By Cara Sulieman
COMEDIAN Greg Hemphill has spoken about his split from comedy partner Ford Kiernan, saying it was the logical next step for the duo.
The pair co-wrote hit sketch show Chewin’s the Fat and sitcom Still Game before Greg walked away from the partnership in 2008.
The 40-year-old explained how they now hardly talk after a decade together.
He said: “I know it looks odd when you have two people who are in business together and then it stops.
“But there was nothing sinister about the split. I think we realised we weren’t going to write a bigger sitcom than still game, or a bigger sketch show than Chewin’ The Fat.
“We were joined at the hip, Ford and I, but that couldn’t continue.
“However, we’ll go for a pint one of these days – honest, it will happen.”
But he admits he should have told Ford he was leaving, rather than just walking out.
Greg added: “That is what a smart businessman would have done but artists are petulant, impulsive.
“We’ve all got regrets. Nobody’s perfect and there are better ways to go about things but you have to make decisions and stand by them.”
Ford, 47, took sole control of the Effingee Production company that the pair had set up together.
Greg said: “The road in front of me was going to be about meetings and pitching game shows or trying to get other sitcoms away and build the business.
“That’s what business is all about, I guess, but I wanted to follow a different path.
“Before we knew it we had a factory and a team of people working for us. But I wanted to be in control of my own destiny – like we were back in the days of Chewin’ the Fat.
“I realised it wasn’t for me. “And it wouldn’t have been fair to Ford to carry on half-heartedly.”
Ford has now formed a new double act with comedian Bruce Morton while Greg has delved into the movie world with a new comedy film.
Greg said: “We had discussed how we would finish Still Game and we even had an ending for it. It’s sad we never got to do that.
“But these things are organic. You have to deal with the natural process of what happens in your life and how much control you have.”
