Is this an actor I see before me? In recent years, directing the question at Gregor Fisher would have been entirely relevant. 

Gregor appeared on stage as often as his iconic screen character Rab C Nesbitt  wore a sharp tuxedo and travelled limo class. 

And television work had all but disappeared after Gregor’s 2014 appearance in the Nesbitt TV special, Rab In Hoodie.

“I’ve been too lazy for too many years,” he admits with a wry smile. 

“And that’s exactly what the bank manager says. But things change. One minute your happy fiddling with your tomatoes and the next minute you’re an Ugly.”

Gregor has been tomato fiddling at his home in France. However, plant pastimes and happy days don’t pay the mortgage. And at the same time, the actor was becoming bored with his lot.

Working on his biography helped focus the mind (and the realisation years were rushing by) and so he decided to take on the job offers he’d all too often once dismissed. 

In recent times he’s toured with the National Theatre of Scotland’s Yer Granny, starred in panto at the King’s last year and appeared in the new version of Whisky Galore. 

Now, he’s set to return to the King’s panto, this time starring in Cinderella as an Ugly Sister alongside old pal and Nesbitt wingman, Tony Roper.

Yet, none of this ever looked likely. While Gregor all too often revealed a Rab-like reluctance to go through the gears of hard graft, Tony Roper had declared his panto endeavours to be a thing of the past. 

Tony, now 75, felt he’d achieved all he had to. And both actors were acutely aware that while panto may be lucrative,  it’s gruelling – two shows a day in costumes still sweaty from the night before – and six  weeks of forced smiles and frantic costume changes. 

Gregor explain how he and his chum came to form their Sister act. 

“After I returned to panto last year at the King’s, Tony came to see me after the show and we had a small cognac.

“He said to me, ‘Well done, Fish’ and all that stuff. Then he added; ‘Are you doing it next year as well?’

“I said ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure yet. But I think the King’s are planning to do Cinderella.

“Then Tony chipped in; ‘Well, we could be the Uglies!’ And with that he stood up, walked out the door and said ‘I’m away. Cheerio.’

“Well, I thought no more about it, but then I was offered the panto, and the chance to be in Cinderella, and so I phoned Roper. 

“I said ‘I think there’s an Ugly Sister going a begging here. Do you want it?’ 

“He says; ‘Oh, wait and minute ..   then he announced ‘Aye, a 
dae! Because I think it will be a laugh’.”

Both were keen to do it because the other agreed. It wasn’t all about the nice Christmas earner, it was about two men bonding, friends reuniting, and having a laugh.

There’s little doubt it’s a great coup for the theatre.  Yet, the pair have already appeared in panto together, wearing dresses.  Back in 1988 a younger Gregor and Tony appeared alongside Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy in Babes In The Wood.

“We played the Robbers, but in one scene we had to change into a couple of floozies for a dance hall scene; ‘Are ye dancin’? ‘ Naw, it’s just the way I’m standin’.

“It sounds dated but it really worked, and we learned a huge amount from Rikki and Jack.”

Gregor and Tony went on to appear in Naked Video before becoming Rab and Jamesie, one of Scotland’s great double acts.

Does this suggest a continuing chemistry, a connection that suggests their acting souls are in perfect harmony?

“Naw, I still don’t know how Roper works,” says Gregor, laughing.

“No, seriously, it will be a laugh. We will make each other laugh. And Cinderella is a great panto to do.”

The script will be tighter than Cinderella’s ball gown bodice. 

Gregor and Tony met with writer Eric Potts in France this summer to work on their characters.

“We had a right good chin wag. We looked at our material and Tony, who of course is a bit of scribe, also came up with some good stuff.”

Gregor and Tony’s on-stage relationship will continue into next year.

It’s been revealed Rab C Nesbitt creator Ian Pattison is currently writing a new stage show, set to run at the Hydro.

“I’m delighted there is something in the pipeline and that everybody is working together,” says Gregor.

“It’s exciting. And Ian Pattison is excited about the project and ye cannae whack that. We’re all up for it – and that’s smashing.”

He adds: “This isn’t a question of getting a script out to simply put on at the Hydro. It’s not about turning the handle and out come the sausages.”

Could he have anticipated the Nesbitt team coming together, and appearing on stage at Scotland’s biggest venue?

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business its’ never to be surprised at anything.”

He’s not even surprised he’s agreed to get back on the work horse.

“I know,” he agrees. “And maybe next year I’ll be back at the King’s playing Prince Charming.”

And with perfect comedy timing the born-again actor adds; “That would need to be on the wireless.”

Cinderella, The King’s Theatre,  December 2 - January 8.