Rory Goes to Holyrood

Last updated

Rory Goes to Holyrood is a 2013 satirical documentary presented by Scottish impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner. Aired by BBC Two Scotland on 13 June 2013, the hour-long programme takes a satirical look at Scottish politics and the independence debate, two subjects that had largely seen an absence of humour up to that point. The film sees Bremner visit the Scottish Parliament and interview politicians and other senior public figures as he gets to grips with the issues of the Scottish political scene. Bremner recorded the programme after moving back to live in Scotland and realising he knew very little about the politics of that country.

Contents

Background

Details of the programme were announced by the BBC Media Centre in March 2013, with plans for it to be aired later in the year. Bremner had recently returned to live in Scotland after spending much of his life in England, and as part of the press release for the show, he gave some insight into his reasons for recording it. "Coming back to Scotland in the run-up to the Referendum, I realised I knew almost nothing about Scottish Politics. Time I did. And why is there so little political comedy in Scotland outside the Parliament? Time to make sense (and nonsense) of it all." [1]

2013 also saw Bremner defend fellow comedian Susan Calman, whose attempt to satirise the referendum debate on BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz led to her receiving death threats on social media from users who had been offended by her comments. [2] [3] Bremner himself spoke of a strong reaction to the announcement of his show, telling The Scotsman in June 2013 "I didn't get it to the extent that Susan Calman did, but the strength of feeling surprised me." [3] He also noted that from a comedy perspective, there are people who "think [First Minister] Alex Salmond should be off limits, even though Alex Salmond himself has a very good sense of humour and understands that political comedians are part of a healthy democracy." [3] The Scotsman later noted that "many observers have complained of a lack of satire in the mainstream media and lamented the fact even light-hearted attempts to lampoon the Scottish political scene have triggered an explosion of online bile." [4]

The programme aired on BBC Two Scotland on 13 June 2013. [2] Shortly before it was broadcast, Bremner said that recording it had left him undecided on the question of Scottish independence. "On the debate itself, I started the programme with an open mind and, funnily enough, ended it with a perhaps more open mind." [3] He subsequently called for there to be more satire in the referendum debate. "There’s great humour to be had. There’s a lot of big, different characters involved and good arguments, and there are plenty of good Scottish comedians who can have plenty of fun with it. It’s far too dangerous to leave it only to the politically minded."

Synopsis

The programme follows Bremner—known for his impressions of UK politicians—as he searches for material to put together a show focusing on Scottish politics for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the first time he has tackled the subject. Speaking to politicians, journalists and other public figures, he seeks to get to grips with Scotland's political scene, as well as the issues surrounding the independence debate, also assembling a team of his fellow comedians to help. The group, including Andy Zaltzman, Julia Sutherland and Paul Sneddon, discusses potential material with Bremner, and identifies characteristics and topics that could be used in a stand-up routine. Sheldon says that one of the problems with putting together such a show is that many people cannot identify the key figures at Holyrood, something highlighted by Bremner himself during a street survey in which he asks members of the public to name Scotland's politicians.

Undaunted by the lack of public recognition of those he intends to lampoon, Bremner works on his material, listening to recordings of First Minister Alex Salmond and other politicians as he drives between appointments. He is given a tour of the Scottish Parliament Building by MSP Joan McAlpine and watches a session of the Scottish Parliament. He also travels to Westminster to interview Ian Davidson, chair of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. The documentary ends with Brember presenting a one-off stand-up routine at Edinburgh's Assembly Hall.

Related Research Articles

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

Roderick Keith Ogilvy "Rory" Bremner, is a Scottish impressionist and comedian, noted for his work in political satire and impressions of British public figures. He is also known for his work on Mock the Week as a panellist, Rory Bremner...Who Else?, and sketch comedy series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.

James Sillars is a Scottish politician and campaigner for Scottish independence. Sillars served as a Labour Party MP for South Ayrshire from 1970 to 1976. He founded and led the pro-Scottish Home Rule Scottish Labour Party in 1976, continuing as MP for South Ayrshire until he lost the seat in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Swinney</span> Deputy First Minister of Scotland; Covid Recovery Secretary

John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician who served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. He held various Scottish Cabinet roles under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon from 2007 to 2023. Swinney has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Perthshire North since 2011, having previously represented North Tayside from 1999 to 2011. He was the Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2000 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann Lamont</span> Scottish Labour politician

Johann MacDougall Lamont is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2011 to 2014. She was previously a junior Scottish Executive minister from 2004 to 2007 and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 until her election to the leadership in 2011. In addition to her ministerial and leadership roles, she has been a campaigner on equality issues and violence against women throughout her political career.

