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Ian Pattison delves into the archives to tell the story of four decades of comedy 

Comedy writer Ian Pattison delves into the archives to tell the story of four decades of comedy and explores the influence BBC Radio Scotland had on breaking new talent.

Radio Roots: Episode 1

Episode 1

BBC Radio Scotland - Radio Roots, Episode 1

Comedy writer and author Ian Pattison celebrates four decades of comedy on Radio Scotland.

Comedy writer and author Ian Pattison delves into 40 years of comedy on Radio Scotland and, using archive, looks at how it helped establish Scottish comedy talent and hit shows.

To celebrate BBC Radio Scotland’s 40th anniversary author and comedy writer Ian Pattison tells the story of four decades of Scottish Radio Comedy, and explores the influence Radio Scotland has had on breaking new talent and much-loved comedy shows such as Naked Video, Chewin’ The Fat, Still Game & Ian's very own Rab C Nesbitt.  

Over 2 episodes Ian will feature classic archive from hit shows and hidden gems from the last 4 decades and also explore how comedy on Radio Scotland helped map our personality as a nation and reflect our culture and society.

In this episode Ian will be looking at output up until 2000 and will highlight shows such as Naked Radio, Only An Excuse? and Chewin’ The Fat, along with Scottish comic talents such as Craig Ferguson & Armando Iannucci. 

The birth of Radio Scotland in the late 70s coincided with a revolution in Scottish comedy on the back of the UK-wide alternative comedy explosion and the rise of comic talent such as Billy Connolly.   On the back of a new-found comic confidence shows such Naked Radio, Only An Excuse? and Chewin' The Fat was born and helped establish the comedy careers of Elaine C Smith, Gregor Fisher, Tony Roper, Jonathan Watson, Gerard Kelly, Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and Karen Dunbar.  

Radio Scotland also helped establish the early career of Craig Ferguson and Armando Iannucci, one of the greatest comedy satirists of the last 30 years, so the series will look at how the station helped launch outstanding individual Scottish comedy talent.

Written & presented by Ian Pattison.

The Producer was Gus Beattie.

Radio Roots is a Gusman Production for BBC Radio Scotland.

Image credit:  Gibson Digital/Herald & Times Group

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