Gary: Tank Commander
Encyclopedia
Gary: Tank Commander is a BAFTA-award winning sitcom
written and created by Greg McHugh
and produced by the Comedy Unit. The show originated in 2008 as a one-off pilot for More4
, under the title Gary's War. A full series was subsequently commissioned and broadcast on BBC Two Scotland in December 2009, moving to BBC One Scotland for the second series in January 2011. Originally broadcast in Scotland only, it was announced in 2011 that the series would receive a UK-wide screening on BBC Three
in the summer of the same year. The series is also available to view throughout the United Kingdom on BBC iPlayer
and has been released on DVD. Written by Greg McHugh
, he also stars as the lead role, Gary McLintoch (the tank
commander), a Corporal in the fictional 104th Royal Tank Regiment of the British Army
. Gary was originally modelled on a close friend of the director, who was born in Callander
in Scotland
. He was in the forces and was the first British
casualty of the first Gulf War
.
in Iraq
in the first series. The second series takes place in Afghanistan
. He is given menial tasks by his unforgiving Sergeant and tries to cope as best as possible with the situations that arise while having a good time with his mates.
TA Centre, Walcheren Barracks
in Maryhill, Garelochhead
Training Camp and the drill hall
of the Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps
, as well as Clydebank
as the "town centre" in episodes 1 and 3. A location in Kirkintilloch
was also used for the Iraq
army camp scenes throughout the first series.
The second series was filmed at East Kilbride
TA Centre, Maryhill
and Cambuslang
's Dechmont ranges. Film locations also included the small village of Milton of Campsie
, most notably the old railway line, where Gary's mother's ashes were to be scattered.
These concerns did prove to be unfounded and the programme was re-commissioned by the BBC and returned for a second series just over a year after the end of the first.
, with interviews, archive news material, YouTube-style video clips and fly on the wall
footage following Gary on his return home from Iraq. For the subsequent series, the show moved towards a more traditional sitcom format, although it retained the use of interspersed 'interviews' and 'video clips'.
-style video clips (complete with time bar) showing the soldiers and their antics whilst in Iraq (series one) or Afghanistan (series two). These are usually completely independent of the episode's plot but display the soldiers' sense of humour and perhaps boredom of being cooped up in theatre away from friends and family.
when speaking. This is used in the programme to give rise to some humorous situations. One most obvious example was in the third episode, where the visiting American General tried and failed to appropriately use the Scots word ken (know).
The use of Scots is not so strong as to prevent understanding by all English-speaking viewers.
Fresh back from a tour of duty in Iraq, Sgt Gary McLintoch returns to the Bannockburn housing estate he grew up in, as he recollects events from Iraq and gives his own unique take on the build-up to and aftermath of the Iraq War.
Gary returns from Iraq one day late after missing his connecting flight from Cyprus
and immediately gets posted to a recruiting stand in Clydebank shopping centre. While he takes a break, Julie, Jacko's sister and the only person to welcome him back at the airport, comes looking for him and inadvertently signs up to join the army.
Episode 2: Green Gods
The fire brigade goes on strike and the Army have to step in as a stop-gap using out-of-date equipment. They long for the excitement of a call-out to break the monotonous job and test their firefighting abilities, but find it is their people skills which are not up to the task.
Episode 3: The General
A US Army general visits under the pretext of examining the British Army in barracks, but is more interested in a free holiday and tracing his assumed Scottish roots.
Episode 4: The Great Debate
Gary takes part in a debate about the Iraq War at the University of St Andrews
against an anti-war student, organised by the OC's annoying brother.
Episode 5: In the Field
Gary agrees to help his father by buying a cooker for him and collecting it in the tank whilst on exercise. Despite the show's name, this is the first appearance of the tank (actually an Abbot
) which Gary commands.
Episode 6: Stagging On
Gary spends his birthday on guard duty. Charlie starts a rumour about himself. Guest appearance from Kevin Bridges
.
Episode 7: Best of...
Compilation episode broadcast over a year after episodes 1-6.
The squad are returning from Afghanistan
but miss their flight. This is the only episode in both series to be set outside Scotland.
Episode 2: Tank Goodness
While transporting a tank back to the barracks, the boys defy orders by stopping off at a service station for a bit of breakfast, only to find the tank missing when they finish. A frantic search ensues.
Episode 3: Too Many Chefs
Gary and the boys must help prepare an important dinner for the Captain, exasperated by a drunk Sergeant Thompson.
Episode 4: Mum's The Word
Gary and his Father are finding a suitable place to scatter the ashes of his mother.
Episode 5: Climate Control
Gary and the boys patrol a Climate Control meeting which Barack Obama
is attending. And they run into big bunnies, which are people in rabbit suits.
Episode 6: Star Wars
Gary and his team take part in an audition to be the faces of an army recruiting advert to get out of a stores-check. But all does not go smoothly.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
written and created by Greg McHugh
Greg McHugh
Greg McHugh is a Scottish actor and writer. He is the creator, writer and star of the BBC1 comedy series Gary: Tank Commander. He won a BAFTA for the show.He graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow....
and produced by the Comedy Unit. The show originated in 2008 as a one-off pilot for More4
More4
More4 is a digital television channel, run by British broadcaster Channel 4, that launched on 10 October 2005. It is carried on Freeview, on satellite broadcasters Freesat and Sky, UK IPTV broadcaster TalkTalk TV and on UK cable network Virgin Media and in the Republic of Ireland cable networks...
