Gregor Fisher, best known for playing the string-vest-wearing, boozy Glaswegian Rab C Nesbitt, is embarking on his first UK tour as himself at the age of 71. The actor, who also appeared in Love Actually and Shakespeare with Al Pacino, hopes to remind audiences of his range beyond the iconic comic character.
Fisher, who wore the string vest on and off for 30 years, acknowledges that the role has been both a blessing and a casting challenge. 'Somebody pointed out to me the other day that it’s 40 years since he first appeared on the telly,' he said. Despite the character's longevity, Fisher remains philosophical: 'It’s just a part. It’s gossamer wings. It’s nothing.'
The tour, titled An Evening With Gregor Fisher, was devised with his friend and theatre director Nigel West. Fisher describes it as a low-pressure affair: 'There’s no lines to learn. We can maybe have a laugh. We might make a couple of quid, and we might not. But it’ll be a painless exercise. There’s no crucifixion involved.'
Fisher first created Nesbitt and the Baldy Man on the 1980s sketch show Naked Video. The BBC comedy ran intermittently from 1988 to 2014, attracting a large audience south of the border. Initially, Fisher was concerned that Nesbitt perpetuated stereotypes of boozy, aggressive Scots, but the character's depth and Ian Pattison's scripts won him over.
Reflecting on his career, Fisher recalls a memorable encounter with a fan who simply said, 'Thank you very much, son.' He added: 'It meant a lot. It’s nicer to be liked than not.' The tour marks a rare opportunity for audiences to see the man behind the mask.
