A father and son whose roles have become reversed is the premise of new BBC comedy Only Child.
When bit-part actor Richard (Greg McHugh) returns to visit his widowed father Ken (Gregor Fisher) in their hometown in Scotland, he finds he has a new part to play in their family as the dynamics shift.
Inter-generational issues, families and ageing are at the heart of the comedy set to air on BBC One this week.
Writer Bryce Hart said: “A big theme of this show is finally seeing your parents as people.
“That’s quite a big thing for Richard, realising that Ken isn’t just dad, he’s also someone who has interests and desires.
“It’s about making the most of the time that you have left together.”
He said he also drew on the experience of seeing your parents age.
“They are these giants in your life and then they become a little bit smaller and there’s something I thought was interesting about Richard sort of hiding from that, until basically he no longer can and has to face up to it”, he said.
What is Only Child about?
Jobbing actor Richard Pritchard (Greg McHugh) returns from London to his hometown in the North East of Scotland to visit his dad Ken (Gregor Fisher) on the first anniversary of his mum’s passing.
It’s the first time he’s been back since the funeral and once there, he realises Ken may need a little bit more full-time help than he imagined.
Not that Ken, a former train conductor, would agree. He’s an eccentric, strong-willed technophobe, who is set in his ways.
When circumstances occur which force Richard to stay in his hometown, the two of them have to figure out how they can go forward and start a new relationship with their roles slightly reversed.
Richard is now the care-giver and Ken his charge.
Who is in the Only Child cast?
Gregor Fisher
Gregor Fisher stars as Ken Pritchard, a widower and father Richard in Only Child.
Fisher, 70, described Ken as “a bit of a hoarder, and his memory maybe isn’t as sharp as it should be.
“A bit like me, actually”, he added, “I’m an absolute bloody shoo-in for this part.”
The Scottish actor and comedian is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the comedy series Rab C. Nesbitt.
He has also appeared in the film Love Actually and the BBC sitcom Empty.
Greg McHugh
Greg McHugh stars as Richard Pritchard, a bit-part actor who goes home to visit his widowed father after a long absence.
McHugh said the series offers “relatable material in that it’s about a son – that could be a daughter – who moves home to really look at the inevitable issue of parents growing older and how you have to cope with that and their idiosyncrasies”.
The Scottish actor and writer is behind the comedy series Gary:Tank Commander, which he wrote and starred in.
The 44-year-old also appeared as Howard in the Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat.
Amy Lennox
Amy Lennox plays Emily, Ken and Richard’s neighbour in Only Child.
Describing her character, she said: “Emily is the literal ‘girl next door’ and has known Richard since they were at school together.
“She’s a selfless person that puts others first but certainly isn’t a pushover – she’s got a pretty dry sense of humour and knows exactly how to push Richard’s buttons and wind him up.”
The Scottish actress played Chloe Godard in Holby City and Sally McColl in Shetland.
She has also played Margot in the original West End cast of Legally Blonde and Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, in the West End.
Stuart Bowman
Stuart Bowman plays Rod, another of Ken Pritchard’s neighbours.
Bowman said his character of Rod is “Ken’s next-door neighbour and self-appointed neighbourhood watchman” who is “an idealist”.
He is known for playing head of MI5, Stephen Hunter-Dunn in the BBC’s Bodyguard and his portrayal of Alexandre Bontemps in the Canal+ series Versailles.
The Scottish actor also had a recurring role in Grantchester, as Bishop Aubrey Gray.
The cast also includes:
- Robin Laing as Ian (Outlander, Shetland, Band of Brothers)
- Clare Barrett as Jen (Wild Mountain Thyme, Sacrifice)
- Paul Rattray as Digsy (Jamestown, Game of Thrones, Birdsong)
- Grant O’Rourk as Craig (Outlander, Shetland)
- Forbes Masson as Crawford (Father Brown, The Crown)
- Samantha Spiro as Lydia Bartlett (Sex Education, Babs)
- John Buick as Brian (Shetland, Still Game)
How many episodes are there?
Only Child is a six-part sitcom which launches on BBC One on Friday 22 November at 9.30pm.
The five remaining episodes will be shown on successive Fridays on BBC One at the same time.
All six episodes are also available to stream on the BBC iPlayer.
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