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Greg Hemphill

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Greg Hemphill
Born
Gregory Edward Hemphill

(1969-12-14)14 December 1969(age 54)
Springburn,Glasgow,Scotland
EducationUniversity of Glasgow
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • director
  • writer
Years active1990–present
Spouse
​
(m.1999)​
Children2
RelativesSteve Hemphill(Brother)

Gregory Edward Hemphill(born 14 December 1969) is a Scottish–Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and director. Born inSpringburn,an inner–city district inGlasgow,Scotland, Hemphill moved toMontrealin Canada in the late 1970s before returning to Scotland in 1988.[1]

Hemphill is one of the executive producers and co–owner of the production companyEffingee Productions.His work withFord Kiernan,his long standing comedy and script writing partner, includes theBBC Scotlandcomedy seriesChewin' The Fat(1999–2005) andStill Game(2002–2007, 2016–2019). Hemphill wasRector of the University of Glasgowbetween 2001 and 2004.

Early and personal life

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Hemphill was born inGlasgow,Scotland, the son of Edward, achartered accountant,and Anne Hemphill (née Brophy) a teacher.[2]The family left Scotland in the mid-1970s, and he spent much of his childhood inMontreal,which has contributed to hisScottish-Canadianaccent.[3][4]

He returned to Scotland in 1988 at the age of 18 to study at theUniversity of Glasgow,where he achieved anMA Honours Degreein theatre, film and television. He is married to actressJulie Wilson Nimmo,best known for playing Miss Hoolie inBalamory.[5]Hemphill said that despite living in Canada, he "always felt Scottish", claiming that "My dad was from Maryhill, my mum was from St George’s Cross, and it seemed that everyone on the West Island of Montreal was from somewhere else".[6]

Career

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Early career

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Hemphill has appeared in several projects. In 1990, he performed at theEdinburgh Fringewith Rab Christie and Neil Warhurst as the "Trio Brothers Troup",where they won the 1990"So You Think You're Funny"trophy.[7]He continued his stage work, appearing in the 1992 God Plus Support performance and in the popular 1995Only an Excuse?tour. He also ventured into radio as the original presenter of football show,Off the BallonBBC Radio ScotlandandEddie MairLive.[8]

Hemphill and Kiernan scripted seven episodes between 1999 and 2000, for then popular children's television showHububb.These were, Lullabubb, Top of the Bubbs, Conquer Leserest, Casual-Tea, Bubb Goes Boo, 2010: A Space Bubbsy and No Go Pogo. He guest starred alongside Kiernan in one episode, which he also scripted with Kiernan, Casual-Tea. However, his best known performances are alongsideFord Kiernanin the televisionsketch showChewin' the Fatand its spin off,Still Game.In series three ofStill Game,Hemphill's brother Steve has a cameo as aCN Towerliftoperative.[9]

Still Game

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Following the success ofChewin' The Fat,Kiernan and Hemphill wroteStill Game.Still Gamewas based on the original play that the pair wrote for theEdinburgh Festivalin 1997. The Characters Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade had appeared throughout the four series ofChewin' The Fat.Six series and four specials were originally broadcast between 2002 and 2007. The series ended following the sixth series in 2007, with Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and Paul Riley's companyEffingee Productionswhich producedStill Game,thought to have split up after Riley walked away to go it alone after being refused more control over the future of the company by Kiernan. Hemphill stated that he didn't want a "boardroom battle". The split ultimately resulted in the indefinite hiatus of the series.[10]

In 2012 actor and playwrightKenny Boyleacquired the rights to the original stage play of Still Game and toured the show, with a new cast, to The Tron theatre,[11]FTH theatre, and The Ayr Gaiety Theatre.[12]The original play had not been staged for 14 years. Kiernan and Hemphill came to see the performances and consequently began considering reviving Still Game officially.[13]

On 15 October 2013, theDaily Recordran a front-page story that the show would be returning. On 23 October 2013, Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill announced details of live shows entitledStill Game LiveatThe SSE Hydroin Glasgow at a press conference. They were scheduled to perform four shows beginning in September 2014, but due to high demand, it was extended to 16 and then 21 shows.[14]On 24 October 2013 Kiernan confirmed in theDaily RecordthatKenny Boyle's tour of the original stage show had been one of the instigating factors for Still Game's return.[15]The 21 shows at The Hydro ran from 19 September 2014 until 10 October 2014, played to 210,000 fans and made £6,000,000 in ticket sales.[16]The show received mixed reviews.[17]

