Gregor Fisher
Encyclopedia
Gregor Fisher is a Scottish comedian
and actor.
and following the death of his parents was brought up in Edinburgh
, Langholm
and Neilston
and attended Barrhead
High School. He attended the Royal School of Music and Drama in Glasgow, at which he did not complete his studies.
in the sitcom
of the same name. He starred in the TV show Naked Video
, where the Nesbitt character originated, along with the Baldy Man who also obtained a spin-off series. Baldy Man is also particularly associated with the Hamlet
advert in which he cannot get a satisfactory passport
photo from a photobooth and lights up a cigar to calm himself down. Fisher also worked with the late Scottish comedian Rikki Fulton
on the hit sketch show Scotch and Wry
. Another Scottish comedian he worked with was Hector Nicol
in the 1979 BBC drama Just a Boys' Game
.
He appeared in Michael Radford
's 1984 film Nineteen Eighty-Four
as Winston Smith's neighbour Parsons. In 1988, he had a leading role in a dramatised television documentary telling the story of the creation of the Christmas carol
Silent Night
, called Silent Mouse. In the same year he had a cameo (as a Victorian policeman) in the Caine/Kingsley vehicle, Without a Clue
.
In 2004, he played the role of Solanio in another Michael Radford film, The Merchant of Venice
.
In 1994/95, he played the title role in the BBC
series The Tales of Para Handy
. In 2003, he appeared in the romantic comedy
film
Love Actually
, where he played the role of the manager to fading music star, Billy Mack (Bill Nighy
). Fisher had also appeared in the 1999 sitcom Brotherly Love
and in the 2002 sitcom Snoddy
.
He also appeared with Iain Glenn in the BBC Masterpiece theatre version of Kidnapped.
He also appeared in the 2000 BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. Fisher starred as a main character in the drama Missing, made by SMG Productions
in 2006. However, the two-part thriller was not broadcast on STV until November 2008. In November 2006, he starred as Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
, in a three-month run of the show in Edinburgh
. Most recently he has starred in the BBC's adaption of Oliver Twist
, in the role of Mr Bumble.
In an interview in The Metro
on 20 February 2008 he stated that he is no longer recognised as Rab C. Nesbitt and rather is more likely to be stopped by fans of Oliver Twist for his recent role as Mr Bumble.
Empty, a comedy series starring Fisher, began on BBC 2 on 28 February 2008. On BBC 2 on 23 December 2008, he reprised his role as Rab C Nesbitt in a Christmas special.
2010 Rab C Nesbitt: Series 9: Heal
, Stewarton, Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders
but most recently they have lived in a Georgian house in Spalding, Lincolnshire
after selling a farmhouse in Langholm, Dumfriesshire. They are selling their property in Lincolnshire. The couple are now planning to buy property in France
.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor.
Early life
Fisher was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and following the death of his parents was brought up in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Langholm
Langholm
Langholm , also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road.- History:...
and Neilston
Neilston
Neilston is a village and parish in East Renfrewshire set in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Levern Valley, southwest of Barrhead, south of Paisley, and south-southwest of Renfrew, at the southwestern fringe of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
and attended Barrhead
Barrhead
Barrhead is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, southwest of Glasgow on the edge of the Gleniffer Braes. As of the 2001 census its population was 19,813....
High School. He attended the Royal School of Music and Drama in Glasgow, at which he did not complete his studies.
Career
He is best known for his portrayal of his character Rab C. NesbittRab C. Nesbitt
Rab C. Nesbitt is a Scottish sitcom which began in 1988. Produced by BBC Scotland, it stars Gregor Fisher as an alcoholic Glaswegian who believed unemployment was the life for him...
in the sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
of the same name. He starred in the TV show Naked Video
Naked Video
Naked Video was a BBC Scotland comedy series, broadcast between 1986 and 1991 on BBC2, the series was created by Colin Gilbert who also created A Kick Up the Eighties and Naked Radio.-Naked Radio:...
