'Rab C. Nesbitt' actor Gregor Fisher has recently been facing criticism online for his portrayal on 'Hogmanay Live' on 31/12/18 of The Reverend I. M. Jolly. Many have predictably made unfair and obvious comparisions between himself and Rikki Fulton. What the poor sods seem to be unaware of is that Gregor was in no way attempting to be better than Fulton. He was merely paying tribute to the fact that it was forty years ago that the character was first created on 'Scotch & Wry' and considering Fisher had worked with Rikki on that show for such a long time, he had every right to pay tribute in this way, and a not at all bad job he did either.
Anyway, onto this special. 'Scotch & Wry' aired its last edition on BBC Scotland on New Year's Eve 1992. A year afterwards, the BBC approached Rikki with interest in developing the character in a sitcom format. And so, the first crack at this came in 1993 with 'Tis The Season To Be Jolly', which Rikki Fulton wrote in collaboration with 'City Lights' creator Bob Black.
Christmas is on it's way. Initially, things do not look to be festive for Jolly, especially when he learns of a prison riot taking place, who are protesting to not receive any further visits from Jolly.
Worse, Jolly becomes so overcome by toothache, he reluctantly takes a visit to a dentist. The dentist is a doddery old fool with a cold and after Jolly has been under his care, Jolly comes out looking and sounding like the living dead!
However, things start to look up for him when he learns that his wife Ephesia ( who is often referenced to but is never seen ) will not be spending Christmas at home.
And of course, the episode concludes with one of Jolly's famous 'Last Call' sermons.
For a kickstarter to the succession of 'Jolly' specials, this is not bad stuff at all. Jimmy Logan plays the cack handed dentist and the pairing of him and Rikki is pure comedy gold. Many of us who dread being in the dentist's chair will no doubt relate to this. Future 'Still Game' actress Jane McCarry plays the dentist's assistant.
The following edition - 'Jolly - A Man For All Seasons' - came the following year. It was superior to 'Tis The Season To Be Jolly' in my view.
Funniest bit - in the dentist's waiting room, Jolly and the patients are alarmed by the cries of pain from a patient undergoing treatment. As per his suggestion, Jolly and the patients close their eyes and pray. When Jolly opens his eyes after his rather graphic prayer, he finds all the other patients have scarpered!
Anyway, onto this special. 'Scotch & Wry' aired its last edition on BBC Scotland on New Year's Eve 1992. A year afterwards, the BBC approached Rikki with interest in developing the character in a sitcom format. And so, the first crack at this came in 1993 with 'Tis The Season To Be Jolly', which Rikki Fulton wrote in collaboration with 'City Lights' creator Bob Black.
Christmas is on it's way. Initially, things do not look to be festive for Jolly, especially when he learns of a prison riot taking place, who are protesting to not receive any further visits from Jolly.
Worse, Jolly becomes so overcome by toothache, he reluctantly takes a visit to a dentist. The dentist is a doddery old fool with a cold and after Jolly has been under his care, Jolly comes out looking and sounding like the living dead!
However, things start to look up for him when he learns that his wife Ephesia ( who is often referenced to but is never seen ) will not be spending Christmas at home.
And of course, the episode concludes with one of Jolly's famous 'Last Call' sermons.
For a kickstarter to the succession of 'Jolly' specials, this is not bad stuff at all. Jimmy Logan plays the cack handed dentist and the pairing of him and Rikki is pure comedy gold. Many of us who dread being in the dentist's chair will no doubt relate to this. Future 'Still Game' actress Jane McCarry plays the dentist's assistant.
The following edition - 'Jolly - A Man For All Seasons' - came the following year. It was superior to 'Tis The Season To Be Jolly' in my view.
Funniest bit - in the dentist's waiting room, Jolly and the patients are alarmed by the cries of pain from a patient undergoing treatment. As per his suggestion, Jolly and the patients close their eyes and pray. When Jolly opens his eyes after his rather graphic prayer, he finds all the other patients have scarpered!
