Jonathan Watson

Last updated

Jonathan Watson
Born23/11/1957 [1]
Glasgow, Scotland
Alma mater Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Occupation(s)Actor, writer
Years active1979–present
Known for City Lights (1984–1991)
Naked Video (1986–1991)
Only an Excuse? (1993–2020)
Bob Servant (2013–2015)
Two Doors Down (2013–present)
Fried (2014–2015)

Jonathan Watson is a Scottish actor best known for his comedy sketch show Only an Excuse? , which parodied people and events from the world of Scottish football, as well as roles in the BBC comedies Bob Servant Independent in which he appears with Brian Cox, and as Colin in the acclaimed Two Doors Down (2013–present). In the 1980s he was also a regular cast member of the Scottish sitcom City Lights and the sketch show Naked Video .

Contents

Background

Watson was born in Glasgow and was educated at Hillhead Primary and Hillhead High School. [2] He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and graduated in 1979. [2] He joined the TAG Theatre Company then followed this with a season with the 7:84 company. [3] He had a part in Bill Forsyth's 1983 film Local Hero . [3]

He moved to London in 1986 and returned to Scotland two years later. [2]

He appeared in all five seasons of Naked Video that were broadcast on BBC Scotland between 1986 and 1991, [4] He was also in City Lights , [4] Rab C. Nesbitt [5] and Only an Excuse? . [6]

In 2013, Watson appeared in Rob Drummond's Quiz Show at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. [7] In 2014 he played Archie in John Byrne's adaptation of Chekhov's The Three Sisters for The Tron, Glasgow. [8] He was also in The National Theatre of Scotland's production of Yer Granny, which toured Scotland & Northern Ireland. [9] [10]

He appeared in the horror film Let Us Prey which was released in 2015. [11]

Early television appearances included minor parts in The Bill and Casualty . [2] In Bob Servant which sees him playing opposite Brian Cox, as Bob's trusty sidekick - Frank. [9] He was acted as Clice Bagshawe in Fried.

Following the success of a one-hour pilot, a six-part comedy series Two Doors Down was made which screened on BBC2 beginning in March 2016. [12]

Watson is a supporter of Rangers F.C. [13]

From December 2019 to January 2020, Watson played King Hector in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at the King's Theatre, Glasgow [14]

In 2021 he appeared in Doctor Who - Flux as Sontarans 'Commander Riskaw' and 'Skaak'.

Comedy impressions

Watson's Wind Up was a political satire show that was aired on BBC Radio Scotland. [15] [16] The show was recorded on Fridays at the Glasgow Film Theatre.

Bob Servant Independent

Watson's appeared as Frank (Francis) the campaign manager of local cheeseburger magnate in the cult BBC Four [17] Neil Forsyth comedy Bob Servant Independent. [18] This show was first broadcast in the UK in January/February 2013; with a move planned to BBC2 later in the year. [19]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompanyDirector |Notes
2014 Three Sisters Archie Tron Theatre, Glasgow Andy Arnold adaptation by John Byrne

Related Research Articles

Gregory Edward Hemphill is a Scottish–Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and director. Born in Springburn, an inner–city district in Glasgow, Scotland, Hemphill moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the late 1970s before returning to Scotland in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Sadowitz</span> American-born Scottish comedian (born 1961)

Jerry Sadowitz is an American-born Scottish stand-up comedian and magician.

Stanley Livingstone Baxter is a Scottish actor, comedian, impressionist and author. Baxter began his career as a child actor on BBC Scotland and later became known for his British television comedy shows The Stanley Baxter Show, The Stanley Baxter Picture Show, The Stanley Baxter Series and Mr Majeika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Paterson (actor)</span> Scottish actor (born 1945)

William Tulloch Paterson is a Scottish actor with a career in theatre, film, television and radio. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. He has appeared in films and TV series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), and Brassic (2020). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs.