On 12 May 2016, theBBCannounced that the show would return in 2016 with a six-part seventh series, nine years after the previous series concluded. Filming of the new seventh series started in the summer and the series began on 7 October 2016.[18]The show's return attracted its highest ever overnight audience for a single episode on 7 October, taking a 58% share of the Scottish TV audience with 1,300,000 viewers. The show also aired for the first time onBBC Oneacross the UK nationwide and drew a total audience of 3,200,000.[19]On 16 March 2017, it was announced that an eighth series has been commissioned to air onBBC Onewith plans to broadcast towards the end of 2017.[20]The series was pushed back to start on 8 March 2018. On 13 July 2018, the BBC announced that Still Game would return for the ninth and final series later in 2019, after which the show will end. Filming for the ninth series started in August 2018 and was completed on 14 September 2018.[21][22]

In September 2016, a second live showStill Game Live 2: Bon Voyagewas announced for the SSE Hydro. The second stage show was to run for ten nights beginning 4 February 2017,[23]but in October 2016, a further five performances were added.[24]Unlike the previous live show, this show was not televised or recorded in any other way.[25]The third and final SSE Hydro live showStill Game: The Final Farewellwas officially announced on 1 November 2018, with five shows in September 2019 taking place over three days.[26]A further 5 shows were announced on 2 November.[27]

University of Glasgow

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Hemphill was elected Rector of the University of Glasgow in March 2001.[28]He was one of five candidates[29]and narrowly defeatedAlasdair Grayfor the post.[28][30]

Other work

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Hemphill appeared in theScottish Gaelic-language drama,Eilbheas,in which Hemphill played the spirit ofElvisset in theWestern Isles.It was first shown on the launch night ofBBC Alba.[31]He has also writtenAppointment with the Wicker Manwith Donald McLeary for theNational Theatre of Scotland,a stage production about a small community's attempts to produce a musical version ofThe Wicker Man.[32]

Hemphill has been involved in the Scottish wrestling scene, matched against actor, comedian and writer,Robert Florence.They played bitter rivals at "Kelvin Brawl" in the Glasgow'sKelvin Hallon 21 June 2013. ComedianFrankie Boylebecame part of this venture, unmasking himself at the end of the match.[33][34]

Hemphill guest-starred in an episode of the award-winning children's television programmeKatie Moragin 2014, playing the part of Donald John Cameron.[35]Hemphill starred as Mr Sawdust in two series of theCBeebiestelevision showOlga da Polgaalongside his wifeJulie Wilson Nimmo.[36]

In 2022, Hemphill and Julie Wilson Nimmo starred in television programmeJules' and Greg's Wild Swimaboutwild swimmingwhich aired on New Years Day 2023 onBBC ScotlandandBBC iPlayer.The full series of six episodes was released in 2023.[37]

In March 2023, Hemphill featured on a BBC Scotland programme as part of the broadcaster's centenary celebrations, alongside wife Julie Wilson Nimmo andStill Gameco-starSanjeev Kohli.[38]

In 2024 Hemphill has featured as the father (Ade) on the BBC ProgrammeDinosaur.[39]

In 2024, Hemphill made his Hollywood debut where he made an appearance in the filmDeadpool & Wolverineas a bartender.[40]

Directing

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In 2016, alongside Donald McLeary, Hemphill wrote the script for thehorror/comedyfilmWest Skerra Light.[41][42]At a length of one hour, this was his first full-length drama as afilm director.[43]In 2017, alongsideHopscotch Films,Hemphill was involved in directing theblack comedyghost-hunting dramaLong Night at Blackstone.[44][45][46]

