Still Game duo, Judy Murray top BBC festive bill

Greg Hemphill, left, and Ford Kiernan will feature in a Still Game Christmas Day special on BBC Radio Scotland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

STILL Game stars Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, impressionist Rory Bremner and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Judy Murray will be among the star attractions on BBC Scotland over the festive season.

Kiernan and Hemphill are to get their own show on Radio Scotland on Christmas Day, while BBC1 will screen a special Hogmanay tribute to Still Game, with insight from celebrity fans like Robbie Coltrane, Lorraine Kelly and Martin Compston.

The double-header has been announced just days after the comedy duo revealed negotiations were still ongoing over a permanent TV comeback for Still Game.

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The BBC also recently screened a shortened version of the hugely-successful live show at the SSE Hydro.

Rory Bremner will be presenting a satirical review of the historic political year in Scotland for BBC1, which was recorded live at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, as well as interviewing some of the key players, while broadcaster Sally Magnusson will recall all the big Scottish stories that made the news and grabbed headlines around the world over the last 12 months.

Comic Mel Giedroyc will be taking tennis coach Judy Murray through her highs and lows of 2014 for a Radio Scotland special, while several programmes will look back at Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games.

BBC1’s Hogmanay line-up in Scotland, which will come live from the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, will feature appearances from Blazin’ Fiddles and King Creosote.

The New Year week lineup also includes the first TV screening of Alasdair Gray at Eighty, an intimate portrait of the celebrated Glasgow artist, that was 15 years in the making.

Highlights of BBC Alba’s line-up include a documentary exploring the settings that inspired the creation of Peter May’s “Lewis Trilogy” novels and another looking at the influences the Hebrides had on fashion designers Alexander McQueen.

Donalda Mackinnon, head of programmes at BBC Scotland, said: “As a momentous year draws to a close, we are delivering a terrific package of programming for our audiences to enjoy throughout the festivities.

“There’ll be something for everyone as we celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay with a packed schedule of comedy, documentaries, drama and music.”

• Comedy review: Still Game, Glasgow

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