Scottish comedy series The Chief, a spin-off from award-winning mockumentary Scot Squad, is heading to the BBC, written by and starring Jack Docherty, who returns as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson.
The series sees The Chief wrestle with contemporary dilemmas and workplace politics, while trying his best to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. Thankfully, he’s got his trusty team by his side. Sort of.
Docherty admitted ahead of the new series launch that he never has to look too far from home for inspiration for his characters, although that perhaps doesn’t always come with the levels of parental support he might expect: “Most of my comedy characters are based on my Dad,” he explained. “The Chief is very, very, very much like him. He once told me he wanted to sue me for half my fee!”
A career crimefighter, Cameron Miekelson JBE is proud to be the top cop of the Scottish Police Force. Combining his wealth of experience with an unquenchable desire to be at the forefront of forward thinking, modern policing, he feels uniquely qualified to sit in “the big chair”. A master at balancing politics, budgets, manpower and expectation, he likes to think he is both the beating heart of the force and the, admittedly handsome, face.
While his personal life might not be quite so successful – he’s separated from his wife Barbara and estranged from his daughter Ellen – he is forever determined to improve as both Chief and man. Inclusive, inventive, energetic and deeply passionate about policing, he works tirelessly to ensure that Scotland remains safe, that no criminal feels comfortable, and that the public continue to have confidence in their man, The People’s Chief.
So, having immersed himself in the role of a senior cop for six series of Scot Squad, and now the spin-off too, what has Dochery learned about the life of a law enforcement legend?
“Actors who portray senior police figures should be allowed to use the blue light to speed to the takeaway to pick up their Bhuna,” the comic quipped.
You might think such a frivolous approach to the letter of the law would earn Docherty a major black mark in the eyes of the nation’s real detectives, but apparently not – Docherty assured us that The Chief gets respect from police officers across Scotland, and even regularly receives a respectful salute from his real life equivalents: “He generally gets the respect he deserves everywhere he goes in Scotland,” the show’s star insists. “Except at Tynecastle. No idea why, that’s just the radge Jambos for you!”
The Chief is made by The Comedy Unit and commissioned and executive produced by BBC Scotland. The show also stars Carmen Pieraccini as Katriona Muldoon, deputy chief commissioner, Rhona Cameron as Justice Minister Una Struan MSP, Lana Pheutan as Lyndsey McLeod, head of HR & equity, diversity and inclusion, and Eilidh Loan as Ellen Miekelson, The Chief’s daughter.
All four episodes of The Chief debut on BBC iPlayer from Thursday December 20.
Pic: The Comedy Unit, photographer Jamie Simpson
