Martin Compston is famous for his role as Steve Arnott in hard-hitting police drama Line of Duty.
But the Greenock-born actor will show another side of his acting repertoire this Sunday, when he swaps hard-nosed police corruption investigation for comedy.
The 34-year-old will guest star in the first episode of the new series of Still Game, the final run of the Scottish comedy show.
Although he is now based in America, Martin – a former footballer with Greenock Morton – was delighted to come back to appear in Still Game.
He admits: ‘Oh aye, it’s something I’ve grown up with. It is an institution and one of the best Scottish TV shows of all time.
‘I spend a lot of time on the road and I’m always sticking it on to watch as it reminds me of home. It’s a show you can watch with your mum, dad and whenever I was away on bus trips with the football teams, we’d put it on and watch for hours and everybody would be happy.
‘Anytime I feel a wee bit homesick in Las Vegas I stick Still Game on.’
Speaking of his role in the show, Martin said: ‘I come across Jack and Victor when they’re trying to buy themselves a couple of mobile phones and they come into my shop.
‘It was surreal standing across from the two of them as Jack and Victor. I know the boys as Ford and Greg but when they put on the make-up and start becoming the characters it really is a very surreal moment.
‘Luckily I was filming Line of Duty at the same time so I was able to pop over from Belfast and shoot my scenes. It was an epic day. To see the boys do their thing was immense.’
Martin admits he was disappointed when he learned that this was to be the final series: ‘Gutted but it’s the same with all good things – it’s better you go out on a high. It’s better the boys taking the decision to end it rather than it being forced upon them. This way, they can actually write an ending.
‘I was on a show called Monarch of the Glen and it was great for us to actually have a last episode. It was really emotional and every character got a proper send off.
‘I know the boys are saying it’s done but the fact that they’re playing old guys, 20, 30, 40 years older than them means that there’s so much scope for them in the future. But that depends on the ending. They could literally bring this show back in 30 years time – just using less make-up!’
Martin added: ‘I’ve done little bits of comedy but I also did the Urban Myths: Backstage At Live Aid show where I played Midge Ure who also has a little cameo in this [Still Game]. I’d never met him before and now he’s everywhere I go!’
Still Game will be shown this Sunday, 24 February, on the new BBC Scotland channel from 9-9.30pm.
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