MUSSELBURGH actor James Martin is looking forward to starring in a new series of the popular sitcom Still Game.

Filming on the new series for the BBC starts this week, and bosses were keen to see Mr Martin back in action as his character ‘Eric’.

The show was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who play the lead characters, Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade, two Glaswegian pensioners.

The characters also appeared in the pair’s previous television show, Chewin’ the Fat, which aired in Scotland from January 1999 until June 2000.

Following its debut in 2002, some 44 episodes of Still Game were aired, including Christmas and Hogmanay specials.

Mr Martin, 85, a volunteer and committee member at The Hollies Day Centre in Musselburgh, reckoned it was about nine years since the last episode.

He was originally cast in the sitcom, having worked with the director Michael Hines, when Mr Martin starred as the grandfather in My Barmy Aunt Boomerang, with Toyah Wilcox, who played a ghost.

One of the three children featured in the comedy series was Hollywood actor Richard Madden, best known for portraying Robb Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones and Prince Kit in Disney’s Cinderella.

Mr Martin said Mr Hines contacted him and said he had “all the gang together again” for the new series of Still Game.

Mr Martin said: “He said we couldn’t do it without old Eric.

“Filming will take about six weeks. I think I will be featured in three episodes, but they want me around for all six.

“The big surprise this time is that Still Game is going to the whole of Britain at 9.30pm, on probably a Friday night, but the broadcasting date hasn’t been settled yet. I think this is because of popular demand.

“Up until now, it has been televised in Scotland alone.”

The new series is being filmed at the BBC Scotland studios in Dumbarton, which is also the set and studios for soap opera River City, which Mr Martin has also appeared in during his varied career in film, television and theatre.

He said they had started to build the Clansman bar, the pensioners’ local, inside the studios and would also be doing exterior shots in various parts of Glasgow.

Mr Martin has also appeared in the Glasgow crime series Taggart, where he played a murderer. He has performed Shakespeare for the Royal Lyceum, as well as radio excerpts from the work of the Russian playwright Chekhov.

But he said he was best known for his part in Still Game.

The programme is popular with expats in countries such as Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

While on holiday in Chicago, he was recognised in a Celtic supporters pub, where he also met chart-topper Rod Stewart.

He said: “A guy who was Glaswegian but in the Chicago fire department recognised me and, at half-time, asked if the boys could get a photo with me.

“Rod had come into the bar and they moved to him, saying, ‘do you want your photo with Eric?’”

Mr Martin said he sees Mark Cox – alias Tam Mullen in Still Game – when he produces the pantomime in Musselburgh every year.

The programme has bridged the generation gap for one Musselburgh teenager who is looking forward to the new series.

Brodie Mackay, 15, is a big fan of the programme. His mum Angela knows Mr Martin from her work at The Hollies.

She said: “Brodie can’t wait to see the new show.”