<i>Still Game</i> BBC television comedy series

Still Game is a Scottish sitcom produced by Effingee Productions, The Comedy Unit and BBC Scotland. It was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who played the lead characters, Jack Jarvis, Esq and Victor McDade, two Glaswegian pensioners. The characters first appeared in the pair's previous TV sketch show Chewin' the Fat, which aired in Scotland from January 1999 until December 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillhead High School</span> School in Glasgow, Scotland

Hillhead High School is a day school in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oakfield Avenue, neighbouring the University of Glasgow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Dunbar</span> Scottish comedian and actress

Karen Dunbar is a Scottish comedian, actress and writer. She first appeared on television on the BBC Scotland sketch comedy series Chewin' the Fat (1999–2002) and was subsequently given her own show by the channel, The Karen Dunbar Show (2003–2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hardeep Singh Kohli</span> British broadcaster (born 1969)

Hardeep Singh Kohli is a British presenter, writer and director who has appeared on various radio and television programmes. Having moved to Scotland at a young age, he has had a long association with the arts in Scotland and is known more widely across the United Kingdom as a presenter on BBC television and radio, and on Channel 4. He was a finalist on Celebrity MasterChef in 2006 and a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

Only an Excuse? is an annual Scottish comedy sketch show that was broadcast on BBC One Scotland on Hogmanay from 1993 to 2020.

Ford John Kiernan is a Scottish actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his work with Greg Hemphill on the BBC Scotland sketch comedy series Chewin' the Fat (1999–2005) and the sitcom Still Game. He also starred as Archie Henderson in Dear Green Place (2007–2008) and as Colin Holliday in Happy Hollidays (2009).

Tony Roper is a Scottish actor, comedian, playwright and writer.

Offside is a Scottish comedy football television show aired on BBC One Scotland and was presented by Scottish Football journalist Tam Cowan. It ran from 1998 to 2007.

Jane McCarry is a Scottish actress, teacher and acting coach. She is best known for her roles as Isa Drennan in the BBC Scotland sitcom Still Game (2002–2019), and as Granny Murray in the children's show Me Too! (2006–2007). She trained in Drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limmy</span> Scottish comedian

Brian Limond (born 20 October 1974), known as Limmy, is a Scottish comedian, author, and Twitch streamer.

A ned is a hooligan, lout or petty criminal in Scotland.

Steven Canny is an Executive Producer for BBC Studios Comedy and has written a number of plays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Bridges</span> Scottish stand-up comedian

Kevin Andrew Bridges is a Scottish stand-up comedian. His 2012 television series Kevin Bridges: What's the Story? was based on his stand-up routines.

Neil Forsyth is a Scottish author, television writer and journalist. He has written and created a number of British television shows including The Gold, Guilt, and Bob Servant Independent, and has won numerous television awards.

Bob Servant Independent, renamed Bob Servant, is a British television sitcom written and created by Neil Forsyth. The first series of six episodes was broadcast in 2013 on BBC4 and repeated on BBC2 Scotland, starring Brian Cox in the title role and Jonathan Watson in the role of Frank. The show is set in Broughty Ferry, a suburb of Dundee. The second series, renamed Bob Servant, was broadcast in 2014 on BBC1 Scotland and 2015 on BBC4.

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview: Jonathan Watson on the last ever Only an Excuse?". The Scotsman. 26 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Would the real Jonathan Watson please stand up?". The Scotsman. 10 December 2005. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 Currie, Julie (26 May 2015). "Yer Granny star is enjoying old pals' act". The Falkirk Herald. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 Naismith, Albert (23 September 1989). "Seriously, it's funny". The Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Alex, Michael. "Two Doors Down comedy actors Doon Mackichan and Jonathan Watson on their love - for Courier Country!". The Courier. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Deanie, Marc. "Only An Excuse? this Hogmanay will be the show's final instalment after 27 years on TV". The Courier. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Neil (4 April 2013). "QUIZ SHOW, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh". The Herald. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Fisher, Mark (9 October 2014). "Three Sisters review – beautifully controlled Chekhov in Scotland". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 Miller, Phil (4 December 2014). "Cast announced for new National Theatre comedy". The Herald. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Fisher, Mark (2 June 2015). "Yer Granny review – Gregor Fisher as another lovable Scottish grotesque". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Brady, Tara (12 June 2015). "Let Us Prey review: Just when you imagine the people onscreen couldn't be more evil, they are". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Spowart, Nan (28 March 2016). "Hit comedy Two Doors Down is back after winning fans on both sides of the Border". The National . Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Fulton, Rick (2 September 2009). "Exclusive: Only An Excuse star Jonathan Watson on taking the football comedy show on the road". Daily Record (Scotland) . Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "BWW Review: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, King's Theatre, Glasgow". Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Interview: Face to face with Jonathan Watson and his many wind-ups". The Scotsman. 3 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  16. ↑ Beacom, Brian (19 December 2012). "Watson thought Beeb call was wind-up". Evening Times. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "BBC 4 Bob Servant website". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  18. ↑ "Bob Servant - Official Site". Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "BBC Bob Servant Independent Episodes". Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.