Jim Davidson remembers Glasgow roots ahead of his new Pavilion panto Sinderella

May 23 2012 EXCLUSIVE by Ben Spencer

Jim Davidson Sinderella Image 1

COMIC Jim Davidson is so proud of his Glaswegian roots that he plans to move here.

The funnyman is in the city with his adult panto Sinderella, which starts at the Pavilion Theatre tonight.

His dad Jock was brought up in Bridgeton, in the east end, and the comedian says he’s always felt a connection with Glasgow.

Jim, who has been rehearsing for the panto in Bridgeton, added: “I was born in Charlton, south-east London because dad was in the Royal Artillery.

“I came here as a young man when I first started as an entertainer and I’ve always been very fond of Glasgow.

“I think it was because I was used to the accent, with my dad being from the city.

“Over the years, I think people have got to know that my dad was from Glasgow. And once the Glaswegians take you to their heart, they never let you out.

“I feel comfortable here, more so than any other city in the country. There are no airs and graces – if it’s funny, Glaswegians laugh and if they think it’s over the top, they will tell you so.

“When I got to the airport, the taxi driver asked me what I was doing here. He said, ‘Your dad was from Bridgeton, welcome home, son’.

“That put a little lump in my throat.

“So it’s in my plans to move to Glasgow and it may be sooner rather than later.”

Sinderella, which Jim, 58, wrote, runs until June 9 and the former Generation Game and Big Break star promises it will have audiences in stitches.

The comic takes on the role of Buttons in the show and he is supported by a talented cast of local stars including Rab C Nesbit actress Nicola Park as the Fairy Godmother.

Rutherglen veteran Billy Armour plays the Baron and Lawrie McNicol and Iain Gouck take on the roles of the Ugly Sisters.

Jim added: “To give you an idea of how classy this show is, the opening song sung by a fairy is a rather
beautiful rendition of a little ditty I wrote called ‘Shove The English Up Your A**e’. The English half of me was wincing but the Scottish half of me took over and won.

“The cast are really good – Nicola is so good as the fairy. Really, it’s a panto you would do if children had never been invented.

“The trick is to make the songs nice and make it believable as a panto, then the nature of it will make it easier to send it up.

“I think it’s funny putting swear words in the mouths of things that don’t swear. Pantomime characters are
perfect for that.”