Gregor Fisher

Gregor Fisher (born 22 December 1953) is a Scottish comedian and actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the comedy series Rab C. Nesbitt (1988–2014), a role he had played since the show's first episode. He has also had roles in films such as Without a Clue, Love Actually (2003), The Merchant of Venice (2004) and Whisky Galore! (2016). In 2024, Fisher was cast as Ken Pritchard in the BBC Scotland sitcom Only Child (2024–present).

Early life Fisher was born in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, and following the death of his mother was brought up in Edinburgh, Langholm, and Neilston and attended Barrhead High School. He attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Career Early work Fisher worked with Scottish comedian Rikki Fulton on his hit sketch series Scotch and Wry (whose broadcast was mainly restricted to BBC One Scotland). Another Scottish comedian he worked with was Hector Nicol, in the BBC drama Just a Boys' Game (1979). Later, he appeared in Michael Radford's 1984 film Nineteen Eighty-Four as Winston Smith's neighbour Parsons. In 1988, he had a leading role in Silent Mouse, a dramatised television documentary telling the story of the creation of the Christmas carol Silent Night. In the same year he had a cameo (as a Victorian policeman) in the Michael Caine/Ben Kingsley vehicle, Without a Clue.

Prominence and Rab C. Nesbitt

Fisher is best known for his portrayal of the main character of the sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt, this itself was a spin-off from the BBC2 sketch comedy Naked Video, where the Nesbitt character originated, along with The Baldy Man who also obtained his own eponymous spin-off series, and is particularly associated with two Hamlet adverts involving photography, the first where he cannot get a satisfactory passport photo from a photobooth and lights up a cigar to calm himself down; the second where he cannot get a satisfactory family portrait and lights up a cigar to calm himself down. Johnny Depp based his Glaswegian accent for the role of Tarrant Hightopp, the Mad Hatter in the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland, on that used by Fisher’s Rab C. Nesbitt character.

In 1994–1995, he played the title role in the BBC series The Tales of Para Handy, in which he was reunited with Rikki Fulton. Fisher had also appeared in the 1999 sitcom Brotherly Love and in the 2002 sitcom Snoddy. He also appeared with Iain Glenn in the BBC Masterpiece theatre version of Kidnapped. On BBC2, on 23 December 2008, he reprised his role as Rab C Nesbitt in a Christmas special. Fisher's autobiography, The Boy from Nowhere, was published in 2015. To coincide with the publication, BBC One Scotland broadcast a documentary, In Search of Gregor Fisher, which followed Fisher and ghostwriter Melanie Reid during part of their research for the book.

Fisher appeared in the 2000 BBC adaptation of Gormenghast. Fisher starred as a main character D.S. Doug Duvall in the drama Missing, made by SMG Productions in 2006, the two-part thriller was not broadcast on STV until November 2008. In November 2006, he starred as Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in a three-month run of the show in Edinburgh. Most recently he has starred in the BBC's adaption of Oliver Twist, in the role of Mr Bumble.

In 2003, he appeared in the romantic comedy film Love Actually, where he played the role of the manager to fading music star, Billy Mack (Bill Nighy). In 2004, he played the role of Solanio in the Michael Radford film, The Merchant of Venice. In an interview in The Metro on 20 February 2008, he stated that he is no longer recognised as Rab C. Nesbitt, and rather is more likely to be stopped by fans for his recent role as Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist. Empty, a comedy series starring Fisher, began on BBC2 on 28 February 2008. In November 2024, Fisher appeared as Ken Pritchard, a lead character, in the BBC Scotland sitcom Only Child alongside Greg McHugh. It was announced in May 2025 that the series would be returning for a second season with Fisher reprising his role, with filming commencing in August 2025.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 The Anatomist by James Bridie Landlord 1983 Another Time, Another Place Beel 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four Parsons Sometimes titled as 1984 1985 The Girl in the Picture Bill 1987 White Mischief McPherson 1988 To Kill a Priest (unknown) Without a Clue Bobby at Warehouse 2003 Love Actually Joe 2004 The Merchant of Venice Solanio 2005 Lassie Mapes 2010 Wild Target Mike 2016 Whisky Galore! Joseph Macroon

Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Rob Roy Dick Episodes 1.1 & 1.2 1978 Play for Today Georgie Episode: "Donal and Sally" The Tomorrow People Highlander Episode 7.2: "The Fighting Spirit"; uncredited role ITV Playhouse The Sargeant Episode: "Hess" 1978, 1980, 1982 Scotch and Wry Various roles Episodes 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 31 December 1980 & 31 December 1982 1979 Play for Today Tanza Episode: "Just a Boys' Game" 1980 Take the High Road Ian Duff Episodes 1.3 & 1.7 Square Mile of Murder Tom Connell Episode: "The Human Crocodile" 1981 Strangers Det. Insp. Forsyth Episode: "Stand and Deliver" 1982 Kevin Turvey: The Man Behind the Green Door Policeman Television film; uncredited role Crown Court Eric Mullins Episodes: "Too Bad for Tobias: Parts 2 & 3" 1982–1984 Foxy Lady Hector Ross Series 1 & 2: 12 episodes; lead role 1984 End of the Line Mike Episodes: "The Silver Bullet" & "Blowout" 1986 Boon Tom McGeary Episode: "Fools Rush In" City Lights Quincey Dickens Episode: "Deep Freeze" Blood Red Roses Alex McGuigan 3 episodes Scotch and Wry Various roles Video compilation 1986–1991 Naked Video Various roles Series 1–6; 30 episodes 1987 Dramarama Albert Pickard Episode: "Stan's First Night" Double Scotch and Wry Various roles Video compilation 1988–2011, 2014 Rab C. Nesbitt Rab C. Nesbitt Series 1–10 & 2014 New Year Special "Hoodie"; 67 episodes; lead role; 2012 - BAFTA Scotland award for best actor/actress, television 1990 Silent Mouse Franz Gruber Television film Chancer Norman Attwood Episodes: "Killing Floor" & "Hazard" Triple Scotch and Wry Various roles Video compilation 1994 Christmas Night with the Stars Rab C. Nesbitt Episode dated 27 December 1994 1994–1995 The Tales of Para Handy Para Handy Series 1 & 2; 9 episodes; lead role 1995 Saturday Disney (unknown) Episode dated 25 March 1995 Kidnapped Gahlsan Television film 1995–1997 The Baldy Man Baldy Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes; lead role 1999–2000 Brotherly Love Doctor Hector Robertson 7 episodes; lead role 2000 Gormenghast The Fly Mini-series; episode 3 The Railway Children Perks Television film 2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Mr. Squeers Television film 2002 Snoddy Snoddy 4 episodes; lead role 2005 Kidnapped James Stewart of the Glen Television film 2006 Missing DS Doug Duvall 2-part drama 2007 Oliver Twist Mr. Bumble Mini-series; 4 episodes 2008 Empty Jacky Allen 6 episodes; lead role 2012 Love Life Will Episodes 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 2014 Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This Miff Ferrie Television film 2018 The ABC Murders Dexter Dooley Mini-series; episode 2 2020 There She Goes Bill Episode: "Speech and Language" 2021 The Cockfields Ray Series 2; 7 episodes 2024–present Only Child Ken Pritchard Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes

Theatre +Year Title Role Theatre Company DirectorNotes 1982 Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaites Falsehood Scottish Theatre Company Tom Fleming play by Sir David Lyndsey, adapted by Robert Kemp