Rab C. Nesbitt

''Rab C. Nesbitt'' is a Scottish comedy television series that originally aired between 1988 and 1999. The show returned for a one–off special in 2008, before being re-commissioned in 2010. Its second run was broadcast from 2010 to 2014. The series has been described as "Glasgow's greatest ever sitcom" by BBC Two.

Produced by BBC Scotland, it focuses on the title character, Robert "Rab" C. Nesbitt (portrayed by Gregor Fisher), an alcoholic Glaswegian who seeks unemployment as a lifestyle choice. Rab C. Nesbitt was originally a recurring character in the BBC2 sketch series '' Naked Video'' (1986–1990).

The revived series broadcast attracted an audience figure of 2 million. At its peak, ''Rab C. Nesbitt'' attracted viewing figures of roughly 5 million.

Background

The pilot episode, made for BBC Scotland in 1988, was a Christmas special entitled ''Rab C Nesbitt's Seasonal Greet'', which was broadcast on 22 December 1988 and then repeated on the network the following year. The first series began on 27 September 1990 and continued for seven more, ending on 18 June 1999. The show returned for a one-off special on 23 December 2008. The special saw several developments for Rab, which would eventually carry on into the revived series which would be broadcast firstly in 2010. In the special episode broadcast in 2008, Gash now has a daughter, Peaches; Mary and Ella have set up in business together as cleaners (and Jamesie, Rab and sometimes Gash all work for their company, House Mice); and Rab himself has converted to Christianity and given up alcohol.

A ninth series of six episodes began airing on 21 January 2010. The show's return received a good critical response and high audience figures, leading to a tenth series being commissioned by the BBC for broadcast in 2011. Filming for the series commenced in February 2010, and began broadcasting in October 2011. Following a two-year break, Elaine C. Smith confirmed on her Twitter page that a new year's special had completed filming on 10 October 2013, and was aired on BBC Two on 2 January 2014.

Ian Pattison created and wrote all 65 episodes, and Colin Gilbert produced and directed all 65 episodes as well. Topics include alcoholism, Neo Nazis and sexually transmitted infections. Often several normally unapproachable subjects were used in the same episode. The series is also known for its uncompromising use of Glaswegian accents and dialect, and its technique of breaking the fourth wall by frequently having Rab address the viewer directly.

The series has featured guest appearances from the likes of Norman Lovett, Peter Mullan, Rikki Fulton, Mary Lee, Anita Dobson, Timothy Spall, Stanley Baxter, Kevin McNally, Clive Russell, Jerry Sadowitz, Viv Lumsden, Sylvester McCoy, Russell Hunter, Peter Capaldi and then-unknowns David Tennant, Ashley Jensen, Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill, Karen Dunbar, Elaine Ellis, Jane McCarry and Paul Riley. Series 10 episode 2 notably featured an appearance by Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who was the runner-up on '' Britain's Got Talent'' in 2009.

The series was taken live on tour in 1991, known as ''Rab C. Nesbitt: In the Flesh'', thus meaning that no new series was broadcast that year. A live recording of the tour was released on VHS in 1992 as ''Rab C. Nesbitt: Live''. Two script books accompanying the series have also been released, alongside Rab's autobiography, a novel entitled ''A Stranger Here Myself''.

