Paul Riley (actor)

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Paul Riley
Born
Paul William Riley

(1970-01-17) 17 January 1970 (age 56)
Glasgow, Scotland
OccupationsActor and comedian
Years active1990–present
Known for Chewin' the Fat (1999–2005)
Still Game (2002–2019)
Dear Green Place (2007–2008)
Awards

Paul William Riley (born 17 January 1970) is a Scottish actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Winston Ingram in the sitcom, Still Game .

Contents

Life and career

He grew up in a housing scheme in northern Glasgow. [1] His father was a shipyard worker and his mother worked at the Tennent Caledonian brewery. [1] He worked initially as stage crew at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow before becoming attending the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and becoming an actor. [1] [2] He had a minor role in an episode of Taggart. [3]

Riley worked on Chewin' the Fat , the sketch show from which Still Game was spun-off. Riley also starred in, wrote and directed Dear Green Place , again with Ford Kiernan from Still Game. From 2002 to 2019, he played the character Winston Ingram, a pensioner in the long-running BBC comedy sitcom Still Game . [4]

In 2023, he performed a personal show 'Auld Before my Time' at some UK entertainment venues. [4]

Between 2024 and 2026, Riley performed another two personal shows at UK theatres entitled respectively 'The Little Boy That Santa Forgot' and 'Too Smart To Be Nice'. [5] [6] [7]

Awards and recognition

On 1 November 2006, it was announced that Riley had been nominated for a BAFTA Scotland award for his role in Still Game. [8] He was up against Barry Jones and Stuart McLeod in their show, Tricks from the Bible. On 12 November, Riley won the award, also picking up the "Best Entertainment" category as well for Dear Green Place. [9] [10]

In 2025, Riley as Winston from Still Game was represented in a public art mural in Glasgow. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Beacom, Brian (25 February 2023). "Paul Riley: Playing Winston, you feel like Elvis. But when something ends you move on". The Herald. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  2. "No joke, I owe acting career to Maggie Thatcher!". Glasgow Times. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  3. Pollock, David (3 October 2024). "Paul Riley: Mrs Doubtfire became Scottish after Robin Williams worked with Still Game stars". The Courier. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 Hunt, Richard (20 January 2023). "I haven't been there since I was about ten", Still Game's Paul Riley". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  5. Glasgow, What's On. "Paul Riley: Too Smart to Be Nice at Cottiers, Glasgow West End". What's On Glasgow. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  6. Edinburgh, What's On (18 April 2024). "Paul Riley: The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot at The Stand Comedy Club Edinburgh, Edinburgh New Town". What's On Edinburgh. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  7. Reilly, Emma (16 February 2023). "Still Game star Paul Riley announces Ayrshire tour date". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. "BBC Scotland wins five awards at Scottish Baftas". BBC. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  9. "BAFTA Scotland". Award Winners 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  10. "Chortle, the UK comedy guide". Game on – Still Game scoops Scottish Bafta. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  11. Erskine, Donald (19 June 2025). "'Superb' new mural of Still Game star appears on busy city centre street". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 14 January 2026.