, where the Nesbitt character originated, along with the Baldy Man who also obtained a spin-off series. Baldy Man is also particularly associated with the Hamlet
Hamlet (cigar)
Hamlet is a well known brand of cigar produced by Japan Tobacco. They are available in several varieties, miniatures and also a regular length. They are regularly referred to as the 'mild cigar' in their advertising....
advert in which he cannot get a satisfactory passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
photo from a photobooth and lights up a cigar to calm himself down. Fisher also worked with the late Scottish comedian Rikki Fulton
Rikki Fulton
Robert Kerr Fulton, OBE , more commonly known as Rikki Fulton, was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry. He was also known for his appearances as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside...
on the hit sketch show Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry was a Scottish comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC One Scotland and starred Rikki Fulton. After two series, in 1978 and 1979, the programme continued as a regular part of the channel's Hogmanay celebrations between 1980 and 1992...
. Another Scottish comedian he worked with was Hector Nicol
Hector Nicol
Hector Nicol was a Scottish comedian, singer and actor, who was born in Paisley, Scotland.-Acting career:Nicol starred in few shows during his career. His most notable role was that of a dying gangster in the BBC Television series, Just a Boys' Game and also in A Sense of Freedom...
in the 1979 BBC drama Just a Boys' Game
Just a Boys' Game
Just a Boys' Game is a 1979 Play for Today written by Peter McDougall and directed by John Mackenzie.It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher, Ken Hutchison and Hector Nicol....
.
He appeared in Michael Radford
Michael Radford
Michael Radford is an English film director and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Radford was born on 24 February 1946, in New Delhi, India, to a British father and an Austrian Jewish mother. He was educated at Bedford School before attending Worcester College, Oxford...
's 1984 film Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four (film)
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a 1984 British science fiction film, based upon George Orwell's novel of the same name, following the life of Winston Smith in Oceania, a country run by a totalitarian government...
as Winston Smith's neighbour Parsons. In 1988, he had a leading role in a dramatised television documentary telling the story of the creation of the Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
Silent Night
Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
, called Silent Mouse. In the same year he had a cameo (as a Victorian policeman) in the Caine/Kingsley vehicle, Without a Clue
Without a Clue
Without a Clue is a 1988 British comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley and Lysette Anthony.-Plot:...
.
In 2004, he played the role of Solanio in another Michael Radford film, The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice (2004 film)
The Merchant of Venice is a 2004 romantic drama film based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first full-length sound film version in English of Shakespeare's play; most other versions are videotaped productions made for television...
.
In 1994/95, he played the title role in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series The Tales of Para Handy
The Tales of Para Handy
The Tales of Para Handy was a Scottish television series set in the west of Scotland, based on the Para Handy books by Neil Munro. It was a sitcom about a puffer boat and its crew.It ran from 1994 to 1995 on BBC One, a total of nine episodes....
. In 2003, he appeared in the romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Love Actually
Love Actually
Love Actually is a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress...
, where he played the role of the manager to fading music star, Billy Mack (Bill Nighy
Bill Nighy
William Francis "Bill" Nighy is an English actor and comedian. He worked in theatre and television before his first cinema role in 1981, and made his name in television with The Men's Room in 1991, in which he played the womanizer Prof...
). Fisher had also appeared in the 1999 sitcom Brotherly Love
Brotherly love
Brotherly love may refer to:* Philia, a Greek word for love* Brotherly love * The New Commandment of Jesus, - Television :* Brotherly Love , an American television series...
and in the 2002 sitcom Snoddy
Snoddy
Snoddy was a Scottish television sitcom that aired for only six episodes in 2002. Itstarred Gregor Fisher from the recently finished Rab C Nesbitt. It was not particularly successful and was never aired outside of Scotland.-Plot:...
.
He also appeared with Iain Glenn in the BBC Masterpiece theatre version of Kidnapped.
He also appeared in the 2000 BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. Fisher starred as a main character in the drama Missing, made by SMG Productions
SMG Productions
STV Productions is the television production arm of the STV Group plc, and incorporates Ginger Productions. Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, and with an office in London, England, the company's output includes drama, factual, entertainment and children's programming for broadcast on television...
in 2006. However, the two-part thriller was not broadcast on STV until November 2008. In November 2006, he starred as Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.-Productions:...
, in a three-month run of the show in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Most recently he has starred in the BBC's adaption of Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
, in the role of Mr Bumble.
