Jane McCarry from Still Game talks to Robert Blair

Jane McCarry, best known as Isa from Still Game, talks about the upcoming Auld Pals tour, the show’s global reach and more

You’re in the midst of the Auld Pals tour at the moment that is soon going to stop at Paisley Town Hall. How did that come about?

Me, Paul (Riley, Winston) and Mark (Cox, Tam) did a podcast together before Covid, so we decided we’d do a tour together. Initially, we thought that we’d be doing the tour by Autumn of 2020, but we were clearly very naive (Jane McCarry laughs). 

Over time, we thought of expanding it from the three of us to the five of us, as we’re all really good pals and we talk all the time anyway. Initially, we envisioned it as just a couple of wee shows, but now we’re going down south and to Ireland, with people wanting us to head to Canada and New York too!

There’s a great appetite for it. I think because of Netflix, old expats watch it and put other people onto the show too. So, from thinking we were going to do a couple of dates, it really exploded. We love being together and there’s always different stories that come out. It’s organic and changes every time, while we keep some stories that people want to know. But, for both us and the audience, we want to keep it really fresh. 

We all go back years, Mark was the year below me in drama school. Then, I met Ford and Greg when I was 22 in panto. Then, I met Gavin, Paul and Sanjeev when I was 25. We’ve grown up together and we really are like family. 

What freaks Mark and I out is that I don’t really think twice about it when people call me Isa or someone says ‘they’ll never guess what they call me? Isa?’ Yes. I’ve called my wee pug Isa, that kind of thing. Although, when people come up to you, look you dead in the eye and say ‘Jane McCarry?’ I immediately go back to being in the first year of high school and thinking ‘what have I done?’ 

It’s weird because you go out and about in your wee bubble and you just forget about it. Then, you might be out and carrying on and suddenly get spotted and think ‘oh no!’ I genuinely don’t know anyone’s name unless they’re a massive star, so that freaks me out! 

It must happen to fans when they go back to watch old Rab C Nesbitt and see your name in the credits there too. 

It’s funny, when I was younger, I always had a rounder face. Mark used to call me bawheid all the time. My youngest boy looks quite a bit like me when I was younger and when I was getting my haircut the other day, they said to me ‘oh my god, I saw you in Rab C Nesbitt last night and your boy is your absolute double’ (laughs).

Jane as Isa in Still Game ©BBC Studios Scotland/Alan Peebles

How does it feel to have had a career in show business that stretches over decades? And above all, have so much fun doing it? 

It’s great. I never wanted fame or anything like that. It’s lovely when people come up to speak to you, but I couldn’t think of anything worse than being like, properly famous. I just started in theatre, with companies like Baldy Bane and worked at the Tron. Then, we did a children’s theatre going around schools and that was some of the best laughs I ever had. I’m still really close to them all.

I remember there was a horse’s legs costume that I had and they had to keep making new pairs because I kept peeing them from laughing so hard! Then, they came up with a new character for me as a highland coo and I said, ‘you know what happened with the horse! Why are you doing this to me?’

The joy of it and getting to travel all over for like £200 a week or something was just the best and that was all I ever really wanted to do. 

Obviously, doing Still Game was amazing and I’m so grateful. But, if I just continued doing things like this, I would’ve been happy as Larry. 

Doing telly is good, but there’s so much hingin’ about. Doing theatre means you’re there, in that moment and it’s amazing. I did a puppet show last year where I got to see that kind of joy again. After thirty years, I’m still trying to master not cracking up onstage! 

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Was that laughter an issue when you were filming Still Game too? Or did it carry on through to the stage show at The Hydro. 

Oh, we had great laughs but it’s a bit different. [Director] Michael Hines was so patient with us, but you can’t really waste time the same way as there’s much money involved for the television companies. Everyone knew their lines and did their best, but sometimes things happened. I think Michael knew that the beauty of the show was that we were all friends.

There were times that there were lines that were just so funny that even the crew were laughing and I think the magic of the show was the love we had for not only each other, but the characters. So, you don’t want to stamp that out too much. Sometimes, things would come of that too, where wee organic things would end up in the show. 

The show at the Hydro was great fun. Sanjeev had never performed in a stage performance, while people like myself, Mark, Paul and Gavin had done a lot of it. So, we were trying to reassure him and poor Sanj, he debuted in front of 11,000 people. 

There was one point where he was to say ‘are you alright Isa?’ and I was supposed to launch into this whole speech but I just completely forgot it (laughs). He said ‘I thought you had my back!’ 

Jane with Sanjeev Kohli, Auld Pals tour

Although you’re renowned for comedy, you’ve expressed interest in doing more dramatic work too. Is that still an ambition of yours? 

Absolutely, I just did a show for Amazon called The Devil’s Hour with Peter Capaldi and I just loved that. It’s very difficult to not be pigeonholed into things, especially in Scotland as it’s so wee. People just think you’re Isa from Still Game but it’s very hard for people to see past that sometimes. The more diverse, the better, really. 

I still love working in schools and with kids that have additional support needs, particularly older teens. I get so much from that, so I don’t just have ambitions as an actor. Yeah, I’d love to do more stuff, but recently, someone said to me about becoming a celebrant and I ‘thought I’d love to do that!’ Only funerals though, I cannae be bothered with weddings. 

My favourite thing in the world is learning about people’s lives. So, I’d go to their family’s houses and learn so much about them. If I knew about this job when I was young, it’s probably what I would’ve done.

The thing is, I do genuinely love a gab! (laughs)! 

Q&A with Jane McCarry

Dream theatre role? One that probably hasn’t been written yet. I love doing new stuff. 

Do you have a favourite Still Game episode? There’s always just so many wee bits. Maybe the painting and decorating one. Your favourite bits are never usually your own! 

Do you have a favourite song of all time? I don’t know if it’s my favourite. But, at my funeral, I want Gloria by Laura Brannigan. 

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