BBC One to serve up another series of Still Game

Hit comedy series Still Game is to return with a new series following its long-awaited return to TV screens last year.

Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan will return to TV screens later this year in a new series of Still Game

Written by and starring Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, series eight will return as another six-parter airing on BBC One later this year.

The core cast – Kiernan, Hemphill, Paul Riley, Jane McCarry, Mark Cox, Sanjeev Kohli and Gavin Mitchell - reprise their roles, filming at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studios in a purpose-built set across this summer. The series will also film on location in and around Glasgow.

Comedy fans across the UK celebrated the show’s return after a nine-year hiatus that saw it go straight to BBC One network for the first time. In Scotland, the last series of Still Game became the most watched non-sporting programme in more than a decade with weekly episodes regularly attracting over half of the total audience.

Hempill said: “We can’t wait to get started on the next batch of adventures with Jack and Victor. We have lots of surprises in store.”

Kiernan added: “Chuffed to bits to be coming back for series eight. Greg and I have been cooking up some absolute corkers and we can’t wait to show you what they are.”

Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning, said he is delighted Still Game will return for a new series

“It’s rare for a show to attain the status of comedy classic whilst it’s still on air,” he said.

“Ford and Greg are at the height of their creative powers and audiences all over the UK just adore their world with these fantastic characters. If previous audience figures are anything to go by let’s hope the national grid can handle the demand.”

The new series of Still Game will be a BBC Studios production for BBC One through BBC Scotland. Long-time Still Game collaborator, Michael Hines, returns as director with Jacqueline Sinclair once again producing the series. Still Game series eight will be executive produced by Ewan Angus and Steven Canny.

The original run of the sitcom, which stars Kiernan and Hemphill as evergreen Glaswegian pensioners Jack and Victor, aired for six series between 2002 and 2007, transferring from BBC Scotland to BBC Two. The new series of Still Game will air on BBC One when it returns later this year.