He may have given up his psychosis to spend more time with the family, but Gregor Fisher's ageing rapscallion Rab is still capable of creating considerable mayhem. Tonight, that means being at the centre of a siege when Mary kidnaps the minister of work, Chingford Steel (Richard E Grant). Funny, but don't expect subtlety, especially when Rab goes to the doctor because he's worried about his prostate: "There could be pie suppers lodged up there from the summer of love."

The return of the native speaker, by his writer/creator

The success of the long-running Scots-produced Rab C. Nesbitt TV series in England has always surprised me, given the extremely Scottish dialogue.

Govan's favourite savant returns for a new series of armchair philosophising and lewd cracks better suited to the schoolyard. Tonight Rab (Gregor Fisher) worries about the state of his prostate before the plot veers from ridiculous to surreal. Rab's wife Mary (Elaine C Smith), upset at losing her job, assaults the Minister for Work (Richard E Grant) with a frying pan and takes him hostage. The skillet is an apt metaphor for the unsubtle comedy, but the programme is also shot through with the sort of astute social observations that are this sitcom's trademark.

Why Rab C Nesbitt is still a vested interest

He may have cut back on the sauce, but Govan's resident philosopher remains a captivating proposition, says Anna Burnside.

Rab C Nesbitt's barmaid on why she loves serving

Cora Bissett plays barmaid Camille in the comeback hit - her latest role in a career which has gone from a teenager chasing rock stardom to an award-winning actress and director.

Gregor Fisher admits age is catching up on him

Rab C Nesbitt's days on the streets of the south side of Glasgow could be numbered - ­because Gregor Fisher thinks he's getting too old.

Elaine C Smith: Scottish TV needs more female comics

Rab C Nesbitt star Elaine C Smith has hit out at telly bosses over the lack of funny Scottish women on our screens.

Rab C Nesbitt interview

Glasgow's most outspoken resident talks TV licenses, tofu and Brad Pitt.

25 years of Rab C Nesbitt

Those seeking some light relief from the grim news in 1986 might have unleashed a guffaw or three at the BBC Scotland sketch show, Naked Video, in which Gregor Fisher wore a grubby string vest and glottal-stopped his way through a series of Buckfast-soaked stream-of-consciousness philosophy lectures. Later, when the character spun off into his own series, Rab C Nesbitt's mockit headband, disintegrating trainers and wino wisdom took the underclass into everyone's living room.

Susan Boyle wants Rab C Nesbitt actress to play her

The 49-year-old Britain's Got Talent star told The Radio Times she opted for Elaine C Smith, who plays Mary Nesbitt in Rab C Nesbitt, because 'she's a very talented actress on Scottish television'.