his eccentric, technophobe father, played by Gregor Fisher
- Written by Bryce Hart, the six-part sitcom is set in the North-East of Scotland and focuses on the pair's inter-generational squabbling
- "Bryce Hart has written a truly brilliant show, and I'm utterly thrilled to be a part of it" said Fresh Meat and Gary: Tank Commander star McHugh
Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh are reuniting to play father and son in a new BBC One sitcom, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
In Only Child, McHugh is budding author Richard. As his parents' sole offspring, he returns to his family home in North-East Scotland to look after his recently widowed, ageing and wilful dad, Ken (Fisher), as he slips into ever more eccentric and erratic behaviour.
Written by Bryce Hart, creator of the 2021 BBC Scotland pilot Beep, whose writing credits also include Still Up and Ten Percent, Only Child's six 30-minute episodes focus on the neighbourly squabbles, domestic and inter-generational differences of Richard and Ken's relationship, as Richard's long overdue visit to his father makes him appreciate that his dad might need more full-time help than he thought.
Ken would be unlikely to agree however, and as a strong-willed technophobe who is very much set in his ways, it's left to Richard to worry about his dad getting old.
"Bryce Hart has written a truly brilliant show, and I'm utterly thrilled to be a part of it" said Fresh Meat and Gary: Tank Commander star McHugh. "'Dream gigs' are often just that ... but I've been assured this is real. Yaaaaas!"
Rab C. Nesbitt star Fisher added: "I'm not really one for giving quotes, but I am very much looking forward to working with young McHugh."
The Scottish actors previously appeared together in the second series of Joe Wilkinson and David Earl's sitcom The Cockfields on Gold but shared little screen time in the Isle of Wight-set comedy.
Set to film in Glasgow and around the North-East of Scotland, Only Child's commission follows a successful pilot last year directed by former stand-up and The Other One creator Holly Walsh, whose other BBC credits include writing for Motherland and helming Henpocalypse!. A director and further casting has yet to be announced for the new series.
"It's a total dream come true to have my own sitcom on BBC One and I can't wait for the world to meet Ken and Richard Pritchard" said Hart. "As the son of a father who has steadfastly refused to learn how to compose a text message, there is no relationship as ripe for laughs as that between a Scottish son and his father."
Neil Webster, executive producing Only Child for Happy Tramp North, the northern offshoot of production company Happy Tramp that made Beep and Guilt, added: "As someone halfway between Ken and Richard in age, Bryce Hart's beautiful scripts resonate with me on so many levels.
"I'm constantly having to sort out my dad's online log-ins whilst simultaneously handing my phone to my son because it doesn't recognise my face. I cannot wait to see Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh bring Bryce's affectionate, relatable and hilarious world to life."
The series was ordered for BBC One and iPlayer by Jon Petrie, director of comedy, and Louise Thornton, head of commissioning at BBC Scotland. The BBC commissioning editor is Gregor Sharp and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland.
"Only Child perfectly captures awkward family dynamics and the sometimes unwelcome familiarity of returning to a hometown" said Petrie. "This is a brilliant new sitcom for BBC One with bags of heart and I can't wait for viewers to see it."
Thornton added: "We are thrilled to co-commission this brand-new comedy series for BBC One. Only Child represents our commitment to developing and delivering high quality content for audiences in Scotland and across the UK. Having Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh playing father and son is a dream and we're so excited to be bringing these two titans of Scottish comedy together, it's a winning combination.
"Bryce has written beautiful scripts full of humour and warmth and we can't wait to see them brought to life by Scotland's finest acting talent."
Only Child's development was supported by Screen Scotland. It is the third comedy set in Scotland to be announced by the BBC this year, following Scot Squad spin-off The Chief and a sketch series, Stevens & McCarthy, reported by BCG last week, as Glasgow prepares to host The BBC Comedy Festival in May.
Only Child is one of a number of new BBC commissions. Also revealed today: a new Philomena Cunk special; Dreaming Whilst Black Series 2; Man Like Mobeen Series 5; a new Alan Partridge series; and, as previously revealed by BCG last month, The Cleaner Series 3.
Jon Petrie says: "The BBC is the home of comedy, commissioning more than anyone else in the UK. Nine out of 10 of the top rating scripted comedies last year were on the BBC and the enduring popularity of our comedy is reflected in its success on BBC iPlayer with over 600 million requests in 2023. We are the biggest backers of new talent and we nurture and develop brand new comedy voices whilst still attracting the most established household names and I'm really pleased to be welcoming back some fan favourites alongside our new sitcom Only Child."