Jonathan Watson

Jack Docherty brings together a jam-packed cast of comedians, actors and famous faces for a riotous celebration of Scotland's most valuable export – its sense of humour. Scotland is a small nation with a big funny bone. It's known the world over for self-deprecation, quick-witted patter and deadpan asides. But what makes it so funny? To find out the answer, this programme delves deep into the BBC Scotland archives to find a century’s worth of classic characters, catchphrases and comedy clips.

A nostalgic look back at City Lights, the iconic Scottish sitcom that captured the spirit of 1980s Scotland, featuring the writer, cast and the famous faces it inspired

As the hype reaches fever pitch ahead of the big kick-off in Germany, a stellar line-up work their magic in an essential selection of comic set pieces. Featuring favourite characters and brand new scenarios. Mixing running gags, quickies, send-ups and musical numbers. The top team includes Jonathan Watson, Grado, Greg Hemphill, Jack Docherty, Ford Kiernan and Karen Dunbar.

A bittersweet comedy infused with Glaswegian resilience and wit, centred on the generations of men knowingly exposed to deadly asbestos over years working in the Glasgow shipyards and the tragic impact left on them and their loved ones.

After their father’s passing, an oddball trio inherits the failing family funeral business. Led by hapless son Archie, they devise a plan to save their funeral home.

Rachel, a rookie cop, is about to begin her first night shift in a neglected police station in a Scottish, backwater town. The kind of place where the tide has gone out and stranded a motley bunch of the aimless, the forgotten, the bitter-and-twisted who all think that, really, they deserve to be somewhere else. They all think they're there by accident and that, with a little luck, life is going to get better. Wrong, on both counts. Six is about to arrive - and All Hell Will Break Loose!

A bigoted junkie cop suffering from borderline personality disorder and drug addiction manipulates and hallucinates his way in a bid to secure promotion.

A celebration of the life and times of the actor Gerard Kelly, with contributions from his friends and colleagues. Gerard's career spanned nearly 40 years starting in 1973 at the age of fourteen, moved on to the hapless Willie Melvin in City Lights and culminated with the fabulous, outrageous Bunny in Extras. Among those appearing will be Richard Wilson, David Hayman, Les Dennis, Andy Gray, Jonathan Watson and Elaine C Smith.

Comedy set in a chaotic Hogmanay party. Beth and Eric Baird's Hogmanay goes horribly wrong as family, friends and neighbours descend on their home. As they count down to the bells in traditional Scottish style, a lively evening is assured as drink flows and Beth's legendary steak pie comes out of the oven. Secrets are revealed, tempers fray, scores are settled and a gazebo is destroyed.

Mockumentary set on the day of the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum and designed to capture a snap shot of a nation on the brink of both triumph and disaster.

A successful young man's world view is turned upside-down when he inherits his great-great-grandfather's diaries, and starts pursuing the mystical geometric theories held within. Based on a short story by Ian McEwan.

Johnathan Watson live

Romantic comedy set against the story of a grudge football match between two pubs. The prize for the winner of the centenary match is the the closure of their opponent's bar. The Match was mainly filmed around Straiton in Ayrshire.

Johnathan Watson live

Jonathan Watson performing live in 1995

An American oil company sends a man to Scotland to buy up an entire village where they want to build a refinery. But things don't go as expected.

For Govan resident Rab C. Nesbitt, there’s little magic in Christmas when there’s no money to spare. While his long-suffering wife Mary and teenage sons Burney and Gash throw themselves into the festive spirit, Rab remains stubbornly cynical, delivering his usual caustic observations to camera about the commercial excesses of the season. The final insult comes when he discovers that his neighbour and best friend, Jamesie Cotter, has taken a job as a department-store Santa. A confrontation follows, landing Rab in gaol. Although he manages to make it home in time for Christmas, the atmosphere is so miserable that he decides he’d rather spend the holiday back inside.

Alan and Mary are pretty miserable together and split up. As a very presentable Glaswegian photographer, Alan soon has chances to find consolation elsewhere, but more and more thinks of Mary. She, however, seems a lot less keen to try again.

It is the 1950s: Bill Thompson is a middle-class English boy sent by his father to serve an engineering apprenticeship on the Clyde. He lodges with a Greenock family, and forms an attachment to his landlady, Mrs Mulvenny , which is to affect his life for the next 20 years

Four students working in a factory cause emotional, as well as industrial catastrophe, for when theory and reality meet it is the 'Silly Season'.

Two underprivileged Glaswegian youngsters are caught up in sectarian gang warfare after discovering crates stuffed with banknotes in the basement they use for a clubhouse.