With faint echoes of the likes of Mum or The Detectorists, Only Child sits somewhere between a traditional British sitcom and a gentle comedy drama about ageing – with more than a wee dram of wry Scots humour.
But it's more than just a comedy.
‘I was at a charity dinner and one of the guests, who worked with carers, said it had started a discussion of what it is to be a carer,’ says star Greg McHugh who plays Richard Pritchard. ‘So, while Only Child is a mainstream comedy, it was nice to get feedback about other sides of what the show had brought out.’
‘Mostly, I got people in supermarkets saying, “You remind me of my dad, he’s a bit of a handful,” adds Gregor Fisher aka Ken Pritchard. ‘I’d think “You cheeky bugger, I only came in for some butter!” But I think a lot of people find themselves in that situation. My parents slipped away in their seventies, but nowadays, people live for much longer and later.’
Who stars in Only Child?
Gregor Fisher as Ken Pritchard
Richard Pritchard's (Greg McHugh) widowed, occasionally grumpy, technophobe dad Ken can be a bit of a tricky customer at times.
72-year-old Gregor Fisher is a cornerstone of Scottish comedy thanks to his defining performance is as alcoholic Glaswegian Rab C. Nesbitt in the comedy series of the same name (various dates between 1988 and 2014).
He also played Bill Nighy’s character Billy Mack’s manager in Love Actually (2003), and had a supporting role in 2016 comedy film Whisky Galore.
Greg McHugh as Richard Pritchard
Jobbing actor Richard Pritchard was forced to move back to the Scottish Highlands from London in order to look after his aging father Ken (Gregor Fisher). And whilst he wasn't getting much work in the big smoke, he likes to make it clear that he resents the lack of opportunity in Scotland.
Actor and writer Greg McHugh, 46, played the main character in BAFTA-winning Scottish sitcom Gary: Tank Commander (2009-2012), after gaining UK-wide recognition in Fresh Meat (2011-2016) as fan favourite Howard.
Jennifer Saunders as Sally
Heard only in voice-over, Sally is Richard’s (Greg McHugh) agent.
One of Britain’s best-known comic actress, Jennifer wrote and starred in the iconic Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012, plus film in 2016), after finding fame in French And Saunders (1987-2007).
More recent TV appearances of Jennifer's include the Amandaland 2025 Christmas Special, Too Much (2025), and an episode of Ghosts in 2021. Film-wise, she's currently in cinemas as Grandma Thompson in The Magic Faraway Tree.
Amy Lennox as Emily
Emily is Ken’s (Gregor Fisher) neighbour, whose relationship with Richard (Greg McHugh) looks like unfinished business.
Scottish actress Amy Lennox is best known for her musical theatre work, including Kinky Boots, Cabaret and the David Bowie musical Lazarus. She also understudied Sheridan Smith in the lead role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.
On TV, she's played Holby City’s Chloe Godard.
Clare Barrett as Jen
Jen is Richard’s (Greg McHugh) no-nonsense, straight-talking friend.
Irish actress Clare Barrett played nurse Bronagh in RTE’s long-running drama series Fair City (2021), and also appeared in darkly comic series _Sister_S (2023).
Robin Laing as Ian
Ian is a gentle, slightly worn-down local whose easy-going nature masks a quietly complicated personal life.
Robin appeared in early series of Outlander, and has played various roles in BBC1 Scotland’s soap opera River City.
Paul Rattray as Digsy
Digsy is Richard’s (Greg McHugh) chaotic, kleptomaniac childhood friend.
From the 2000s onwards, Paul Rattray has appeared in numerous Scottish comedies and dramas. He also played Harald Karstark in Game Of Thrones, and starred in Season One of Jamestown.
Stuart Bowman plays Rod
Steady and guarded, Rob is a bit of a dark horse. Could the safe life that he has created for himself be about to change?
Stuart Bowman was a series regular in period romp Versailles (2015-2018), and starred alongside Greg McHugh in Gary: Tank Commander (2009-2012).
Who is joining the cast of Only Child for series two?
Kevin Bishop as Tim
Tim is Emily’s (Amy Lennox) new boyfriend - much to the annoyance of Richard (Greg McHugh).
‘Gregor [Fisher] was just such a huge inspiration of mine from a very young age,’ says Kevin. ‘He's somebody that I respect an awful lot because of his physical comedy and clowning that he does effortlessly. When we're working with him on set, he's a hilarious person - he just has funny bones. I don't think there's many comedians or comic actors that possess that, so he’s an absolute legend.’
English comedian and actor Kevin's TV appearances include Star Stories (2006-2008), The Kevin Bishop Show (2008-2009), the 2017 remake of Porridge, and a 2022 episode of Inside No 9.
Clive Russell as Horrace
'Horrid’ Horrace is an unlikeable character, a would-be thespian who loves putting Richard (Greg McHugh) - who is actually an actor - down.
‘I identified totally with Gregor [Fisher]'s character,’ says Clive Russell. ‘All his complaints about things like, "Why can't you have paper tickets?", all those things he complains about, are things I find myself saying to my grown-up children, who are, of course, parenting me like mad in the way that Richard does to Ken in the show. All of that is universal.’
You may recognise Clive Russell from shows like Game Of Thrones (2013-2016), Ripper Street (2012-2016), Casualty (1990-2024), Dept. Q (2025) and Shetland (2014-2025).
Jenny Galloway as Beth
Widowed Beth is a potential love interest for Ken (Gregor Fisher) this series. She’s also the mum of Richard’s (Greg McHugh) love rival Tim (Kevin Bishop).
‘Beth is fiercely protective of Tim, he has been the centre of her world up until now, so anything that compromises him does not sit well with her,’ Jenny Galloway explains. ‘Probably no-one is good enough for him in her eyes!’
Jenny Galloway is best known for her stage career, but her TV appearances include the Colin Firth-led Lockerbie: A Search For Truth (2025).
Tam Dean Burn as Paul
‘Paul is a wonderfully complex guy who’s been through a lot,' teases Tam. 'I was also amazed at how it reflected my own arrival in Glasgow when I became involved in a campaign to save a plot of land known as the Children’s Wood from developers, just like the Forres community with their allotments!’
Tam Dean Burn - who is also a musician - has appeared in shows like Taggart (1992-2010), Fortitude (2015-2018) and River City (2002-2022).
What was the premise of Series One?
London-based actor Richard (Greg McHugh) returns home to deal with his recently widowed, stubborn father Ken (Gregor Fisher), leading to a mix of domestic chaos, unresolved grief, and very British awkward affection.
Who created Only Child?
Only Child was created and written by Bryce Hart, a Scottish writer and comedian, and developed for television by BBC Scotland.
Where is Only Child filmed?
Primarily, in and around Forres - a town on Scotland’s Moray coast.
When and where does Only Child air?
The new series starts on Wednesday 6th May at 9.30pm on BBC1. All six episodes of series one of Only Child are available to catch up with on BBC iPlayer.
Martina Fowler has worked for TV Choice for, well, several years and very much learned ‘on the job’. Remembering to switch on her Dictaphone was an early triumph, only bettered by demanding of the interviewee (who asked not to be named) why it wasn’t working.