Comedian Greg McHugh says playing Gregor Fisher's son in new sitcom 'Only Child' is a dream come true

GREG McHugh has revealed acting opposite his childhood hero Gregor Fisher in BBC comedy series Only Child was a dream come true.

Greg, 43, who starred in a two episodes of Rab C Nesbitt when he was a kid, says playing “Rab’s” son in the new sitcom from the makers of Guilt was a lot of fun.

The show follows budding actor Richard Pritchard (McHugh), who travels home to Forres in north-east Scotland to look after his wilful dad Ken (Fisher).

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The dad-of-two, whose Gary: Tank Commander is one of Scotland’s most-loved comedy characters, said: “When I was not long into drama school, I did a couple of episodes of Rab C Nesbitt in my youth and I was so nervous to, act opposite him I couldn’t say my lines. Whereas this time round, I still can’t say my lines but I’m not as nervous.

“Working on Only Child with Gregor has been amazing, and I have absolutely loved it. So, I hope the audiences enjoy it, we think we’ve made a good show. The scripts are beautifully written. They’ve got heart and comedy.”

Love Actually star Gregor, 70, wasn’t quite so complimentary about his co-star - channelling Rab C - he joked: “Working with Greg has been pretty average. He’s quite young. He’s got a great deal to learn. He goes out at night. He turns up. He knows the words, he’s not very good at hitting the mark. He causes a bit of trouble with the cameraman. And sometimes he stands in my light. I don’t think it’s deliberate. I think it’s just, stupidity, really.”

Written by Bryce Hart, Only Child features domestic and inter-generational differences and neighbourly squabbles, all told through the lens of Richard and Ken’s comedic father and son relationship.

Recently widowed Ken is the archetypal old Dad who stopped paying attention to any kind of world developments - be it technological or social - in about 1987.

He worked as a train conductor until his struggles to use the card machine resulted in huge delays and he was ‘encouraged’ to retire. He’s an eccentric in the truest sense of the word. Fast-talking, never wrong and with a sneeze volume that could stop traffic, Ken approaches every situation in the same manner - headfirst.

Gregor, who is married to actress and producer Vicki Burton, 69, said: “What’s the relationship between Ken and Richard? I’m his daddy and he’s my son and I suppose the relationship is quite a wee bit tricky because I’m maybe slightly dotted, old.

“I play the older member of the cast, surprisingly enough. And Greg’s the younger chap. Ken’s maybe slightly on the eccentric side, shall we say. He’s a bit of a hoarder, and his memory maybe isn’t as sharp as it should be. A bit like me, actually. I’m an absolute bloody shoo-in for this part. Because all these things are true of me.

“I’m not a bit like Ken as a person though. I look a bit like him, but that’s where the similarity ends. Ken’s a bit of a.......whereas I am a man of the world. Sophisticated kind of guy, I’ve really got to dig deep to find Ken.”

The dad-of-two, who is one of Scotland’s national comedy treasures, added: “I think, on the face of it, and for the purposes of this programme, Richard’s probably a wee bit concerned about his dad. I think he’s concerned, but it happens by an accident as well, as all good comedy does.”

Greg’s character grew up wishing he had the superpower of invisibility so he could disappear when his dad would embarrass him – or ‘every day’ as he called it.

A bit-part actor, Richard moved to London at the first opportunity, finding fame - well, in Forres anyway - as Doctor Sparrow in the daytime TV drama Detective Manners.

As much as he protests, deep down he loves that he’s the most famous person to hail from his hometown. Richard’s relationship with his dad is three parts frustration and equal parts guilt and love. One thing that being home might help him with is asking out Emily - the love of his life.

Greg, who also starred as Eddie Scott in BBC drama series The A Word and oddball Howard McGregor in Fresh Meat, said: “The relationship between Ken and Richard is complex. Richard loves Ken, Ken loves Richard but like all families, they don’t get on all the time. And in fact, the more time they spend together, the less they tend to get on. And it’s just kind of like every family really, or many families in that respect.

“Richard is an actor whose career isn’t going terribly well…there’s no reflection on me personally about this! And he goes and moves back in with his dad. He’s not working very much, his mum has died a year before…and so he goes back to see his dad to kind of help him adjust to life as a widower.”

Greg, who lives in Hove, near Brighton, with his wife Katie and their two children, says he can relate to Richard and hopes this series will be the first of many.

He said: “I think this is probably the closest I have played to myself in terms of a character. I’m not Richard, I sometimes find him a bit annoying. Although, people might say that about me, who know me. So, I can relate to Richard a lot.

“Obviously, I’m an actor for a living…I understand the ups and downs. I also understand the reality of coping with slightly older parents, who I’m very lucky to still have…but who are also maddening.”

The series, which debuts on the BBC Scotland channel on Thursday November 21, also stars McHugh’s Gary: Tank Commander co-star Stuart Bowman and Ab fab’ Jennifer Saunders who voices Richard’s agent Sally.

Gregor, who has starred in a host of comedy shows including Scotch and Wry, Baldy Man and Love Actually, said: “Stuart Bowman plays Rod from next door. He’s good fun. There’s also an absolute nutcase of a character called Digsy - played by Paul Rattray - who’s a nutter, but he’s very charming at the same time, and he’s a bit of a...... he’s always stealing things, bikes and sausages and the like. Sausages? Yes. Tune in. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”

Greg added: ‘There’s also Emily who’s the neighbour who Richard quite fancies but doesn’t know how to behave around.

There’s a huge range of people that Richard has to navigate, via his dad, who’s also driving him mad. So, there’s a real clash of characters.”

Gregor and Greg both admit they have fallen in love with the series. Fisher said: “You might be able to giggle now and again, comedy series…that gives you the clue! It’s not going to be some sort of documentary. Nothing too difficult to understand. Just a bit of, a half an hour of sheer unadulterated pleasure.”

Greg added: “There’s so much relatable material in that it’s about a son - that could be a daughter - who moves home to really look at the inevitable issue of parents growing older and how you have to cope with that and their idiosyncrasies.”

Only Child debuts on the BBC Scotland channel on Thursday, November 21 and BBC One on Friday, November 22. All six episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from Thursday 21 November.

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