''Offside'' is a Scottish comedy football television show aired on BBC One Scotland and was presented by Scottish Football journalist Tam Cowan. It ran from 1998 to 2007.

History

The programme began in 1998 and was produced by The Comedy Unit. The programme was axed in 2007, for unknown reasons. '' Only an Excuse?'' star Jonathan Watson also contributed to the show, previously producing the ''Only a Wee Excuse'' section of the show which was replaced by the "Week that Wisnae" sketch for the last series, this was essentially a simplified version of its predecessor. Every episode Catriona (Cat) Harvey would star with Tam Cowan and Jonathan Watson. Nearing the end of the last series the '' Real Radio (Scotland)'' star stopped appearing on the show for unknown reason.

Guests

''Offside'' began with only minor footballing guests, however in its later times more widely known celebrities appeared, such as Joyce Falconer,

Kevin Keegan Joseph Kevin Keegan (born 14 February 1951) is an English former footballer and manager. A forward, he played for several professional clubs from 1968 to 1984. Having begun his career at Scunthorpe United, he moved to Liverpool in 1971 and ...

George Galloway George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer who is currently leader of the Workers Party of Britain, serving since 2019. Between 1987 and 2010, and then between 2012 and 2015, Galloway was a Member o ...

and Tommy Sheridan.

Audience

The audience for ''Offside'' normally come dressed in replica football jerseys, and actively cheer or boo when references are made about their concerning teams. Tam himself is a

Motherwell Motherwell ( sco, Mitherwall, gd, Tobar na Màthar) is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, south east of Glasgow. It has a population of around 32,120. Historically in the parish of Dalziel and part of Lanarks ...

fan, and a significant number of the audience normally reflect this. Up until the 2006 Season, the show featured its mascot "Jock the Cock", a giant rooster, who would dance at the end of the show, at Cowan's request: "Take it away, Jock the Cock". Jock the Cock was played throughout by the infamous former fur filler of St. Mirren's Paisley Panda (a.k.a. Andy Duncan)

Awards

In March 2002 Tam Cowan won a Royal Television Society Award for best regional presenter.

References

External links

Archive
at The Comedy Unit BBC Scotland television shows Scottish television comedy 1990s Scottish television series 2000s Scottish television series 1990s British comedy television series 2000s British comedy television series 1990s British sports television series 2000s British sports television series 1998 Scottish television series debuts 2007 Scottish television series endings Television series by Banijay Football mass media in Scotland {{Scotland-tv-stub