In an interview in The Metro
Metro (Associated Metro Limited)
Metro is a free daily newspaper in the United Kingdom published by Associated Newspapers Ltd . It is available from Monday to Friday each week on many public transport services across the United Kingdom.-History:The paper was launched in London in 1999, and can now be found in 14 UK urban centres...
on 20 February 2008 he stated that he is no longer recognised as Rab C. Nesbitt and rather is more likely to be stopped by fans of Oliver Twist for his recent role as Mr Bumble.
Empty, a comedy series starring Fisher, began on BBC 2 on 28 February 2008. On BBC 2 on 23 December 2008, he reprised his role as Rab C Nesbitt in a Christmas special.
2010 Rab C Nesbitt: Series 9: Heal
Personal life
Gregor is married to actress Vicki Burton, they have three children, Alexander (born 1986), Jamie (born 1988) and Cissie (born 1989). Together they have moved house many times, they have lived in BrixtonBrixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, Stewarton, Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
but most recently they have lived in a Georgian house in Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
after selling a farmhouse in Langholm, Dumfriesshire. They are selling their property in Lincolnshire. The couple are now planning to buy property in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Another Time, Another Place Another Time, Another Place (1983 film) Another Time, Another Place is a 1983 British drama film directed by Michael Radford and starring Phyllis Logan, Giovanni Mauriello and Denise Coffey... |
Beel | |
| 1984 | Nineteen Eighty-Four Nineteen Eighty-Four (film) Nineteen Eighty-Four is a 1984 British science fiction film, based upon George Orwell's novel of the same name, following the life of Winston Smith in Oceania, a country run by a totalitarian government... |
Parsons | Sometimes titled as 1984 |
| 1985 | The Girl in the Picture | Bill | |
| 1987 | White Mischief White Mischief White Mischief is a 1987 film dramatising the events of the Happy Valley murder case in Kenya in 1941, when Sir Henry "Jock" Delves Broughton was tried for the murder of Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll.... |
McPherson | |
| 1988 | To Kill a Priest To Kill a Priest To Kill a Priest is a 1988 drama film directed by Agnieszka Holland. The film tells a story based on the murder, under the Polish communist regime, of priest Jerzy Popiełuszko... |
||
| Without a Clue Without a Clue Without a Clue is a 1988 British comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley and Lysette Anthony.-Plot:... |
Bobby at Warehouse | ||
| 2003 | Love Actually Love Actually Love Actually is a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress... |
Joe | |
| 2004 | The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice (2004 film) The Merchant of Venice is a 2004 romantic drama film based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first full-length sound film version in English of Shakespeare's play; most other versions are videotaped productions made for television... |
Solanio | |
| 2005 | Lassie Lassie (2005 film) Lassie is a 2005 family-based film directed by Charles Sturridge. When a family hits financial crisis, they have no choice but to sell Lassie... |
Mapes | |
| 2010 | Wild Target Wild Target Wild Target is a 2010 comedy film, directed by Jonathan Lynn. It is based on the 1993 French film Cible Emouvante. Lucinda Coxon wrote the screenplay, and it was produced by Martin Pope and Michael Rose.... |
Mike | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Rob Roy | Dick | Episodes: season 1.1 & 1.2 |
| 1978 | "The Tomorrow People The Tomorrow People The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer... " |
Uncredited Highlander | Episode: 7.2 "The Fighting Spirit" |
| 1978–1979 | Play for Today Play for Today Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted... |
Georgie/Tanza | Episodes: "Donal and Sally", "Just a Boys' Game" |
| 1980 | Square Mile of Murder | Tom Connell | Episode: "The Human Crocodile" |
| 1978–1980 | Scotch & Wry | Various Roles | Episodes: season 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 & 31 December 1980 episode |
| 1982 | Crown Court Crown Court (TV series) Crown Court was an afternoon television courtroom drama produced by Granada Television for the ITV network that ran from 1972, when the Crown Court system replaced Assize courts and Quarter sessions in the legal system of England and Wales, to 1984.... |
