A rather average episode from the first series of 'Rab C. Nesbitt'.
Glasgow has officially been designated by the European Union as European City Of Culture. The Lord Provost ( John Bett ) is keen to make a good impression on a pair of visiting French ambassadors, Pierre and Madeleine. Spotting a drunk Rab approaching their gallery, the lord has his bodyguard ( the underrated Freddie Boardley ) physically eject him from the premises before their guests arrive.
Later on, after getting into a brawl with a group of men posing as a Peruvian folk band, Rab and Jamesie are sentenced to ten days in prison. Upon release from jail, Rab starts to question who Glasgow is being run for by the government - those who live there or for the tourists and incomers. Jamesie, however, decides to set up his own tourist business, showing tourists around the grimier parts of Govan, something which, as one would expect, gets right up Rab's nose.
This episode has some funny moments, but not nearly enough of them. On the plus side, there is quite an interesting array of guest stars, such as Iain Cutbertson ( who many will no doubt remember as Charlie Endell from 'Budgie' ) as the court sheriff, Jack Milroy as a surly street vendor, Dave Anderson as Pierre and Victoria Burton as Madeleine, the latter who is none other than the wife of the show's main star, Gregor Fisher. John Bett, with his nasal voice and royal-like stance, cornered the market on playing toffee-nosed twits who usually are seen to end up with a proverbial egg on their face.
Rab's comment on how his hometown seems to be run more for the tourists rather than the residents to this day still rings true, however it probably wouldn't be allowed on television now.
Funniest bit - if I were to say that Jamesie is walking down the street at exactly the same moment as Rab hurls his television set out of the window, I'm sure you don't need me to elaborate as to what happens next.
Glasgow has officially been designated by the European Union as European City Of Culture. The Lord Provost ( John Bett ) is keen to make a good impression on a pair of visiting French ambassadors, Pierre and Madeleine. Spotting a drunk Rab approaching their gallery, the lord has his bodyguard ( the underrated Freddie Boardley ) physically eject him from the premises before their guests arrive.
Later on, after getting into a brawl with a group of men posing as a Peruvian folk band, Rab and Jamesie are sentenced to ten days in prison. Upon release from jail, Rab starts to question who Glasgow is being run for by the government - those who live there or for the tourists and incomers. Jamesie, however, decides to set up his own tourist business, showing tourists around the grimier parts of Govan, something which, as one would expect, gets right up Rab's nose.
This episode has some funny moments, but not nearly enough of them. On the plus side, there is quite an interesting array of guest stars, such as Iain Cutbertson ( who many will no doubt remember as Charlie Endell from 'Budgie' ) as the court sheriff, Jack Milroy as a surly street vendor, Dave Anderson as Pierre and Victoria Burton as Madeleine, the latter who is none other than the wife of the show's main star, Gregor Fisher. John Bett, with his nasal voice and royal-like stance, cornered the market on playing toffee-nosed twits who usually are seen to end up with a proverbial egg on their face.
Rab's comment on how his hometown seems to be run more for the tourists rather than the residents to this day still rings true, however it probably wouldn't be allowed on television now.
Funniest bit - if I were to say that Jamesie is walking down the street at exactly the same moment as Rab hurls his television set out of the window, I'm sure you don't need me to elaborate as to what happens next.
