Edinburgh mourns as Andy Gray, the king of panto, takes his final bow

The first time I interviewed Andy Gray, he was playing Nicely Nicely Johnson in a production of Guys and Dolls at the Royal Lyceum. It was 2001.

​He made me laugh from the beginning to end of that chat. I knew he would. We'd met socially before and I’d quickly discovered he was the rarest of performers, a man who simply had funny bones. He starred alongside Elaine C Smith in that production, both had become household names in the BBC Scotland comedy City Lights in 1984 and were again teamed up two years later for the TV sketch show, Naked Video.

They were back together in Edinburgh at The King's in 2006, starring in Jim Cartwright's Two and, a couple of years later, were reunited at the same venue by The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. They worked brilliantly together and by then they were being billed as, 'Scotland's Terry and June' - I never did ask Andy what he made of that, I'm sure there would have had a suitably pithy reply.

It was for another partnership, however, that he was best loved by Capital audiences; for the best past of 22 years, the Perth actor who adopted Edinburgh as his second home having studied drama at Queen Margaret College has made Christmas special for hundreds of thousands as one of the King's Theatre's three legendary panto pals - Andy, Allan Stewart and Grant Stott.

Andy Gray

It was in panto that Andy shone more brightly than ever. He made it look effortless, he could spin a single word into the most hilarious routine and his physical comedy was second to none - he could reduce audiences to tears of laughter with nothing more than a look.

When he returned to The King's in 2010 after three years away, he couldn't hide his delight at being 'home' to play King Crumble.

He told me then, ​"Pantomime is the reason I became an actor. I went to see it as a kid and wanted to be that idiot up there and now I am, but panto, as an entertainment, is good live theatre, and good live theatre is incomparable to anything else. It touches, it moves and it connects with an audience, whether through topical gags or just the story itself. There's nothing like it."

Off stage, Andy was the most down to earth person you could meet, approacable and friendly, he could mix with anyone. I remember he hosted a charity auction for a stage production I was involved in once at the Prestonfield House Hotel, his working class bonhomie proved a huge hit with the wealthy diners bidding silly money. They adored him

Andy Gray

His loves were eclectic too, he was a devotee of Elvis and could do a good impression of The King, he was also a huge fan of Batman and, having eschewed beer a few years back, Prosecco became his refreshment of choice and his trademark at parties.

On stage he was as mischevious as he could be off, one actor confiding that he just had that sparkle in his eye that made them want to laugh, even during the most serious of scenes. Of course, the audience never twigged.

While he became an integral part of The King's panto, so he also developed a double-act with his best pal Grant Stott, the pair regularly appearing in the Fringe together as well as joining Allan Stewart in his annual variety show.

On TV Andy became a regular in River City, playing Pete Galloway, but it was in panto that he could best express his innate sense of comic timing and ability to connect with an audience.

CINDERELLA: Allan Stewart as Fairy May and Andy Gray as Buttons

In 2011, I joined him backstage for a performance of Cinderella; 35 minutes before curtain up I found him heading to the stage door in his woolly hat and winter coat, pyjama bottoms and slippers having just nipped out to the shops between shows. In his dressing room his preshow routine was make-up and music, an eclectic playlist of Amy Winehouse, Doris Day, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Joe Pesci and the Captain Scarlet, Magnificent Seven and Thunderbirds themes.

He recalled his first King's panto had also been a Cinderella in 1995, as was his next in 1999, when he played Baron Hardup.

From 2010, after what he described as his "wilderness years" away from his Leven Street family, he appeared in every King's panto until 2019 when, undergoing treatment for blood cancer, he was persuaded by his doctor to take a year out.

If there was any doubt about how much he was loved, it was evident when, mid-way through the 2019 panto run he appeared on stage during a curtain. He received a rapturous standing ovation that reduced cast and audience alike to tears.

Grant Stott and Andy Gray in Kiss Me Honey Honey

​Andy had made a full recovery from his blood cancer, telling me in his own candid way, "The NHS saved my life... they are f***ing brilliant”

​On Christmas day, Andy sent a short video to friends, offering seasons ​greetings and love as he raised a glass of Prosecco and wondered aloud how it would interact with his Covid. I thought he was setting up a gag. He finished by raising his glass, taking a drink, and saying, that although he couldn't taste it, it was okay because he had a good memory. Always joking.

And that's how he would want to be remembered with a smile and a glass of Prosecco, that's how I'll toast one of the funniest, most talented men I was honoured to have in my life. My heart goes out to his partner Tamara, daughter Clare and family, as well as Allan and Grant and all his panto family.”

In their tribute to Andy, Qdos Pantomimes. producers of the King’s panto, called him ‘The King of Kings of panto’. Taken too soon, at just 61, he was all that and so much more. Rest easy pal.

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