, under the title Gary's War. A full series was subsequently commissioned and broadcast on BBC Two Scotland in December 2009, moving to BBC One Scotland for the second series in January 2011. Originally broadcast in Scotland only, it was announced in 2011 that the series would receive a UK-wide screening on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
in the summer of the same year. The series is also available to view throughout the United Kingdom on BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
and has been released on DVD. Written by Greg McHugh
Greg McHugh
Greg McHugh is a Scottish actor and writer. He is the creator, writer and star of the BBC1 comedy series Gary: Tank Commander. He won a BAFTA for the show.He graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow....
, he also stars as the lead role, Gary McLintoch (the tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
commander), a Corporal in the fictional 104th Royal Tank Regiment of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Gary was originally modelled on a close friend of the director, who was born in Callander
Callander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He was in the forces and was the first British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
casualty of the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Plot
The stories revolve around Gary's life in the British Army after his deployment to an operational theatreTheater (warfare)
In warfare, a theater, is defined as an area or place within which important military events occur or are progressing. The entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations....
in Iraq
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
in the first series. The second series takes place in Afghanistan
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
. He is given menial tasks by his unforgiving Sergeant and tries to cope as best as possible with the situations that arise while having a good time with his mates.
Locations
Filming locations have included East KilbrideEast Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
TA Centre, Walcheren Barracks
Walcheren Barracks
Walcheren Barracks is a Drill hall located at Hotspur Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. The current building was originally constructed in 1935 as the new Headquarters of the 9th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, which moved from 81 Greendyke Street near Glasgow Green...
in Maryhill, Garelochhead
Garelochhead
Garelochhead is a small village on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the nearest village to the HMNB Clyde naval base.Garelochhead lies at the head of the Gare Loch, 7 miles northwest of Helensburgh. Loch Lomond is a few miles to the east, and Loch Long to the west...
Training Camp and the drill hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
of the Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps
Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps
Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps is one of nineteen University Officer Training Corps in the United Kingdom and one of four in Scotland, drawing recruits from higher education institutions in and around the city of Glasgow and the wider Strathclyde region in west-central...
, as well as Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
as the "town centre" in episodes 1 and 3. A location in Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
was also used for the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
army camp scenes throughout the first series.
The second series was filmed at East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
TA Centre, Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
and Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
's Dechmont ranges. Film locations also included the small village of Milton of Campsie
Milton of Campsie
Milton of Campsie is a small village situated in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland roughly 10 miles north of Glasgow. Nestling at the foot of the Campsie Fells, it is neighboured by Kirkintilloch and Lennoxtown...
, most notably the old railway line, where Gary's mother's ashes were to be scattered.
Reception
There was some concern that the way the show portrays soldiers of the British Army may cause offence to the people of Scotland. Writer/actor Greg McHugh dismisses these worries saying "We hear lots about the death of troops, sadly, but we never hear about the more human side or the lighter side."These concerns did prove to be unfounded and the programme was re-commissioned by the BBC and returned for a second series just over a year after the end of the first.
Format
The original pilot was filmed as a mockumentaryMockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
, with interviews, archive news material, YouTube-style video clips and fly on the wall
Fly on the wall
Fly on the wall is a style of documentary-making used in filmmaking and television production. The name derived from the idea that events are seen candidly, as a fly on a wall might see them...
footage following Gary on his return home from Iraq. For the subsequent series, the show moved towards a more traditional sitcom format, although it retained the use of interspersed 'interviews' and 'video clips'.
Interviews
Each episode has a few interview style scenes where Gary is talking to an unseen, unheard interviewer about something mentioned in the episode. These are usually just some of his idle thoughts and do little to further the plot; although they do help viewers to understand Gary. Occasional words or phrases (but rarely complete sentences) are subtitled in these interviews for emphasis. These subtitles often make use of subtle Kinetic typography.Video clips
At the start of each episode, and a couple of times throughout, are YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
-style video clips (complete with time bar) showing the soldiers and their antics whilst in Iraq (series one) or Afghanistan (series two). These are usually completely independent of the episode's plot but display the soldiers' sense of humour and perhaps boredom of being cooped up in theatre away from friends and family.
Language
Most of the main characters, especially Gary, occasionally use ScotsScots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
when speaking. This is used in the programme to give rise to some humorous situations. One most obvious example was in the third episode, where the visiting American General tried and failed to appropriately use the Scots word ken (know).
The use of Scots is not so strong as to prevent understanding by all English-speaking viewers.
Running gags
- Gary's insistence on answering the phone pretending to be some other company, with the caller frequently thinking they could have rung a wrong number.
- The Officer Commanding's inability to finish a sentence or remember names.
- Sgt Thomson sucking-up to the Officer Commanding.
- Charlie stating trivial information, only to be told how boring he is by the rest of the crew.
