NOVEMBER 16, 2013: Greenock actor Richard Wilson revealed how the Tele gave him his first big break — as he prepared to collect a prestigious gong in Glasgow.

Richard, 77, best known for his role as grumpy Victor Meldrew in BBC hit One Foot in the Grave, was to receive a special award at the Scottish Baftas.

The star told the Tele that he was ‘chuffed and very honoured’ to receive the accolade. Richard, who grew up in Dunlop Street, still recalled how he hit the headlines for the first time in the Tele many years ago.

He said: “I started off in the George Square Players where I got my taste for acting. “

"I remember bringing in the coal one Saturday and seeing the Tele containing a banner headline ‘A Star is Born’ and I wondered who that was –– and it was a review of a play I had just opened.”

Richard first trod the boards locally and this was where he caught the acting bug. Despite leaving for London when he was 21, he cherishes his Scottish and local roots.

He said: “I’m not particularly nationalist, but when people start running Scotland down I get very tetchy.

“It’s an inbuilt, ‘built on the Clyde’ thing and I’m and very proud of it.”

He said the highlights of his career had been starring in the comedy hits Tutti Frutti and One Foot in the Grave.

He said: “Tutti Frutti is particularly appropriate as it is a main piece of Scottish work, with a wonderful script by John Byrne, and it was a very happy time.

“I also worked with the BBC’s Glasgow drama department for a while and directed a film for them.”

Richard insisted he doesn’t mind fans calling out Victor Meldrew’s ‘I don’t believe it!’ catchphrase.

He said: “I just wave if they use the catchphrase.

“That’s all right and I expect to get it — it was a milestone in my career.”