HEN Broon is back in Scotland — and has thanked The National for publicising his fight to stay here.
The Home Office has agreed to grant a five year “promising talent” visa to award-winning actor Tyler Collins, who starred in The Broons, the stage production of the much-loved cartoon strip.
However he was forced to spend three months in the United States after initially being refused a new visa despite having spent nearly ten years in Scotland building his career. Still Game star Greg Hemphill and Denial actor Jack Lowden were among those who protested about the bar on Collins, who 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 application to stay was refused by the Home Office.
A second application has been approved and Collins arrived back yesterday but has lost out on work because of the battle.
However, he said: “I’m over the moon to be able to return to Scotland, and incredibly grateful for all the support — it means a lot.”
Film director John McPhail of Worrying Drake Productions has welcomed his return as the pair intend to work on a new project.
Collins is a founding member of Worrying Drake Productions, and along with McPhail has made four award-winning short films, including Just Say Hi, winner of two out of three awards at the Virgin Media Short Film Competition.
“Tyler is one of the most wonderful actors I have ever worked with,” said McPhail. “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. If we had to lose Tyler we’d be losing one of the most amazing talents this country has ever trained.”
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