- Gary's inability to get some crude jokes involving certain swear words.
- Julie's dodgy driving ability.
Main cast
| Actor/Actress | Character | Occupation/Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greg McHugh Greg McHugh Greg McHugh is a Scottish actor and writer. He is the creator, writer and star of the BBC1 comedy series Gary: Tank Commander. He won a BAFTA for the show.He graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.... |
Gary McLintoch | Corporal | |
| Scott Fletcher | Charlie Smith | Trooper Trooper (rank) Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped... |
|
| Robert Jack | Jacko Jackson | Lance-Corporal | |
| Paul-James Corrigan | Adam Kenning | Trooper Trooper (rank) Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped... |
|
| Leah MacRae Leah MacRae Leah MacRae is a Scottish actress, Known throughout the UK for her roles in "Grownups", Gary: Tank Commander and "The Karen Dunbar Show" .MacRae is notable for playing Glaswegian barmaid Jenny in Grownups, She appeared in the 2009 Comic Relief episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps,... |
Julie Jackson | Bakery Bakery A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake... worker/Jacko's Sister |
|
| Stuart Bowman Stuart Bowman (actor) Stuart Bowman is a Scottish actor notable for his appearances in the film The Wisdom of Crocodiles, the sit-com Gary: Tank Commander and the radio play Carver.-External links:* for Stuart Bowman.... |
Sergeant Thomson | Troop Sergeant | |
| Miles Jupp Miles Jupp Miles Jupp is a British actor and comedian, probably best known as Archie in the children's television series Balamory.... |
Sebastian Fanshaw | Captain Captain (British Army and Royal Marines) Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force... (Officer Commanding Officer Commanding The Officer Commanding is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit , principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, the term Commanding Officer is applied to commanders of minor as well as major units.Normally an Officer Commanding is a company, squadron or battery... ) |
|
| Callum Cuthbertson Callum Cuthbertson Callum Cuthbertson is a Scottish actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Martin McLintoch, the mild-mannered father of Gary, in the hit BBC sitcom Gary: Tank Commander.-Roles:... |
Martin McLintoch | Gary's father | Recurring |
Pilot (2008)
Gary's WarFresh back from a tour of duty in Iraq, Sgt Gary McLintoch returns to the Bannockburn housing estate he grew up in, as he recollects events from Iraq and gives his own unique take on the build-up to and aftermath of the Iraq War.
Series 1 (2009)
Episode 1: Be the BestGary returns from Iraq one day late after missing his connecting flight from Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and immediately gets posted to a recruiting stand in Clydebank shopping centre. While he takes a break, Julie, Jacko's sister and the only person to welcome him back at the airport, comes looking for him and inadvertently signs up to join the army.
Episode 2: Green Gods
The fire brigade goes on strike and the Army have to step in as a stop-gap using out-of-date equipment. They long for the excitement of a call-out to break the monotonous job and test their firefighting abilities, but find it is their people skills which are not up to the task.
Episode 3: The General
A US Army general visits under the pretext of examining the British Army in barracks, but is more interested in a free holiday and tracing his assumed Scottish roots.
Episode 4: The Great Debate
Gary takes part in a debate about the Iraq War at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
against an anti-war student, organised by the OC's annoying brother.
Episode 5: In the Field
Gary agrees to help his father by buying a cooker for him and collecting it in the tank whilst on exercise. Despite the show's name, this is the first appearance of the tank (actually an Abbot
FV433 Abbot SPG
FV433 Field Artillery, Self-Propelled "Abbot" is the self-propelled artillery variant of the British Army FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles, using much of the chassis of the FV430 but with a fully rotating turret at the rear housing the 105 mm gun and given the vehicle designation of...
) which Gary commands.
Episode 6: Stagging On
Gary spends his birthday on guard duty. Charlie starts a rumour about himself. Guest appearance from Kevin Bridges
Kevin Bridges
Kevin Bridges is a Scottish stand-up comedian.-Stand-up:Bridges began performing on the small stage when he left school shortly after his 17th birthday, doing stand-up comedy gigs at The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow and then throughout the UK. At 18 he reached the final of Channel 5's So you think...
.
Episode 7: Best of...
Compilation episode broadcast over a year after episodes 1-6.
Series 2 (2011)
Episode 1: CheckoutThe squad are returning from Afghanistan
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
but miss their flight. This is the only episode in both series to be set outside Scotland.
Episode 2: Tank Goodness
While transporting a tank back to the barracks, the boys defy orders by stopping off at a service station for a bit of breakfast, only to find the tank missing when they finish. A frantic search ensues.
Episode 3: Too Many Chefs
Gary and the boys must help prepare an important dinner for the Captain, exasperated by a drunk Sergeant Thompson.
Episode 4: Mum's The Word
Gary and his Father are finding a suitable place to scatter the ashes of his mother.
Episode 5: Climate Control
Gary and the boys patrol a Climate Control meeting which Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
is attending. And they run into big bunnies, which are people in rabbit suits.
Episode 6: Star Wars
Gary and his team take part in an audition to be the faces of an army recruiting advert to get out of a stores-check. But all does not go smoothly.