Govan Fair Queen is a new comedy short written and directed by Scottish breakout talent Paul Black and commissioned by BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland. The film, produced by Shakehaus, is a vibrant celebration of working-class pride, local legacy and intergenerational love, set in the heart of Govan and starring Scottish acting legend Elaine C Smith.
In her screen debut, Harper Blue Hamilton stars as 9-year-old Abigail, reluctantly pushed into entering the annual Govan Fair Queen competition by her larger-than-life gran Linda, played with trademark swagger by Elaine C Smith. With a Florida holiday on the line and a decades-old rivalry reignited, Govan Fair Queen is a sharply observed, laugh-out-loud tale of family, pride, and pageantry.
This marks Black’s latest collaboration with BBC Scotland, following the sketch show Pity Party, the Hogmanay special First Footing and stand-up special Nostalgia for BBC iPlayer. Known for his sharp character comedy and astute social commentary,
Black has fast become a vital voice in modern Scottish entertainment, with his work exploring class, queerness and identity.
The film is executive produced by Margarita Veberaite for Shakehaus and produced by Lauren Lamarr. The project is supported by The Portal Studios who provided editorial input, accessibility support, and local engagement.
The team also extends heartfelt thanks to The Govan Fair committee for their support and for the generous loan of the authentic Govan Fair Queen crown.
Govan Fair Queen is available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 14 July, and screens on the same date at 9.30pm on BBC Scotland. It will then screen on BBC Three at 11pm on Thursday 17 July.
Paul says of Govan Fair Queen: “It was a joy to work with such a talented cast and crew on a wee story (roughly) based on my childhood, The Govan Fair holds a special place in the community’s heart, and I loved bringing it to life on screen. It celebrates the humour and tenacity of the women I grew up around, highlighting the joy in working class communities that is often overlooked in stories about us."
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, said: “We’re proud to support Scotland’s comedy scene by providing a platform for original voices to develop and shine. Govan Fair Queen is a fantastic example of our commitment to nurturing homegrown talent like Paul Black, who brings his authentic voice and creativity to this entertaining and heartfelt short. We’re thrilled to share it as part of our Comedy Shorts initiative, which exists to champion the most exciting comedy talent from across the UK.”
Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland said: “Scotland is world renowned for our comedy talent and it’s fantastic to be able to support local emerging comedy writers like Paul Black through our partnership with the BBC on the Comedy Shorts Initiative. Screen Scotland is committed to supporting more work creatively originated in Scotland, by Scottish writers about their experiences and communities and Govan Fair Queen is a great example of that.”
Margarita Veberaite, Producer and Co-Founder, Shakehaus: “It was a pleasure to work with Paul once again and help bring his vision to audiences. We’re incredibly proud of the film and bringing it to life has been a meaningful experience. Having the support of BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland means a great deal, not just for this project, but also for the continued growth of local talent, our company, and the kind of original, authentic storytelling we’re committed to championing.”
Moya Crowley, Creative Director, The Portal Studios, said: “Paul’s voice shines throughout this story, capturing the spirit, humour and strength of the community. As a Govan-based organization, we are thrilled to collaborate with such a great team, and we’re especially proud to have supported a film that so closely aligns with our mission to celebrate authentic local storytelling. Viewers are in for a real Scottish treat!”
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Image credits: Stills courtesy of Margarita Veberaite