Greg Hemphill breaks silence

Still Game star Greg Hemphill has admitted his sudden decision to breaking up his comic partnership with Ford Kiernan was a ‘petulant, impulsive’ move.

And he suggested he might have regrets about the way he unexpectedly walked away from Kiernan two years ago, soon after setting up their own production company.

It is the first time Hemphill has spoken about the break-up of the ten-year partnership, which also produced hit Scottish sketch show Chewin' The Fat.

He told Glasgow’s Sunday Mail: ‘I know it looks odd when you have two people who are in business together and then it stops.

‘But there was nothing sinister about the split. I think we realised we weren't going to write a bigger sitcom than Still Game, or a bigger sketch show than Chewin' The Fat.’

When asked why he didn't give Ford any notice of his intention to quit, he said: ‘That is what a smart businessman would have done but artists are petulant, impulsive. We've all got regrets. Nobody's perfect and there are better ways to go about things but you have to make decisions and stand by them.’

He said that his decision to walk away came when he realised his future would be all about meetings and pitches trying to grow the pair’s Effingee production company.

‘That's what business is all about, I guess, but I wanted to follow a different path,’ he said.

Ford has now formed a new double act with veteran stand-up Bruce Morton.

Published: 18 Jul 2010