The Culture Swally

We’re getting our Country on in this episode of the Swally, but not our Western as we look at the 2018 film, Wild Rose. Starring Jesse Buckley, Julie Walters and Matt Costello, the film tells the story of a troubled young Glaswegian woman, who dreams of becoming a Nashville country star.

In the news we cry about the recent news about the cancellation of River City, meet a Glasgow bouncer, who is making a...

It’s time to smile and say ‘sausages’ as we discuss the 1985 film, written and directed by Cary Parker, The Girl In The Picture. A romantic comedy, starring John Gordon Sinclair, Dave McKay, Irina Brook, Gregor Fisher and Paul Young among a host of other Scottish talent. Alan and Mary are pretty miserable together and split up. As an very presentable Glaswegian photographer Alan soon has chances to find consolation el...

We are getting some Sci-Fi action this week on the podcast as we join Patron Saint of The Culture Swally, James Cosmo, Maurice Roëves, Celia Imrie, Tom Watson and Reg Hollis from The Bill on an isolated Scottish island. The population of the island is gripped by fear following a series of savage murders and the discovery of a strange craft on the local beach.

In the news we take a wrong turn when running...

It’s a semi serious one this week as we look at the 2002 Danish and Scottish collaborated film, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself. Starring Jamie Sives, Adrian Rawlins, Shirley Henderson and Mads Mikkelsen, this gentle, romantic drama is a must watch. The chronically suicidal Wilbur, and his good-hearted big brother, Harbour, are in their thirties when, their father dies and leaves them with nothing but a worn down second-...

We’re off to the park on this episode as we look at the first series of the 2007 comedy Dear Green Place. Written by and starring Paul Riley and featuring Ford Keirnan, Dear Green Place follows the parks department in Glasgow and the hijinks that go with it.

In the news we encounter a thief who has stolen some kibble from Tiddles, meet a bunch of kids who stole expensive perfume from Milan airport, discu...

It’s our first proper episode of 2025! Join us as we discuss the 1994 classic, Takin’ Over the Asylum. A six-part BBC Scotland television drama about a radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. The show follows a double glazing salesman Eddie McKenna (Ken Stott) who re-establishes a radio station at St Jude's, with patients as its presenters and volunteers, notably Campbell (David Tennant) and a supporting cast...

It’s our Best of the News 2024 special! Yes, that’s right, Nicky and Greg are being lazy and having an extra week off for the festive season, so have put together a clip show of our favourite news stories from 2024.

Join us as we reminisce about Gordon Ramsay’s Scottish Breakfast Burger, attend a Burns Night in prison, get flashed in a chip shop, battle XL Gullies, stick Kinder Eggs up our bottoms, visit...

It’s Hogmanay! (Well, it will be) so what better way to spend the evening than with Ford and Greg as we look at the classic Scottish sketch show, Chewin’ The Fat. We’ll be catching up with Jack and Victor, The Lighthouse Keepers, The Banter Boys, The Big Man and Ronald Villiers among many others.

In the news we have a look at some Scottish Hogmanay traditions, hear about a Scottish celebrity who hates Ho...

It’s Christmas! So what better way to celebrate than with the man himself, Rab C. Nesbitt. First shown on BBC Scotland in 1988, Rab C. Nesbitt’s Seasonal Greet follows the hard drinking Govan resident in his attempts to boycott Christmas and the festive period. But Mary, Gash, Burnie and then Jamsie deliver the ultimate betrayal.

In the news a National Treasure makes a blunder on live television, we hear...

Edinburgh. The 80’s. Heroin. Jimmy Nail. Spot the odd one out! This week on The Swally we are looking the 1986 classic from Peter McDougall, Shoot for the Sun. Starring Jimmy Nail, Brian Cox, Billy McColl and a whole host of Scottish talent. Set in the bleak backdrop of Edinburgh a low level drug dealer strives for making a living and surviving the natural elements of such an environment day to day.

Shoo...

Samuel L. Jackson? In Edinburgh? In a film with Brian McCardie, Brian Pettifer, John Hannah, Kate Dickie and Elaine C. Smith? That sound like a job for The Culture Swally. This week we are covering the 2024 thriller, Damaged. It follows Chicago-based detective Dan Lawson, who investigates a series of serial killings in Scotland alongside Glen Boyd and his ex partner, Walter Bravo. As the case continues, Lawson discove...

Happy Halloween! The Swally Spooktacular comes to a close for another year and do we have a treat for you! On this episode we are looking at the 1988 Ken Russell film, The Lair of The White Worm. Starring; Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Stratford Johns and Amanda Donohoe. When an archaeologist uncovers a strange skull in a foreign land, the residents of a nearby town begin to disappear, leading to further inexplicable occ...

The Swally Spooktacular continues! On this episode we cover the 2020 film, Playhouse. In a remote Scottish castle, an irreverent writer faces terrifying consequences when his daughter falls prey to an evil curse lurking within the walls.

In the news we got for a naked swim in Moray, hear what Alan Cumming has been stashing in Glasgow, find out how a school janitor will spend his lottery win and meet a sc...

It’s October! So that means it’s time for The Swally Spooktacular! We are kicking off this year’s Spooktacular with a film from 1973 starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Diana Dors and Keith Baron, Nothing But The Night. Three trustees of the Van Traylen fund have died during the last few months in deaths looking like suicides. However, after a mysterious bus accident involving three other trustees and thirty orph...

We’re joining the mafia on this episode of The Culture Swally, as we look at the 2003 film, American Cousins. Where two mafia members hide out with their Scottish cousin. They try to help him with a debt collector using violence, but their methods backfire. Their cover story unravels as the cousin recognises them as criminals.

In the news we discover how crafty prisoners have been able to play their Xbox...

We’re catching up with the residents of Latimer Crescent on this week’s episode as we look at the first series of the classic sitcom Two Doors Down. Starring; Alex Norton, Arabella Weir, Jonathan Watson, Don Mackichan and Elaine C Smith, the show revolves around a middle class Glasgow suburb and the interactions the neighbours have with each other.

In the news we find out what happened when 80’s comedian...

We’re off to the Highlands with James McAvoy, Claire Foy and Gary Lewis on this episode of The Swally as we look at the 2021 film, My Son. In the film, Edmond Murray (McAvoy) searches for answers deep in the Highlands after receiving a frantic call from his ex-wife that their seven-year-old son went missing from a campsite.

In the news we ponder the need for toastie insurance, discover who the good peopl...

We’re cramming ourselves into lycra and polishing our helmets on this episode of The Culture Swally as we look at the 2006 film, The Flying Scotsman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon, the film is based on the life and career of Scottish amateur cyclist Graeme Obree, covering the period that saw him take, lose, and then retake the world one-hour distance record. Starring Johnny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Billy Boyd, and Br...

The end of the world as we know it? Nah, lets have a dance to the Fine Young Cannibals as we look at the 2008 film, from director Neil Marshall, Doomsday.

When a lethal virus spreads throughout Scotland, infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. To contain the threat, acting authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. Three decades later, the Reaper virus vio...