Rab C. Nesbitt
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Rab C. Nesbitt was a Scottish comedy programme produced by BBC Scotland. It starred Gregor Fisher as the eponymous Rab (Robert), an alcoholic Glaswegian; he was lippy and a bit lecherous but likeable all the same. First broadcast in Scotland, it was later shown throughout the United Kingdom. The strong Glaswegian dialect made the show quite difficult for those not used to it; the Ceefax subtitles were of little help as they were generally in dialect as well.
Rab C. Nesbitt began life as a sketch on the show Naked Video. A full-length Christmas special, Rab C. Nesbitt's Seasonal Greet was produced for BBC Scotland in 1988. The title is a play on the phrase "Season's Greetings" and the Scots language word "greet" meaning "weep". The success of this broadcast, later shown throughout the UK, led to a six-episode series in 1990. Seven further series and three specials followed, with the final series broadcast in 1999.
Set in Govan, it follows Rab (who fancies himself something of a "street flasher") in his various travails to enjoy and understand life, while getting as much to drink as possible. Rab is usually seen wearing a shabby black pinstripe suit, string vest, and a filthy headband.
The programme featured guest appearances by many famous actors such as Anita Dobson, Rikki Fulton, Stephen Greif, Maurice Roeves , Roger Sloman, David Troughton, Stanley Baxter, Timothy Spall and a then unknown David Tennant.
On 31 August 2006 the Evening Times reported that Rab C Nesbitt would be returning to BBC2 following The Comedy Unit's sale to RDF Media, with production starting in early 2007. Producer Colin Gilbert also told the Herald that a new series was a "distinct possibility". [1], [2].
Contents |
[edit] Cast and characters
- Gregor Fisher - Rab C. Nesbitt
- Elaine C. Smith - Mary "Doll" Nesbitt, Rab's long-suffering wife.
- Andrew Fairlie - Gash Nesbitt, the couple's elder son.
- Eric Cullen - Burney Nesbitt, the couple's younger son (the first three seasons only).
- David McKay - Screech Nesbitt, Rab's nephew (Replaces Cullen in the fourth, fifth, and six season, after Cullen was fired from the show due to personal life scandal).
- Tony Roper - Jamesie Cotter, Rab's longtime friend. Jamesie is always seen with his trademark shabby sportsjacket and bottle of Irn Bru.
- Barbara Rafferty - Ella Cotter, as Jamesie's fiery wife, with her red beehive haircut and leopardskin coat.
- Brian Pettifer - Andra, one of Rabs best friends.
- Iain McColl - Dodie, another of Rabs best friends.
- Charlie Sim - Dougie, The Barman of the two ways.
- John Kazek - Norrie, the 2nd Barman of the two ways.
recurring cast members
| Rab | Mary Doll | Gash | Burney | Screech |
| Jamesie | Ella Cotter | Andra | Dodie | Norrie |
| Dougie | ||||
[edit] Episodes
This article contains summaries for the Episodes/specials of the Scottish comedy/Sit-com television series Rab C Nesbitt, the show began airing on September 27, 1990 and finished on June 18, 1999.