Duncan Hamilton KC is a Scottish lawyer and Scottish National Party politician. He was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Highlands and Islands region from 1999 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Scottish Parliament election</span> Parliamentary election held in Scotland

The 2011 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Conversation</span>

The National Conversation was the name given to the Scottish Government's public consultation exercise regarding possible future changes in the power of the devolved Scottish Parliament and the possibility of Scottish independence, a policy objective of the Scottish National Party, who at the time were the minority government with power over devolved affairs in Scotland, as the Scottish Government. It culminated in a multi-option white paper for a proposed Referendum (Scotland) Bill, 2010.

Full fiscal autonomy (FFA) – also known as devolution max, devo-max, or fiscal federalism – is a particular form of far-reaching devolution proposed for Scotland and for Wales. The term has come to describe a constitutional arrangement in which instead of receiving a block grant from the UK Exchequer as at present, the Scottish Parliament or the Senedd would receive all taxation levied in Scotland or Wales; it would be responsible for most spending in Scotland or Wales but make payments to the UK government to cover Scotland or Wales's share of the cost of providing certain UK-wide services, largely defence and foreign relations. Scottish/Welsh fiscal autonomy – stopping short of full political independence – is usually promoted by advocates of a federal United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Salmond</span> First minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond is a Scottish politician and economist who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he has served as leader of the Alba Party since 2021. Salmond was leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014. He served as the party's depute leader from 1987 to 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Scottish independence referendum</span>

A referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was, "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or "No". The "No" side won with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour. The turnout of 84.6% was the highest recorded for an election or referendum in the United Kingdom since the January 1910 general election, which was held before the introduction of universal suffrage.

Events from the year 2013 in Scotland.

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

<i>Scotlands Future</i> White paper published by the Scottish Government in 2013

Scotland's Future is a government white paper published on 26 November 2013 by the Scottish Government under First Minister Alex Salmond. It lays out the case for Scottish independence and the means through which Scotland would become an independent country in personal union with the United Kingdom. Salmond described it as the "most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published", and argued it shows his government seeks independence not "as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better".

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 2014.

Events from the year 2014 in Scotland.

<i>Salmond & Darling: The Debate</i> British TV series or program

Salmond & Darling: The Debate is a Scottish television debate that was first broadcast on STV on 5 August 2014. The two-hour broadcast marked the first face-to-face debate between First Minister Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling ahead of the forthcoming Scottish independence referendum, in front of a studio audience of 350 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Scottish National Party leadership election</span> Leadership election in the Scottish National Party (SNP)

The 2014 Scottish National Party leadership election was held to choose the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and First Minister of Scotland, following the resignation of Alex Salmond as first minister and leader. Nicola Sturgeon emerged as the only candidate and was elected unopposed as leader of the SNP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Cherry</span> Scottish SNP politician and lawyer

Joanna Catherine Cherry is a Scottish politician and lawyer serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh South West since 2015. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was the party's Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in the House of Commons from 2015 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alba Party</span> Scottish political party

The Alba Party is a Scottish nationalist and pro-independence political party in Scotland, founded in February 2021, led by former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond. Salmond launched the party's 2021 Scottish Parliament election campaign in March 2021, with the party standing list-only candidates. Two Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK House of Commons defected from the Scottish National Party (SNP) to the Alba Party on 27 March 2021, and several former SNP MPs also joined the party. No Alba Party candidate has been elected at any election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premiership of Alex Salmond</span> Period of Scottish governance from 2007 to 2014

Alex Salmond's term as first minister of Scotland began on 17 May 2007 when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session. It followed his Scottish National Party's win at the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, where his party defeated the incumbent Labour Party by just one seat. Salmond's term ended on 18 November 2014, following his resignation in the aftermath of the Yes campaign's defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

References

  1. ↑ "Rory Bremner puts Scottish politics under satirical spotlight". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 English, Paul (10 June 2013). "Scots comic Rory Bremner says most voters don't know who to vote for". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rudden, Liam (12 June 2013). "Rory Bremner talks Scottish politics in Rory Goes To Holyrood". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Scottish independence: Rory Bremner in comedy call". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 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.