'Naked Video' actor and director Ron Bain dies aged 79

Ron Bain (far left) with Mariam Margolyes, Richard Stilgoe, Tracey Ullman and Roger Sloman in A Kick Up the 80s in 1981

Tributes have been paid to the actor and director Ron Bain, who has died at the age of 79.

His career spanned stage and screen for more than 50 years and he was involved with some of the most successful TV comedy shows to come out of Scotland.

He was closely associated with the late actor Rikki Fulton. The two first appeared on stage together in an acclaimed productin of the Moliere play The Miser in 1971.

He went on to act with and direct Fulton in his TV sketch show Scotch and Wry and its spin-offs featuring the character Reverend IM Jolly.

Ron Bain was born in Grangemouth and trained at the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

He made his television debut alongside the actor Roddy McMillan in the gritty BBC Scotland drama The View from Daniel Pike in 1971.

His long career as a character actor included appearances in Play of the Month in 1975 as well as The XYY Men, Taggart and The Tales of Para Handy.

Bain (far right) with the cast of Naked Video

He was perhaps best known from his appearances in a series of 1980s comedies which came out of BBC Scotland's Comedy Unit.

These included A Kick of the 80s, Laugh I Almost Paid My Licence Fee, City Lights, Naked Radio and its successor Naked Video.

The latter launched the career of actor Gregor Fisher and the two also worked on the programmes Rab C Nesbitt and Snoddy.

Bain moved behind the camera during this period, working as a producer and director on a wide range of comedy and drama programmes including The Bill, River City and the Karen Dunbar Show.

He continued to work in theatre too, appearing onstage and encouraging other actors into the business.

Ron Bain (middle) with David Troughton (left) and Terence Budd in the BBC's production of Arnold Wesker's Chips with Everything in 1975.

Posting on X, the actor Colin McCredie wrote: "A dear friend for over 40 years. A brilliant actor & director. We’ll miss you Ron Bain".

The actress Gerda Stevenson wrote on Facebook: "Very sad to hear of the death of Ron Bain - a terrific actor. So clever and funny.

"I loved working with him in the Scottish Theatre Company way back in the '80s, the precursor to the National Theatre of Scotland.

"Ron was brilliant, fearless and utterly charismatic in the title role, a wonderfully comedic and intelligent performance. A joy to work with."

The actor and singer Tom Urie wrote: "Such sad news that Ron Bain has left us.

"Ron directed the first two series of The Karen Dunbar Show, and was responsible for directing all those classic Almost Angelic sketches.

"A unique, funny and kind man."

Luke McCullough, head of corporate affairs at BBC Scotland, said:

“We’re saddened to hear about the death of Ron Bain. He was an important part of much-loved BBC Scotland comedies including Naked Video, Laugh? I nearly Paid My Licence Fee and Rab C Nesbitt.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and all who worked with him across his career.”