A BBC comedy set in Forres will return to our screens next week, and its executive producer, who actually lives in the town has said it couldn’t have been filmed anywhere else.
The series stars comedy favourites Gregor Fisher (Rab C Nesbitt) and Greg McHugh (Gary: Tank Commander) and follows the trials and tribulations of a father-son relationship. In the last series, Richard (McHugh) went back to live with his dad, Ken (Fisher) when he found himself out of work.
Series Two is a continuation of the story, and as Richard looks set to stay longer than anticipated, the friction (and love) between the two increase.
Back in October, we spotted Greg and Gregor filming in some of the Forres locations. They were here with a full production crew filming scenes at the High Street and Grant Park, and judging by the pictures below, Forres will be featured well in the new series.
‘It couldn’t be filmed anywhere else’
Executive producer Neil Webster lives in Forres, and said the series writer Bryce Hart has created a world that is uniquely Scottish, saying: “It couldn’t be filmed anywhere else – which is an absolute bonus for me as a blow-in Englishman who has fallen in love with Scotland and doesn’t like leaving.”
Gregor Fisher brings his trademark wit and warmth to Ken – a man navigating memory, mischief and modern life. He commented how playing his part wasn’t just a job: “It’s not even so much one specific thing about Ken, I enjoy my time with the boy.
“When you work with people and it all kind of dovetails, that’s a reason to get up in the morning. I enjoy working with them all.
“And there are some great new characters that join us.”
Greg McHugh returns as Richard Pritchard, Ken’s long-suffering son whose life working as an actor in London hasn’t quite gone to plan. Back home and under his father’s roof again, Richard finds himself torn between exasperation and affection as he tries to keep things under control.
New characters
As well as the main cast, with Amy Lennox returning as Emily, there are some new additions in Clive Russell, Kevin Bishop and Jenny Galloway. In these new characters, we are promised a really big shift in the dynamic – one of the shifts is relating to Ken, and the other one is very much relating to Richard and Emily’s relationship.
Greg said: “Ken and Richard’s relationship has settled to a point, but a bit like when Richard returned home in series one – and he was very frustrated with Ken that he wasn’t part of the community, and frustrated that he wasn’t able to adapt to modern life – with series two, it’s actually Ken who’s very frustrated with Richard.
“The tables have turned, and Ken is actually looking for Richard to integrate himself into the community. It’s quite interesting how in series one, Richard was looking after Ken and at the start of series two, Ken is attempting, in some ways – and perhaps not always in the most helpful way – to look after Richard.
“As the series progresses, their relationship is put to the usual stresses and strains.
“There are driving lessons, there’s an allotment and there are things that they end up teaming up to work together on.
Only Child returns on Monday 4th May at 10:30pm on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer, and Wednesday 6th May on BBC One at 9:30pm.
In pictures: Flashback to October – Greg and Gregor shoot a scene at the newly-painted toilet block. Gregor is seen chatting to Brett Mather. Quite a few ice creams were consumed that day!
