'Father' kicks off with a middle aged man wandering aimlessly around the streets of Govan talking to himself. This happens to be Gash Nesbitt, the youngest brother of Rab and namesake of Gash. Jr. Gash. Snr has serious mental health issues. For a start, every step he takes he twirls around to check he is not being followed.
Meanwhile, Rab is visiting his father's headstone as it is the 30th anniversary of his death. Purely by chance, who should he bump into but his estranged brother Gash? He takes his brother home to meet his family but they are taken aback by his strange behaviour. Eventually, Rab spills the beans about why Gash has ended up the way he has.
It transpires that Gash was once a gifted young man whose jealous, drunken father ( Rab B. Nesbitt, whose father before him was 'Rab A. Nesbitt'. Can you see the pattern emerging here? ), who never got over losing his job as a tram conductor, used to beat him up. Eventually one day, Rab had enough and stood up to his father, causing the old man to go into such a state of shock that he dropped down dead of a heart attack. The incident greatly traumatised Gash, which subsequently resulted in him being sectioned.
This golden episode should be compulsive viewing for detractors. It is here we find out what makes Rab tick. Not only is this episode funny, but also moving. Sylvester McCoy is simply wonderful as Rab's deranged brother and he and Gregor's chemistry together is played with such conviction it is sad to watch. The eccentric actor born in Dunoon has appeared in many television shows over the years such as 'The Bill' and 'Still Game' but is probably best known as being 'Doctor Who' from 1987 - 1989. As Rab's father, the late Ronnie Letham is a truly nasty old man. The same year this episode went out, Letham was appearing with Steven McNicoll ( who played young Rab ) and Nicola Park ( who played Rab's sister Rena ) in another Ian Pattison sitcom, the underrated 'Atletico Partick'. Nicola Park later appeared full time in series seven as Gash's girlfriend Bridie.
Filming of this episode would have been a particularly busy time for Andrew Fairlie who appears both as Gash. Jnr and as Gash. Snr ( in flashbacks ). He is excellent here. A pity he later left the acting profession to become a teacher.
Funniest bit - as Rab watches his brother being carted off by two white-coated men, he tries to share his feelings with the audience but cannot find the right words. ''Well, you know how it is. You are all family folk. You'll have nutters of your own!''. Gregor's sharp delivery of the line earned him a well deserved round of applause.
Meanwhile, Rab is visiting his father's headstone as it is the 30th anniversary of his death. Purely by chance, who should he bump into but his estranged brother Gash? He takes his brother home to meet his family but they are taken aback by his strange behaviour. Eventually, Rab spills the beans about why Gash has ended up the way he has.
It transpires that Gash was once a gifted young man whose jealous, drunken father ( Rab B. Nesbitt, whose father before him was 'Rab A. Nesbitt'. Can you see the pattern emerging here? ), who never got over losing his job as a tram conductor, used to beat him up. Eventually one day, Rab had enough and stood up to his father, causing the old man to go into such a state of shock that he dropped down dead of a heart attack. The incident greatly traumatised Gash, which subsequently resulted in him being sectioned.
This golden episode should be compulsive viewing for detractors. It is here we find out what makes Rab tick. Not only is this episode funny, but also moving. Sylvester McCoy is simply wonderful as Rab's deranged brother and he and Gregor's chemistry together is played with such conviction it is sad to watch. The eccentric actor born in Dunoon has appeared in many television shows over the years such as 'The Bill' and 'Still Game' but is probably best known as being 'Doctor Who' from 1987 - 1989. As Rab's father, the late Ronnie Letham is a truly nasty old man. The same year this episode went out, Letham was appearing with Steven McNicoll ( who played young Rab ) and Nicola Park ( who played Rab's sister Rena ) in another Ian Pattison sitcom, the underrated 'Atletico Partick'. Nicola Park later appeared full time in series seven as Gash's girlfriend Bridie.
Filming of this episode would have been a particularly busy time for Andrew Fairlie who appears both as Gash. Jnr and as Gash. Snr ( in flashbacks ). He is excellent here. A pity he later left the acting profession to become a teacher.
Funniest bit - as Rab watches his brother being carted off by two white-coated men, he tries to share his feelings with the audience but cannot find the right words. ''Well, you know how it is. You are all family folk. You'll have nutters of your own!''. Gregor's sharp delivery of the line earned him a well deserved round of applause.