Cast and characters

Nesbitt family

; Robert "Rab" C. Nesbitt: Gregor Fisher (1988–2014). An alcoholic without denial, sarcastic, deadbeat, self-styled "street philosopher" and "sensitive big bastard", although "sensitive by Govan standards". Described by his wife Mary as not "''an'' unemployed person" but "''the original'' unemployed person", Rab is very rarely seen in anything other than a shabby pinstripe suit, plimsolls, a filthy headband and a string vest. He has two sons, Gash and Burney. Rab has four brothers, all dead; Rab only survived because he was the only one out of the five who was able to understand the benefits form. He claims to have been talented as a teenager, but never went anywhere with it due to Govan-dwellers being scared of talent when they saw it and tried "tae batter it tae death wi' empty wine bottles". At some point before the episode "Clean" he managed to clean up his act, giving up alcohol, helping around the house, finding religion, and presiding over a temperance group; so far he has only relapsed on-screen twice. He is also shown to break the fourth wall.
; Mary "Mary Doll" Nesbitt: Elaine C. Smith (1988–2014). Rab's long-suffering wife, more functional and aspirational than her husband. Claims that on the day she was born it was a toss-up whether she or the dog's litter would end up at the bottom of the river Clyde in a sack (Burney: "She won. There's nae bloody justice, eh?"). Currently runs a successful house-cleaning business with Ella Cotter called the "House Mice". Mary has repeatedly split up with Rab over the course of the show and has often flirted with other townsfolk to try to get back at him. However, somehow, she and Rab always seem to get back together, usually for the sake of the "weans" ("little ones"). Mary has had a lot of odd-jobs over the years, often taken as a quickie to pay off a final demand bill or outstanding arrears. Mary has stuck by Rab through many tough situations over the years.
; Gash Nesbitt: Andrew Fairlie until 2008, Iain Robertson 2010–2024 (1988–2014). The Nesbitts' elder son. Described by his father as "so anal-retentive he's still shitein' rusks." Has dabbled with Christianity, hard drugs, Hare Krishna, Scottish nationalism, and ram-raiding BT shops in his efforts to find himself. He has an on-off girlfriend, Bridie, and by the time of the show's return, now has a teenage daughter, Peaches, whom the Nesbitts dote upon. Rab has often taken more interest in Gash than his other son, Burney, and seems to favour Gash as he doesn't give as much lip. Fairlie left the role following the 2008 special, and Robertson was re-cast in the role and appeared from 2010.
; Burney Nesbitt: Eric Cullen (1988–1993). The Nesbitts' younger son, who briefly dabbled with neo-Nazism. Was also discovered to be gifted at painting, although gave up this avenue when he realised it wasn't getting him any sex. Burney often gave his father more grief than his brother, and often became more of a nuisance in his father's eyes. Actor Eric Cullen left the programme following series three due to personal issues, and was replaced by David McKay's Screech. Cullen died in 1996, shortly after he was asked to return to the role of Burney for the 1997 series. In the 2008 Christmas special, it is revealed that Burney died in a "ramming" accident and was buried nearby.
; Screech Nesbitt: David McKay (1994–1997). Rab's nephew, who replaces Eric Cullen's Burney from 1994. Screech comes to live with the Nesbitts after Burney goes to live in at a boarding school. Screech is much more outspoken that his predecessor, and has much more of a rebellious side. He seems to get along with Gash better than Burney did. Actor David McKay earlier portrayed Young Young McGurn's son Bimbo in "That's Entertainment", and was cast in the role of Screech following his initial appearance in 1992. McKay left the role in 1997.

Cotter family

; James Aaron "Jamesie" Cotter: Tony Roper (1988–2014). Rab's longtime friend, as well as chronic serial philanderer and self-described 'scumbag'. Jamesie is always seen with his trademark shabby sports jacket and bottle of Irn-Bru. On one occasion, he was described by his wife as "a slippery-lookin' article, about 93-year-old, wearing crusty jeans, with the eyes of an unemployed rapist". On several occasions he has played the part of the devil on Rab's shoulder, urging him to take up drinking again in "Clean". His attitude towards women (he is very keen on having sexual relations with any number of women but refuses to trust them) is implied to have stemmed from a traumatic relationship with his cancer-ridden mother; he spent much of his childhood tending to her, receiving little but abuse in return. It was known that he was once a football player until sustaining a shoulder injury which had forced him to quit.
; Ella Cotter: Barbara Rafferty (1988–2014). Jamesie's fiery wife, with her red beehive haircut and leopard skin coat. Seems to loathe her husband and frequently considers murdering him. In the meantime, she enjoys torturing him on occasion, notably breaking his shoulder with a crowbar and scratching his sunburnt chest. She has stabbed him at least once. She is every bit as promiscuous as Jamesie. She is part of a house-cleaning business with Mary, called The House Mice. Ella and Jamesie have never had children, due to the fact that Ella had gynaecological problems, a fact which Jamesie cruelly rubs in her face when he gets another woman pregnant.

