End game for Still Game's Eric

At 87, Jimmy Martin was the oldest of the actors on the hit BBC programme and, indeed, one of Scotland's oldest working actors. But, after admitting he was feeling the strain of the rigours of filming, he had asked to be written out of the show.

The news that the local undertaker has died and a creepy replacement has moved into town causes much commotion among the Clansman regulars. Nobody quite knows what to make of the new arrival, with Isa spreading stories that he could be the Grim Reaper himself. And despite their initial bravado, Jack and Victor are spooked when the man himself turns up in the pub.

Five best moments from Still Game's Eric

From vomiting in Victor's car to having a wee accident in the Clansman, we look back at Eric's funniest moments in a tribute to one of Scotland's favourite TV pensioners.

TV review: Still Game

Comedy's character dies but lousy gags will be the death of Still Game.

Still Game returned to our screens. It has something like a 70% penetration in Scotland and many fervent fans south of the border, and any random 30 seconds are still only 1,000,000% cleverer and funnier than any entire series of Mrs Brown's Boys, but I wonder if it's not in danger of beginning to run its course. It cantered through all the houses amiably enough - Boabby trying to gentrify The Clansman, jokes about lemongrass and insanely overpriced bottled beer - but cantered at very much one pace, one note, throughout. (Yes, I do appreciate that I've just invited 70% of Scotland to appear outside my nice New Town flat with pitchforks, torches and angry cries of "bawbag".)

Age lines appearing on beloved sitcom

In truth, it was a struggle to raise a smile in what was a long half hour. Isa and Navid replaced Jack and Victor as the show's funniest turns some time ago, and they kept the crown last night.

Still Game review

A welcome, hilarious return to Craiglang.

What I'm looking for from the new series of Still Game

While rightly eager for the return of Still Game to our television screens, there are aspects of the show which could be improved to get it back to its best.

Still Game, series 8 episode 1 review

In the golden age of the sitcom, some shows were recorded in front of a studio audience and the others had canned laughter superimposed. The former now costs too much and the latter, in which producers decided where the laughs are placed in post-production, has long been thought too tacky. But there is a third way. When Still Game (BBC One) was recording its seventh series two years ago, an audience attended a screening and supplied the laughter track.

Still Game's co-creator on movie inspiration

Greg Hemphill, who plays Victor McDade, says life in Craiglang is not so far removed from Franz Capra's It's A Wonderful Life.