A LARGS writer has been praised by Still Game's Ford Kiernan after penning a hilarious comedy and catching the eye of bosses at the BBC.

Andy McGregor, who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wowed the Chewing The Fat star with the first episode of The Burn, which follows the eccentricities of a community council in the small town of Brisburn as they attempt to organise a virtual festival over Zoom.

It is one of the several projects Andy has been working on during lockdown, while he has also received acclaim for a BBC drama short 'The Park', which has received nearly 100,000 views.

Kiernan described the first episode of a new series of The Burn as 'brilliant' - with it even attracting a starring role from one of Ford's old Clansman pals.

It features Still Game star Gavin Mitchell, best known as Boaby the barman, as well as a host of other actors and actresses.

Andy, 39, said: "I am delighted that Scottish comedy legend Ford Kiernan thought our show was so good.

"I also have a knowledge of life in towns and small communities and wanted to factor this into the script, and with Zoom meetings all the rage, I thought it would be funny to put all these ingredients together.

"There was a lot of chat on Twitter about about there not being enough Scottish comedies set outwith the big cities, and not enough female parts, so I wanted to address both points.

Andy revealed to the News that he is working on the next episode, which features an online dating agency.

The Park is a short based on a father and his children's experiences of heading outdoors to escape the shackles of lockdown - only to find that the playpark has been locked up.

It is one of a series of episodes for The Scene for Survival series for BBC Scotland and National Theatre of Scotland, directly by Ben Harrison and acted by Martin McCormick.

Critics have described it as 'Heartbreaking, uplifting and beautiful' and it features Andy's two young sons Dougal and Laurie.

Andy said: "I found the start of lockdown really hard to focus. So I wrote about what was right in front of me.

"I started filming the kids at the park from day one of lockdown and came up with the idea.

"It has been very well received with good viewing numbers thanks to the BBC promoting it on their social media channels. I've had feedback on it from all over the world, I think it really touched a nerve.

"A park in a housing estate is maybe something that you would take for granted in the past but that wee park saved us - and made you realise how much you would miss it if it was gone."

Andy is delighted with the attention he is receiving but is keen just to move on to his next project.

He said: "It is super to get some recognition, and some of the great performers involved in these productions may even be cast for bigger productions as a result of people like Ford Kiernan praising it."

Andy, who is a director, composer and playwright, also co-founded Largs Youth Theatre.

He said: "Being involved in Largs Youth Theatre from the outset was a great joy. It is wonderful that local talent is being showcased in this way."

Watch The Park here: www.facebook.com/BBCScotland/videos/302863547527594

Watch The Burn at youtu.be/hPzcE2ADyWE