[edit] Pilot - Seasonal Greet: (1989)
| Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original Airdate | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
"Seasonal Greet" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert | December 31, 1989 (repeated from December 21, 1988 Scotland only) | Special-01 (1) |
| Rab is upset at Christmas. | |||||
[edit] Season 1: (1990)
| Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original Airdate | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
"Work" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | September 27, 1990 | 1-01 (2) |
| After waiting three days for Rab to come back from the butcher shop on what should have been a routine purchase, Mary moves out and leaves Rab and their sons to look after themselves. Rab is comforted by his pals at the pub and things are made even worse when Rab is forced into work after being called into the job centre. | |||||
 |
"Rat" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | October 4, 1990 | 1-02 (3) |
| The Elections are coming up in Govan and as always Rab is around to voice his opinion. But Rab is suprised to find that one of the politicians is an old friend. Meanwhile Mary finds a Rat in the kitchen which causes Rab to criticise "the Trendies". | |||||
|
"City of Culture" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | October 11, 1990 | 1-03 (4) |
| Glasgow has become the European city of culture. While Rab and Jaimesie try to find the Burrell Collection so they can meet up with their wifes, Burnie and Gash steal drain covers for scrap metal. | |||||
|
"Drink" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | October 18, 1990 | 1-04 (5) |
| Rab is told by his Doctor if he doesn't give up drink he will be dead within a year. Rab struggles to come to grips with sobreity while Jamesie attempts to become sober himself. | |||||
|
"Offski" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | October 25, 1990 | 1-05 (6) |
| Rab is in trouble with the Police, which causes him to escape to Sidcup. Meanwhile Gash is heartbroken and runs away to London, which starts Rab on a search to find him while evading the police. | |||||
|
"Holiday" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | November 1, 1990 | 1-06 (7) |
| The Nesbitts win a Holiday to the Costa Del Sol, The Cotters are also going on the trip. | |||||
[edit] Fitba: (1991)
| Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original Airdate | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
"Fitba" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert | July 15, 1991 | Special-02 (8) |
| Rab follows Scotland to the 1990 World Cup. | |||||
[edit] Season 2: (1992)
| Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original Airdate | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
"Country" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | May 14, 1992 | 2-01 (9) |
| Rab goes out to the country, with Jamesie, Mary Doll, Ella and the boys. | |||||
|
"Lesson" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | May 21, 1992 | 2-02 (10) |
| Rab and Jamesie have fallen out with the wives. | |||||
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"Domestic" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | May 28, 1992 | 2-03 (11) |
| Mary Doll leaves a knife in Rabs back after a row. | |||||
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"That's Entertainment" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | June 4, 1990 | 2-04 (12) |
| Rab and Jamesie have a run-in with a Cannibal. | |||||
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"Ethics" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | June 11, 1990 | 2-05 (13) |
| Rab is conned by a homeless. | |||||
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"Life Has Meaning" | Ian Pattison | Colin Gilbert, | June 11, 1990 | 2-06 (14) |
| Rab is cursed by a devil worshiper. | |||||
[edit] Quotes from the show
- Rab: "I will tell you this, I will tell you this".
- Rab: "Mary, we have known each other too long to let a pound of dead meat to come between us".
Mary: "Let's leave our sex life out of this"
- Mary: {To Burney but referring to Rab} Is that him back.
Burney: Dunno Maw, wait an i'll ask, is that you back da.
- Shug: There are more people in the greater London than there is in the whole of Scotland.
Rab: but i mean, for goodness sake, its quality that counts, not quantity. - Rab: "I will skive and skive again." The quote that was in the 1st series episode.
- Rab: I was born a cynical bastard and I'll die a cynical bastard!
[edit] DVD, Video & Book releases
[edit] Seasons
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | DVD cover | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 | Discs | |||||
| 1 | 6 | 1990 | July 5, 2004 | 1 |  |
|
| Season one began airing on September 27, 1990 and featured a total of 6 episodes. | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | 1992 | October 18, 2004 | 1 |  |
|
| Season two began airing on May 14, 1992 and featured a total of 6 episodes. | ||||||
| 3 | 6 | 1993 | May 28, 2005 | 1 |  |
|
| Season three began airing on November 23, 1993 and featured a total of 6 episodes. | ||||||
| 4 | 6 | 1994 | August 1, 2005 | 1 |  |
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| Season four began airing on September 19, 1994 and featured a total of 6 episodes. | ||||||
| 5 | 6 | 1996 | December 4, 2006 | 1 |  |
|
| Season five began airing on January 5, 1996 and featured a total of 6 episodes. | ||||||
The first 5 seasons of Rab C. Nesbitt have been made available on DVD, also the Christmas special "A Seasonal Greet" and the two other feature length specials Fitba and Home have also been released. Video releases include Fitba, which follows Rab to Italy as he follows Scotland's progress in the 1990 World Cup, a Live show, plus various episodes have been released on video.
A book entitled A Stranger Here Myself has also been released.
Rab C. Nesbitt is currently airing on Paramount Comedy 2, around 9pm on Wednesdays, shown in double episodes.
