Two Doors Down star on the reason fans stop him to complain

His roles in two of Scotland’s biggest comedy shows – as hapless neighbour Alan in Two Doors Down and PC Hugh McKirdy in Scot Squad – have ensured he gets his fair share of public reaction when he is out and about.

However, the star (real name Graeme Stevely) reveals he is now being approached for a different reason, after telly audiences warmed to his new BBC Scotland series, Scotland’s Greatest Escape, in which expert judges rule which holiday getaways are the best.

“People are starting to blame me if their favourite escape doesn’t win,” he says, with a laugh. “I get, ‘haw, Grado, how come that one didn’t get it?’ as if it’s my fault.”

He pauses. “I like that though, it’s great that people are interested and talking about the show,” he adds.

Industry experts Fiona Campbell and Vanessa Kanbi (Image: BBC)

“This series is absolutely amazing. Not that I didn’t enjoy the first series, but the second one has absolutely blown my mind.

“We have no idea, most of us in this country, what Scotland really does have to offer.”

Grado is back with a new series (Image: BBC)

He adds: “I mean, we stand for hours in the passport queues and the security queues, spend a fortune on food in the airport, just to go away on holiday, when we could jump in the motor and find something unique, right on our doorstep.”

The new series finds a team of judges travelling the length and breadth of the country to determine what makes the ultimate getaway, visiting adventure destinations, foodie favourites, luxury retreats and budget-friendly hideaways. Each one is rated on four criteria – accommodation, activities on offer, customer service and overall experience.

The Pilot House (Image: BBC)

Behind the scenes, Grado meets the owners and staff to find out what makes each escape special. In the opening episode, entitled Unique and Unusual, the team visit an aluminium clad house in the village of Drimnin; a house inspired by Iron Age brochs on the isle of Harris; and a converted church in Dull, north of Perth.

“I’ve been blown away by the amount of hard work done by these people – these escapes are their pride and joy, and they all have their own stories to tell,” says Grado.

“It’s an industry that’s had a really tough few years. I hope the programme inspires people to go to these places and give them a bit of a boost.”

The Broch (Image: BBC)

Grado admits it has inspired him and his new wife Stephanie. The couple got married in Ayrshire last summer.

“Yes, got married, which was exciting, although I’ve hardly seen my wife because I’ve been away working so much,” he says, with a sigh.

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“It’s been non-stop. It has actually inspired us though. I quite like watching the show, and I never normally enjoy watching myself in things.

“But we’ll sit and watch and she’ll go – ‘oh, I quite like that place, let’s go and stay there for a wee weekend’ or, ‘that place looks good for kids, and we could take the dug’…it’s great, we love it.”

Away from telly, Grado will be on stage in Glasgow soon, with the comedy football podcast A Shot and Two Pints which he presents with River City’s Stephen Purdon and Scot Squad’s Chris Toal. It is coming to the Pavilion on May 11.

“I love the Pavilion, absolutely love doing panto there, it’s like my second home at the moment,” says Grado, who also presents the breakfast show on Go Radio with Gary Muircroft. He adds, beaming: “I love doing that show. I get up at 4am every day to have a blether with Crofty, and rant about whatever I want. It’s perfect.”

Scotland’s Greatest Escape starts on Wednesday, February 28.