'Still Game' is to my mind the finest sitcom of the 21st Century. Like the earlier 'Rab C. Nesbitt', it originated from a sketch show which in this case was 'Chewin' The Fat'. Each week, the wily pensioners from Craiglang, played by Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan would show us how they fought to live another day.The first sight of Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade was a curious sketch in which we see Victor drinking a glass of his own urine ( which he claims is all to do with his detox diet ), much to the bewilderment of Jack. The characters caught the public's attention so much that they were later spun-off into a stage show entitled 'Still Game'. Ford and Greg reprised their roles as Jack and Victor while Paul Riley was brought in as their friend Winston. The play saw the three men in Victor's living room, swapping various opinions, stories and memories in a bid to pass the time. 'Still Game' was a sell-out not only in Scotland, but also in England, Ireland and, surprisingly, Canada. Three years later it became a sitcom for BBC Scotland and within weeks established itself as unmissable Friday night viewing.As you already know, Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade, along with their friends Winston, the tight-fisted Tam ( Mark Cox ) and incorrigible gossip Isa ( Jane McCarry ) are pensioners who refuse point blank to grow old gracefully. The three places in Craiglang they like to frequent most are the bookies, their local pub The Clansman which is run by the surly Boabby ( excellently played by Gavin Mitchell ) and the local newsagent, manned by the foul-mouthed Navid ( Sanjeev Kohli ) and his grumpy wife Meena ( who is only ever seen from behind ). Each episode would see Jack, Victor and co coping with whatever life threw at them, whether it was trying to survive against the cold weather or the local thugs making life hell for the residents of Craiglang. The reason for 'Still Game's' phenomenal success was because the public could identify with the characters. Each character has a grain of truth to them. For instance, who hasn't met someone as nosey as Isa in their time? As Jack and Victor, Ford and Greg are outstanding, though Paul Riley as Winston is undeniably the funniest. Also hilarious were Mark Cox and Sanjeev Kohli. Jake D'Arcy ( who sadly passed away not too long ago ) was funny in the episodes he appeared in as Pete the jakey. The late Ronnie Letham appeared from time to time as Isa's estranged husband Harry, as did Maureen Carr as Edith, a friend of Isa's who has teeth like a row of condemned houses and a voice that could grate cheese. Later in the series, Tam got married to local librarian Frances, who was portrayed by Kate Donnelly, who many people may remember from 'Naked Video'.Among the impressive list of guest stars were Robbie Coltrane as a manic-depressive bus driver, Clive Russell as an old friend of Jack and Victor's, Celia Imrie as a surly home help, David Hayman as a food-van proprietor and life-long enemy of Winston but the best one of all was boxing champion Jim Watt, who appears at a charity event that Boabby is holding at The Clansman.'Still Game' was initially only screened in Scotland by BBC1, but as the show began to rise in popularity, it eventually moved to BBC2 in 2005 for a national viewing ( with the earlier series broadcast nationally in reruns ).In 2007, the show came off the air for a long time following a fall-out between Ford and Greg but in 2014 returned in triumph when it was revamped as a stage show ( shown at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow ). In October 2016, it returned with a seventh series. Despite some good moments, it failed to amount to anything more than a half hearted revival. Someone out there must have been impressed with it, however, as a second stage show went in February 2017 and an eighth series was broadcast earlier this year, which also was pretty hit and miss. A third stage show is now in the offing, with potentially a ninth series in the making too. Ever heard of the term 'flogging a dead horse' guys?

best comedy series ever bar none.great characters got me through 8 weeks totally immobile with a broken ankle,,also check out chewing the fat,dear green place and legit also all good...but please put aside your differences and make some more shows you know it makes sense!!!!...favourite characters are Navid and Winston and Ida .....and....and......... ........ ..................and ....and...................also............Tam.......... .....and............Victdor.............and............Jack.... .................. ....and.................Robbie Coltrane.............and .....Sean.Connery........just.......... .......because...........he....wanted.......to.....be....in.....it. ..and did not get the chance to do so...... ..............and Boaby

i love Still Game, and recently got my boyfriend loving it too! we are from the north-east of england, so its pretty easy to understand the Scottish dialect and humour, cause its not too different from us! i can see how people further south would have trouble though. I know that Kiernan and Hemphill didn't actually come up with the idea for the programme themselves, just paid a whole load of money to some french writers for their programme, so i'd like to see the original french version!!! I love all the characters, especially Isa - she's hilarious!!! I have just bought the 1-6 and specials boxset. I have seen all the series before on TV apart from 6 and the specials, so i hope i'm in for a treat!! My favourite episodes are 'Oot' "a TV in an envelope!" and the one with Boaby's 'adult' movie!!!!!

The fourth series of Still Game recently finished on BBC2. This was the first time it had been shown nationwide and, thankfully, the unthinkable didn't happen. The slang. the swearing, the banter and the accents were all present and correct. You've got to hand it to the BBC for choosing not to tone down the dialect, if they'd been allowed to anglicise Still Game it just wouldn't be the same. I recently met the show's creators Ford Kiernon and Greg Hemphill at a book-signing and when they were quizzed over the possibility of Still Game being toned down, Kiernon replied, "Naw, they can get it up them!". Rapturous applause followed.You wouldn't think this programme was now in its fourth series, it still feels as sharp and fresh as it did back in 2002. While most programmes, like Ford and Greg's own Chewin' The Fat for example, tend to go downhill after a couple of runs, Still Game seems to improve with each series. Admittedly most of the laughs consist of old people swearing at each other but the excellent cast deliver their put-downs with gusto. The two leads, Kiernon in particular, make very convincing pensioners; little touches like shuffling slightly and muttering under their breath work well.The supporting cast are excellent as well. Jane McCarry, who plays "nosey old cow" Isa, sounds frighteningly like an old woman and her double act with Paul Riley's Winston is uproarious. Gavin Mitchell as Bobby the barman and Mark Cox as tight-fisted Tam are also excellent. But the absolute standout is Sanjeev Kohli as the acid-tongued shopkeeper Navid, Still Game's ultimate scene-stealer. Scottish dialect delivered in an Indian accent is funny in a way you've never heard and his horrific remarks to his wife Mena (whose face is always hidden) are comedy gold.Along with being consistently hilarious, Still Game is occasionally very touching; Jack memories of his late wife and Victor's strained relationship with his son are bring a real pathos and humanity to the proceedings. These moments are quiet and understated, giving Still Game a maturity that Chewin' The Fat lacked.Whether or not the folks down south got it or not is still unclear, some dreadful reviews would suggest not, but who gives a toss as Scotland once again has a sitcom it can really be proud of. Easily a match for Rab C Nesbitt, Still Game is a hilarious, bittersweet and thoughtful look at life through the eyes of the elderly - and a real celebration of Scottish, particularly Glasgow, culture. Long live Still Game!