References

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  1. ^"Greg Hemphill: I moved to Scotland aged 18, and was instantly at home".www.holyrood.com.Holyrood. 31 January 2023.Retrieved10 February2024.
  2. ^"Glasgow University".Greg Hemphill Bio.Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2005.Retrieved30 December2006.
  3. ^Hendry, Steve (4 March 2018)."Still Game's Greg Hempill on why a regular character is being killed off".Daily Record.
  4. ^"Still game for a good slagging match".The Scotsman.
  5. ^Balamory (TV Series 2002–2008) ⭐ 6.1 | Family, Sport,retrieved12 January2024
  6. ^"Greg Hemphill: I moved to Scotland aged 18, and was instantly at home".www.holyrood.com.Holyrood. 31 January 2023.Retrieved10 February2024.
  7. ^"Give us a giggle then".HeraldScotland.23 August 1997.Retrieved4 November2018.
  8. ^"Boys on the ball".HeraldScotland.3 January 1996.Retrieved21 March2018.
  9. ^"TV.com".Steve Hemphill.Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2007.Retrieved31 December2006.
  10. ^"Evening Times".It’s game over for Scots comedy duo.Retrieved16 September2008.
  11. ^"Tron Theatre Summer Programme 2012"(PDF).
  12. ^"Still Game set for a come back".
  13. ^"Kenny Boyle interviewed in The Press and Journal".5 March 2015.
  14. ^"Five more dates added for Still Game's Hydro show".27 November 2013.
  15. ^"Still Game Stars Say They Didn't Fall Out".24 October 2013.
  16. ^Dingwall, John (11 October 2014)."Still Game pulls in £6million from 21 sell-out shows".
  17. ^"STILL GAME – REVIEW".The Big Issue.Archived fromthe originalon 27 December 2015.Retrieved6 June2016.
  18. ^BBC comedyStill Gameto return for new series
  19. ^"Extra performances added to Still Game live show run".BBC News.13 October 2016 – via bbc.co.uk.
  20. ^"Still Game comedy back for eighth series".16 March 2017.Retrieved16 March2017.
  21. ^"Last orders at the Clansman as Still Game returns for final series".13 July 2018.Retrieved14 July2018.
  22. ^"Still Game fans devastated as Jane McCarry posts emotional 'last ever call sheet' tweets".14 September 2018.Retrieved7 October2018.
  23. ^"Still Game returns with new live shows".BBC News.29 September 2016 – via bbc.co.uk.
  24. ^"Extra Still Game live shows announced".BBC News.13 October 2016 – via bbc.co.uk.
  25. ^Kiernan, Ford."Come and get yer tickets, we are not long away now! We are not recording it so it won't be on telly or dvd'".
  26. ^"Still Game announces farewell Glasgow run".1 November 2018.Retrieved12 January2019.
  27. ^"Five more dates added for Still Game's Final Farewell show at Glasgow's SSE Hydro due to demand for tickets".2 November 2018.Retrieved12 January2019.
  28. ^ab"Chewin' the Fat star elected rector".BBC News.1 March 2001.Retrieved14 June2020.
  29. ^"Five in the running for rector at Glasgow University".The Herald.2 February 2001.Retrieved15 January2017.
  30. ^Belcher, David (2 March 2001)."Greg's university challenge Glasgow's new student rector, funnyman Greg Hemphill, will be taking the role very seriously".The Herald.Glasgow.Retrieved14 June2020.
  31. ^English, Paul (25 September 2008)."Night with the Gaels left me all shook up".Daily Record.Retrieved12 July2020.
  32. ^Hickling, Alfred (15 February 2012)."Playing with fire: The Wicker Man musical".The Guardian.London.Retrieved21 February2012.
  33. ^"Hemphill, Florence...and Boyle: comedy wrestling match descends into glorious chaos (From Herald Scotland)".Heraldscotland.com. 23 June 2013.Retrieved12 July2020.
  34. ^"KelvinBrawl crowns Greg Hemphil the" Victor "over Burnistoun's Rab Florence".Daily Record. 22 June 2013.Retrieved12 July2020.
  35. ^"Katie Morag and the Family Tree, Series 2, Katie Morag – Credits – BBC – CBeebies".BBC.Retrieved21 March2018.
  36. ^"Greg Hemphill and Julie Wilson Nimmo work with children and animals as loved tales reach TV".The Sunday Post.14 November 2022.
  37. ^"Jules' and Greg's Wild Swim".BBC.21 December 2023.
  38. ^"Milestone documentary on key episodes of the BBC in Scotland".BBC.1 March 2023.
  39. ^ Dinosaur (TV series)
  40. ^Still Game star spotted in new Deadpool and Wolverine Trailer
  41. ^"West Skerra Light – BBC One".BBC.Retrieved12 July2020.
  42. ^"Web exclusive: Greg Hemphill, a self-confessed fan of horror films, discusses his first full-length drama as a director, West Skerra Light – BBC One".BBC.27 October 2015.Retrieved12 July2020.
  43. ^"West Skerra Light (TV Movie 2016)",www.imdb.com,retrieved1 November2016
  44. ^Dalziel, Magdalene (21 March 2018)."Still Game for this!First look at Greg Hemphill's new ghost-hunting black comedy".glasgowlive.Retrieved21 March2018.
  45. ^"Still Game's Greg Hemphill creates new ghost-hunting drama for BBC Scotland".The Scotsman.Retrieved21 March2018.
  46. ^"Sneak Peek: Long Night at Blackstone coming soon!".www.hopscotchfilms.co.uk.Hopscotch Films. 22 March 2018.Retrieved30 March2018.
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Preceded by Rector of the University of Glasgow
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