Talented teen to meet TV heroes

A teenager who became an internet hit by impersonating hit TV show Still Game's Victor is set to meet his telly heroes.
Jamie Wallace in the guise of Still Game's VictorJamie Wallace in the guise of Still Game's Victor
Jamie Wallace in the guise of Still Game's Victor

First year Douglas Academy pupil Jamie Wallace joined two other theatre school colleagues as lookalikes from the comedy for a special video which has clocked up more than 75,000 views since it was launched in December.

Now Jamie (12), who attends the Glasgow-based UK Theatre School and who took part in the video project to raise awareness of the school’s charity status, has a special date in his diary – to visit the set of the hit show when filming begins this summer on the long-awaited new series.

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Thanks to the BBC, Jamie and his 12-year-old video co-stars, Glasgow-based Cheldon Woodburn and Jordan Cramond who lives in Ayrshire, have received a special video message recorded by the show’s stars and creators Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.

Ford told the talented trio: “We loved that sketch that you did. It went viral. That was good wasn’t it? You were getting more customers than us!

“We would like to invite you down to the set when we’re filming. How about that – there’s biscuits and everything and you can listen to our rubbish patter.”

In the video co-star Greg jokes that the young performers may even get to join the cast.

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Jamie said: “This is like a dream come true. We watched the video and could hardly believe that Ford and Greg had taken the time to make it specially for us. It’s just brilliant.

“We can’t wait to go to the set and see filming in action and meet Greg, Ford and Jane McCarry, who plays Isa, in person.”

Jamie, Jordan and Cheldon captured the TV show trio’s resemblances, mannerisms and voices so well that their wee Jack, wee Victor and wee Isa have been hailed online as “absolutely fantastic” and “brilliant”.

The video sees the youngsters embark on a Glasgow-wide hunt to track down the real-life stars, visiting TV studios, the SSE Hydro where the show enjoyed a massive sell-out 21-show run, as well as local pubs. They also quiz a taxi driver as they turn detectives to find them.

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UK Theatre School principal Lizanne Lambie Thomson described the moment they received the special video made by Ford and Greg as “the icing on the cake” for their project. The TV stars also sent each youngster a specially autographed photograph.

She added: “Jamie and his co-stars have put so much work into the video project and so it’s brilliant that they’re going to get to go on set when filming is taking place.

“The whole project was designed to raise awareness of the school’s charity work. The youngsters have also had great fun participating.”

Appearing as their Still Game characters, the three UK Theatre School students have interviewed Scottish celebrities including singer Michelle McManus, River City actor Gary Lamont and X Factor runner up Nicholas McDonald.

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Jamie described the experience of taking on the role of one of Scotland’s most iconic comedy characters as “a great opportunity”.

He’s been attending the UK Theatre School for almost five years. His mum Heather said: “We’re really pleased Ford and Greg like their sketch enough to invite them onto the set. Jamie has had great fun taking part in the project.”

The UK Theatre School has more than 700 students.

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