AN outcry has broken out over a refusal by the English Arts Council to back Hen Broon’s return to Scotland.

Still Game star Greg Hemphill and Denial actor Jack Lowden are among those who have protested about the bar on award-winning actor Tyler Collins, who starred in The Broons, the stage production of the much-loved cartoon strip.

The Home Office has said that one stage of Collins’ two-stage application process for an Exceptional Talent visa was “not forthcoming”.

“I’m totally devastated,” said Collins, “I’ve had overwhelming support from companies and professionals in Scotland but unfortunately it’s not up to them to choose if I get to stay.”

The National:

Collins first came to Scotland from Alaska in 2007 to study at the RSMAD, now the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow.

He was just a few months short of being able to apply for full citizenship when his visa ran out and he was forced to go back to the United States to re-apply. He had applied for an exceptional talent visa which means his application has to be endorsed by the Arts Council in England who are supposed to liaise with their devolved counterparts. Only when the application is endorsed can it go forward to the Home Office to be considered for a visa.

“I was doing development work with the National Theatre of Scotland up until the day before I left,” said Collins. “I would have been developing another show right now if I hadn’t had to return to the States.

“I actually have a decent life in Scotland. I work enough to pay my taxes, live, eat, and even make my quarterly American student loan payments. But if I can’t get back in I’ll be starting again from scratch.

“They said I didn’t have media recognition from another country, however I sent in a Romanian publication from when I was over with NTS.”

The 27-year-old’s friends and fans have reacted with disbelief to the refusal.

“Tyler Collins, aka @twometerman is a formidable talent, like different league! Big mistake...,” tweeted Lowden.

“Very sad when we start judging artistic merit/value based on media recognition!,” agreed Borderline Theatre Company.

Glasgow Filmmakers were among those calling on the Scottish Government to step in. “Devastated to hear that actor Tyler Collins (@twometerman) has had his visa rejected. Please @NicolaSturgeon, @theSNP, @scotgov do something!” they tweeted.

Collins told The National he intended to appeal against the decision but even if he is granted another five year visa he will need to reapply for another five years before he is eligible to apply for citizenship.

As well as losing all the contacts and regular work he has built up over the last nine years, a refusal to allow Collins back to Scotland may force an acclaimed independent film company to fold, it has been claimed.

Film director John McPhail of Worrying Drake Productions said that if Collins was barred from coming back to Scotland it would be a “tremendous” loss to the industry.

“Tyler is one of the most wonderful actors I have ever worked with,” he said. “His physical comedy is quite literally the best in the country – every stage production I have ever seen him has audiences in stitches. It’s usually hard for an actor with such amazing physical comedy and performances to transfer that to film but not Tyler; he’s the comedy, the heart and the soul of all the Worrying Drake films.

“He’s made audiences all around the world laugh and cry, and it’s backed up with all our best film, audience choice, best actor and best score awards.

“He is also one of the most talented musicians I have ever met.”

A Home Office spokesman, said: “The Exceptional Talent visa is a route to the UK for world leaders in science, engineering, humanities, the arts and digital technology.

“Securing an Exceptional Talent visa is a two-stage process, the first of which is securing an endorsement from the appropriate industry body. In Mr Collins’ case this was not forthcoming.

“In the absence of such an endorsement there was no immigration decision for the Home Office to make.”