Pub regulars

; Andra: Brian Pettifer (1988–2014). One of Rab's best friends, described more than once as looking "like a Ninja Turtle". Married to a woman called Bobbie whom he finds so repulsive that he dry heaves when thinking about sleeping with her. Andra has a comb-over haircut and is often mocked for being less adventurous than his counterparts. Andra was a regular in the Two Ways Inn before its closure, and quickly transferred his custom to the Giblet. Pettifer reprised the role for the 2014 special, the only pub regular to appear in the episode.
; Dodie: Alex Norton in 1988, Iain McColl from 1990–2011 (1988–2011). Another of Rab's best friends. Dodie is implied to be fond of unconventional methods of intoxication, e.g. sniffing shoe polish, and had an interest in crossdressing also. He too, like Andra, has an insufferable wife whom he loathes and he retches when he thinks about sleeping with her. Dodie did not appear in the 2008 special or Series 9. He also did not appear in the 2014 special, as McColl had died in 2013 following complications from a cancer diagnosis. McColl was not replaced in the role.
; Dougie: Charlie Sim (1988–1992). The barman of the Two Ways Inn. He was the original owner of the pub before handing the pub over to Norrie following his retirement. Dougie was much more bitter and sour than his successor, and was less tolerant of the acts of the pub regulars than his successor. Sims left the role in 1992 and was replaced by Kazek in the role of Norrie.
; Norrie: John Kazek (1992–1999). The barman of the Two Ways Inn. Norrie takes over the running of the pub after Dougie gives up the job. Norrie is much more tolerant but often steps in when violence is about to break out. Norrie has more of a sensitive side and is willing to show some sympathy when required. He tries to update the pub with foreign grub and games machines. Before he worked in the pub, he was a psychiatric nurse.
; Camille: Cora Bissett (2010–2014). The barmaid of The Giblet since its opening in 2010. During the episode "Passion", she was the object of both Gash and Jamesie's affections. Bisset did not appear in the 2014 special. Again, it is not known whether she had left the role or was unavailable at the time of filming. She replaced Kazek when he decided not to return to the series.

Recurring cast

; Hugh "Shug": Sean Scanlan (1990–1999). Mary's maternal cousin, Hugh feigns Englishness or at least pretends to be a middle-class Scot due to Scottish cultural cringe and to the distaste displayed at anything working-class and/or Scottish by his wife Phoebe. Hugh is Mary's cousin, and moved to Sidcup at some point in the 1980s.
; Phoebe: Sara Corper until 1993, Sarah Crowden until 1996, Juliet Cadzow in 1999 (1990–1999). An extremely middle-class English woman, married to Hugh. Phoebe is ashamed of his Scottish roots and often displays her disgust when his heritage begins to show.
; Bridie: Nicola Park (1998–2011). Gash's on-off girlfriend, with whom he has a daughter, Peaches. Bridie first appeared in Series 8, and returned to the role for the ninth and tenth series. Again, Park did not appear in the 2014 special, and it is unknown whether Park has left the role or was unavailable for filming.
; Peaches Nesbitt: Rachael Crossan (until 2011), Anna Devitt (2011–2014). Gash and Bridie's daughter, upon whom all the Nesbitts dote. Peaches is a teenager by the time of the 2014 special. Crossan originally portrayed Peaches for series nine and ten. However, she did not return for the 2014 special and Devitt was cast in the role instead, making her first appearance.

Episodes

Reception

Ratings

(*) Asterisk indicates overnight figure.

Awards and nominations

Home media

''Rab C. Nesbitt'' was initially released on VHS via BBC Video between 1991 and 1997. The first five series and two specials, "Seasonal Greet" and "Fitba", were made available, as well as a 'best of' compilation video. The series commenced releasing on DVD format in 2004, where the first five series were distributed by John Williams Productions, and in addition to the individual sets, boxsets, including a set comprising the first and second series alongside "Seasonal Greet", a standalone set of "Fitba" and "Home", and a collection set containing series one to five, which also included "Fitba" and "Home", but excluded "Seasonal Greet". Distribution rights to the series were acquired by 2 Entertain in 2007, in which they released the sixth, seventh and eighth series in both individual sets and a boxset collection, as well as the 2008 return special "Clean". In 2009 a boxset was made available which consisted of all eight series, and all specials, including the previously unreleased special "More". This was followed by releases of both series nine and series ten. The 2014 special "Hoodie", has yet to be released.

Legacy and influence

Johnny Depp based his Glaswegian accent for the role of Tarrant Hightopp, The Mad Hatter in the 2010 film ''Alice in Wonderland'', on Rab C Nesbitt's.

References

External links

* Comedy Guide
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''Rab C. Nesbitt''
at Phill.co.uk
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''Rab C. Nesbitt''
at The Comedy Unit
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1988 Scottish television series debuts
2014 Scottish television series endings
1980s British sitcoms
1990s British sitcoms
2000s British sitcoms
2010s British sitcoms
BBC Scotland television shows
BBC television sitcoms
Nesbitt, Rab C.
Govan
Scottish television sitcoms
Television shows set in Glasgow
British English-language television shows
1980s Scottish television series
1990s Scottish television series
2000s Scottish television series
Nesbitt, Rab C.
Nesbitt, Rab C.

Further reading

* McArthur, Colin, "The Exquisite Corpse of Rab(elais) C(opernicus) Nesbitt", in Wayne, Mike (ed.) (1998), ''Dissident Voices: The Politics of Television and Cultural Change'', Pluto Press, pp. 107 - 126, {{isbn, 9780745313290