It's great to be back working on Rab C

Oct 5 2008 Elaine C. Smith

THE Nesbitts are back! We all met on Friday for the first time in 10 years...and what a weird feeling it was.

It's so long since I was Mary Doll I suddenly felt I couldn't remember who she was or how she spoke.

But I needn't have worried...as soon as Gregor Fisher started as Rab C, Mary Doll was back in me. No bother.

I can also reveal the new Mary Doll is less Whit Evry's and more of a Primark lassie now.

It was the first readthrough for our Christmas special and in some ways it seemed as if no time had passed since we were together.

Babs Rafferty (Ella) and I are great pals and keep in touch but I hadn't seen Gregor for about two years or Tony Roper, who plays Rab's pal Jamesie Cotter.

The best was getting to see Andrew Fairlie, who plays Gash.

He decided at the end of the series he didn't want to be an actor any longer and went back to uni. He is now an academic.

When I heard he had an honours degree I was so proud of him I felt like his real maw.

I was worried he wouldn't want to come back but I think the fact it was only a one-off episode made him decide to do it.

Ma boy is back and it was wonderful to see him.

Also on board are the beautiful and talented Kathleen McDermott as Gash's new wife and the fantastic actor, my old mate Gary Lewis.

After the readthough at the Comedy Unit in Glasgow it was off to wardrobe and make-up to create a whole new look for Mary.

The script has moved on and is set today. So the hellish wig and "do" have had to be altered. Though, I hasten to add, the fashion is still a mile oot.

I can reveal the script is great. In fact, the crew were saying they had never heard so many laughs at a readthrough.

Creator Ian Pattison has done a great job of moving the characters on as Govan embraces the new BBC headquarters on the Clyde.

But I can say no more. We all hope you enjoy it as much as we did.