Greg Hemphill
Encyclopedia
Gregory "Greg" Hemphill is a Scottish
actor and comedian. He has also presented on television and radio. Along with his comedy partner, Ford Kiernan
, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game
and Chewin' the Fat
.
, and Anne (née Brophy) Hemphill, a teacher.
The family left Scotland when Greg was 6 years old, and he spent much of his childhood in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which has contributed to his distinctive Scottish-Canadian accent.
He returned to Scotland to study at the University of Glasgow
, where he achieved an MA Honours Degree
in theatre, film and television. He is married to Balamory
actress Julie Wilson Nimmo
; the couple have two sons.
in a tight contest for the post and was widely praised for taking an active interest in the role.
where he was given the "So You Think You're Funny" trophy. He continued his stage work, appearing in the 1992 God Plus Support performance and in the popular 1995 Only an Excuse?
tour. He also ventured into radio as the original presenter of football show, Off the Ball on BBC Radio Scotland
and The Eddie Mair Show.
Hemphill and Kiernan scripted seven episodes between 1999 and 2000 for then popular children's TV show Hububb. These were, Lullabubb, Top Of The Bubbs, Conquer Leserest, Casual-Tea, Bubb Goes Boo, 2010 A Space Bubbsy and No Go Pogo. He guest-starred alongside Kiernan in one episode, which he also scripted with Kiernan, Casual-Tea. However, his best known performances are alongside Ford Kiernan
in the television sketch show Chewin' the Fat and its spin-off
, Still Game. In series three of Still Game, Hemphill's brother Steve stars as a CN Tower
lift
operative.
's best-selling novel Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance
.
Hemphill appeared in the Scottish Gaelic-language drama, Eilbheas, in which Hemphill played the spririt of Elvis set in the Western Isles. It was first shown on the launch night of BBC Alba.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
actor and comedian. He has also presented on television and radio. Along with his comedy partner, Ford Kiernan
Ford Kiernan
Ford John Kiernan is a Scottish actor and comedian. Along with his comedy partner, Greg Hemphill, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game and Chewin' The Fat.-Personal life:...
, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game
Still Game
Still Game is a Scottish sitcom, produced by The Comedy Unit with the BBC. It was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who play the lead characters - two Glaswegian pensioners, named Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade respectively....
and Chewin' the Fat
Chewin' the Fat
Chewin' the Fat is a Scottish comedy sketch show, starring Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and Karen Dunbar. Comedians Paul Riley and Mark Cox also appeared regularly on the show.Chewin' the Fat first started as a radio series on BBC Radio Scotland...
.
Personal life
Hemphill was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Edward, a chartered accountantChartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
, and Anne (née Brophy) Hemphill, a teacher.
The family left Scotland when Greg was 6 years old, and he spent much of his childhood in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which has contributed to his distinctive Scottish-Canadian accent.
He returned to Scotland to study at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he achieved an MA Honours Degree
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in theatre, film and television. He is married to Balamory
Balamory
Balamory was a live action television series on British television for pre-school children, based around the fictional small island community of Balamory in Scotland. It was produced between 2002 and 2005 by BBC Scotland, with 254 episodes made...
actress Julie Wilson Nimmo
Julie Wilson Nimmo
Julie Wilson Nimmo is a Scottish actress who trained at the RSAMD and is best known for playing the role of Miss Hoolie in the BBC One, Two and CBeebies 2002–05 children's programme Balamory....
; the couple have two sons.
University of Glasgow
Hemphill was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 2001-04. He narrowly defeated the writer Alasdair GrayAlasdair Gray
Alasdair Gray is a Scottish writer and artist. His most acclaimed work is his first novel Lanark, published in 1981 and written over a period of almost 30 years...
in a tight contest for the post and was widely praised for taking an active interest in the role.
Career
Hemphill has appeared in several projects. In 1990, he appeared at the Edinburgh FringeEdinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
where he was given the "So You Think You're Funny" trophy. He continued his stage work, appearing in the 1992 God Plus Support performance and in the popular 1995 Only an Excuse?
Only an Excuse?
Only An Excuse? is an annual Scottish football comedy sketch show that airs each Hogmanay.Starring actor and comedian Jonathan Watson, the show features impressions of some of Scottish football's great characters such as Denis Law, Tommy Burns, Barry Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Frank McAvennie,...
tour. He also ventured into radio as the original presenter of football show, Off the Ball on BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
and The Eddie Mair Show.
Hemphill and Kiernan scripted seven episodes between 1999 and 2000 for then popular children's TV show Hububb. These were, Lullabubb, Top Of The Bubbs, Conquer Leserest, Casual-Tea, Bubb Goes Boo, 2010 A Space Bubbsy and No Go Pogo. He guest-starred alongside Kiernan in one episode, which he also scripted with Kiernan, Casual-Tea. However, his best known performances are alongside Ford Kiernan
Ford Kiernan
Ford John Kiernan is a Scottish actor and comedian. Along with his comedy partner, Greg Hemphill, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game and Chewin' The Fat.-Personal life:...
in the television sketch show Chewin' the Fat and its spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, Still Game. In series three of Still Game, Hemphill's brother Steve stars as a CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
operative.
2008 to present
In 2008, Hemphill was scheduled to star in Ecstasy, the movie adaptation of Irvine WelshIrvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh is a contemporary Scottish novelist, best known for his novel Trainspotting. His work is characterised by raw Scottish dialect, and brutal depiction of the realities of Edinburgh life...
's best-selling novel Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance
Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance
Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance is a collection of three novellas by Irvine Welsh.-Lorraine Goes To Livingston:After suffering a stroke, Rebecca Navarro, a best-selling romance novelist, discovers the truth about her corrupt, pornography-loving husband...
.
Hemphill appeared in the Scottish Gaelic-language drama, Eilbheas, in which Hemphill played the spririt of Elvis set in the Western Isles. It was first shown on the launch night of BBC Alba.