Eric Mullins | Episode: "Too Bad for Tobias: Part 1" |
| 1982–1984 | Foxy Lady Foxy Lady (TV series) Foxy Lady was a television comedy series made between October 1982 and February 1984 by Granada Television. It was set in the 1960s and revolved around a young female reporter, Daisy Jackson , who worked for a newspaper and encountered sexism from her colleagues.... |
Hector Ross | Seasons 1 & 2: 12 episodes, lead role |
| 1986 | Scotch & Wry | Various Roles | Video compilation |
| Boon Boon (TV series) Boon is a British television drama and modern-day western series starring Michael Elphick, David Daker, and later Neil Morrissey. It was created by Jim Hill and Bill Stair and filmed by Central Television for ITV... |
Tom McGeary | Episode: "Fools Rush In" | |
| Naked Video Naked Video Naked Video was a BBC Scotland comedy series, broadcast between 1986 and 1991 on BBC2, the series was created by Colin Gilbert who also created A Kick Up the Eighties and Naked Radio.-Naked Radio:... |
Various Roles | Season 1: 6 episodes, lead role (season 1) | |
| Blood Red Roses | Alex McGuigan | 3 episodes | |
| 1987 | Double Scotch & Wry | Various Roles | Video compilation |
| Dramarama Dramarama (TV series) Dramarama is the name of a British children's' anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The programme was administered by Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle, who had a track-record for organising cross-franchise... |
Albert Pickard | Episode: "Stan's First Night" | |
| 1990 | Silent Mouse | Franz Gruber | Television film |
| Triple Scotch & Wry | Various Roles | Video compilation | |
| Chancer Chancer Chancer is a British television serial produced by Central Television for ITV. It tells the story of a likable conman and rogue at the end of the yuppie eighties... |
Norman Attwood | Episodes: "Killing Floor", "Hazard" | |
| 1994 | A Christmas Night with the Stars | Rab C. Nesbitt | Episode: 25 December 1994 |
| 1994-1995 | The Tales of Para Handy The Tales of Para Handy The Tales of Para Handy was a Scottish television series set in the west of Scotland, based on the Para Handy books by Neil Munro. It was a sitcom about a puffer boat and its crew.It ran from 1994 to 1995 on BBC One, a total of nine episodes.... |
Para Handy | 9 episodes, lead role |
| 1995 | Saturday Disney | Episode: 25 March 1995 | |
| Kidnapped Kidnapped (1995 film) Kidnapped is a 1995 TV adventure film directed by Ivan Passer and starring Armand Assante as Highlander Alan Breck and Brian McCardie as Lowlander David Balfour. Among the supporting actors are Michael Kitchen and Brian Blessed... |
Gahlsan | Television film | |
| 1995-1997 | The Baldy Man | Baldy | 2 seasons: 13 episodes, lead role |
| 1999 | Brotherly Love | Hector Robertson | Season 1: 6 episodes, lead role |
| 2000 | Gormenghast | The Fly | Episode: season 1.3 |
| The Railway Children The Railway Children (TV film) The Railway Children is a 2000 drama television film based on the novel by E. Nesbit. It was broadcast for the first time in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2000.-Plot:... |
Perks | Television film | |
| 2001 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Mr. Squeers | Television film |
| 2002 | Snoddy Snoddy Snoddy was a Scottish television sitcom that aired for only six episodes in 2002. Itstarred Gregor Fisher from the recently finished Rab C Nesbitt. It was not particularly successful and was never aired outside of Scotland.-Plot:... |
Snoddy | Lead role |
| 2005 | Kidnapped Kidnapped (2005 mini series) Kidnapped is a two-part BBC television adaptation of the 1893 novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. The show is directed by Brendan Maher and stars James Anthony Pearson as Davie Balfour and Iain Glen as Alan Breck.... |
James Stewart of the Glen | Television film |
| 2006 | Missing | Inspector Doug | Television film |
| 2007 | Oliver Twist | Mr. Bumble | Mini-series |
| 2008 | Empty | Jacky Allen | Season 1: 6 episodes, lead role |
| 1988— | Rab C. Nesbitt Rab C. Nesbitt Rab C. Nesbitt is a Scottish sitcom which began in 1988. Produced by BBC Scotland, it stars Gregor Fisher as an alcoholic Glaswegian who believed unemployment was the life for him... |
Rab C. Nesbitt | 9 seasons: 61 episodes, lead role |