Gerard Kelly

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

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.

A young man upsets his Punjabi family when he falls in love with an Irish schoolteacher.

A play following the life and times of much loved comedian Rikki Fulton.

Two young Americans, low level thieves, go to the UK and get stuck in a barn from which there is no escape. Ever.

Lucinda goes on a trip away with her two friends Katherine and Amanda and convinces them to join her on form a variety act in order to impress her childhood crush Neville, a talent agent holding a gala night.

A special, video only story set on the Brookside close. On Friday 14th November 1997, a five night a week storyline ended in a cliffhanger and this video completes the story - a tale of kidnapping extortion and violence. The action-packed episode features faces from the show's past including Sheila Grant (Sue Johnston) and wayward son Barry Grant (Paul Usher), and is written by series creator Phil Redmond.

On 3rd June 1990, Glasgow's Year of Culture, the city celebrated its association with music in an event called The Big Day, live at various venues across Glasgow including, Glasgow Green, George Square and Custom House Quay. Broadcast on Channel 4 and hosted by City Lights star Gerard Kelly, the line up included The Silencers, Sheena Easton, Big Country, Hue and Cry, Wet Wet Wet and, topping the bill at the Green, Deacon Blue. The central theme on the day was Homelessness. Included in this film are the stories of some of these homeless people.

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.

A man goes blind when remembering his lost girlfriend, but the doctors can't find anything wrong with his eyes. They fit him with an experimental device which allows him to see with the aid of a computer interface and brain electrodes. Meanwhile, a taxi driver is taking young women up to their apartments, giving them gas, and performing a little fatal amateur surgery on them. Their paths inevitably converge, and the blind man must try to stop the psychopath.

Two alcoholic escorts suddenly find themselves involved with a hit gang and an ax murderer.

Four years after they were last the subject of a documentary, the heavy metal band Bad News get back together again for another film of their exploits, beginning with a reunion gig at the Flying Horse.

In 1920 a trio of British soldiers have to guard an exploded mine washes up on a beach. Part of the BBC2 Playhouse strand.

Take It or Leave It is an autobiographical account of the cult '80s British pop group Madness, with members of the group playing themselves, charting their rise from humble beginnings as pub band The Invaders to chart success and their first overseas tour. The film follows the ups and downs of individual members of the group, and features all of their early hits including The Prince, One Step Beyond, Baggy Trousers, and Night Boat to Cairo.

Video Compilation of the Scottish TV Comedy Sketch Show. Stand out characters include Supercop, an idiot motorcycle policeman whose catchphrase was 'Alright Stirling, oot the car' and whose goggles would spring off his helmet; Dirty Dickie Dandruff; Gallowgate Gourmet, the unbelievably unhygienic TV chef; and McGlinchey, a colourful wide-boy.

A fresh-faced gym instructor, Murdo Caldwell, threatens the cosy lifestyle established in the seedy Adonis Health Club in Glasgow, where, up until now, sex ‘n’ sleaze have been the order of the day. Charley and Donald, who have established a comfortable living at the club, plot to get rid of Murdo and his ideals of creating “a wholly healthy Glasgow… a city of perfectly proportioned sinuous but not over-developed physiques.... a city of non-smoking non-drinking joggers ... a city of reposeful but alert minds.' But who will win the battle of minds rather than bodies?

1999: A perma-redundant father takes his family on a strange ‘working holiday’, scrubbing floors in an undersea missile base.

A moving, comic tale of three boys about to leave a grim Catholic School in Greenock, Scotland, who find they must each choose a different path in life as they face the future.

A shy, awkward Scottish lad secretly carries a torch for a local lass.

Paisley, Scotland, in 1957. Three working-class lads look forward to the staff dance at the local carpet factory.

Adolescent love can be difficult at the best of times, but Donal and Sally have special problems – problems which alarm their families and the instructors at Strathvale Centre.

Everybody tells Onnie to steer clear of Patsy Gallaher, that he's bad news, but Onnie doesn't see it. Gallaher is Onnie's friend, and he believes friends should be loyal to one another.