WHAT’S THE STORY?

Andy Gray, one of Scotland’s finest comedy actors, has died at the age of 61. The star of stage and screen was best known for his roles as Chancer in City Lights, as Pete Galloway in River City, and for his long-running stints in pantomime, particularly at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. He was also a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of a double act with Grant Stott and joined Stewart and Stott in the Big Big Variety Shows.

Gray contracted a rare form of blood cancer in 2018. It was MDS (Myelodysplastic syndromes) – a type of blood cancer in which blood cells do not fully develop healthily in the bone marrow – but he appeared to have beaten the disease only to pass away.

HOW DID HE GET STARTED?

Born in Perth, Gray studied acting in Edinburgh and got his breakthrough role when he starred in the BBC Radio Scotland sketch show Naked Radio, which then transferred to television as Naked Television, before earning the role of Chancer in the 1987 sitcom City Lights.

He was a talented straight actor but comedy was his speciality and he appeared on many stages in Scotland and honing his skills in pantomime, at which he excelled.

From 2016 he played the character of Pete Galloway in BBC soap River City, leaving the show in August 2018 due to his illness.

WILL THE KING’S PANTO EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN?

For most of the last 20 years, Gray was part of a triumvirate who made the King’s panto an annual hit, playing to audiences who would return year-after-year to hear Gray’s verbal jousts with Allan Stewart, invariably playing the Dame, and Grant Stott, a truly theatrical baddie. His tremendous physical comedy and great clown’s expressions were laughter-inducing, as was his catchphrase “Ah’m no very well”, which sadly resonated yesterday.

The three stars had a tremendous chemistry together and famously competed to see who could make each other laugh in all the traditional pantos which the King’s always did so extravagantly.

READ MORE: Andy Gray: Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to former River City star

Gray was due to star in the 2020-21 panto which was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After taking his break to deal with his illness in 2018, in a highly emotional single appearance on the last day of the 2018-19 panto, Gray came on stage to announce he would be back, and was cheered by the audience who gave him a standing ovation with many of the cast in tears, and he was still getting special cheers when he returned for the 2019-20 panto Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Yesterday, Capital Theatres, that runs the King’s in Edinburgh, paid tribute to their colleague. A spokesperson said: “We will all remember Andy with love, a smile and affection for the many years of fun, friendship and brightness he brought to all our lives and the entertainment he gave to so many generations of Panto-goers during his time at the King’s.

“The thoughts of everyone at Capital Theatres are with Andy’s family at this very sad time. Rest in peace Andy.”

Allan Stewart told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Andy and I knew we had a special relationship from the very beginning. We seemed to know what each other was going to do. He knew when that little trickle of sweat appeared on my forehead, I had forgotten my next line and he just loved it. I would give him the look of ‘don’t you dare’ but he dared. We would roar with laughter in the dressing room about the mistakes that happened on stage.

“The Big Big Variety shows were where we could really have fun. Like all the great clowns, Andy could have you laughing one minute and crying the next. When I screamed at him for losing his drum in a sketch, that hang dog look, those jowls, those eyes turned to the audience and immediately they were eating out the palm of his hand. He often made me look like the panto villain. But Grant did that job much better.

“Andy and I received many lovely reviews over the years but one stuck out in my mind.

“Forty years from now grannies in Edinburgh will be shaking their heads and saying remember the great days of real panto at the King’s ... the days when they had Andy Gray and Allan Stewart.

“I hope that’s true. I will certainly remember Andy with great love."

Grant Stott said: “Today I, like so many others, am coming to terms with the loss of my dear friend, partner, panto-brother; Andy Gray. He was a huge part of every aspect of my life; personal, professional and family – he leaves a massive void.

“I count myself lucky that I was able to work and learn from him for more than 20 years and his support, generosity and encouragement to me has been ever-present in all of that time.

“I will miss him terribly and, as heartbroken as I am, I know for a fact Andy would want us all to 'remember the laughs' of which there were many, both on and off stage – and usually at my expense.”

WHAT HAVE PEOPLE SAID ABOUT THE LOSS OF GRAY?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: “So sad to hear this. Andy was a legend of the Scottish acting community, from City Lights, to panto, River City and so much more besides. He was also a funny and really lovely guy. He will be sorely missed by many. My condolences are with his family and friends.

Playwright David Greig said: “So very sad to hear of the death of Andy Gray, one of Scotland’s greatest stage comedians, a gloriously gifted improviser and superb actor with a rare gift for connecting to an audience.”

BBC Scotland’s executive producer for River City, Martin McCardie, revealed that Gray had “unfinished business” on River City as the team hoped to welcome him back to film before the end of the current series.

McCardie said: “Everyone at River City, all cast and crew are devastated to hear the extremely sad news that Andy Gray passed away this morning. His infectious enthusiasm for his work had an influence on all those who worked with him, he became a mainstay of the production, his trials and tribulations with the love of his life Caitlin McLean, became some of the best material ever to be broadcast by the show.”