Scots TV and music stars unveil stunning re-working of Pogues' Fairytale Of New York

The duo have transformed the plaintive lyrics from The Pogues’ legendary song into a story featuring a mother and son.

Their version of the song is released on Friday with a video following on Monday.

The duo first met in 2014 when they were in the National Theatre of Scotland’s ground breaking The James Plays which premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Blythe, star of many stage productions as well as classic TV series Taggart, and Fifer Cameron, singer-songwriter with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, realised the chemistry between them was perfect to present a completely new take on a song loved by generations.

The recent controversy over radio stations ‘censoring’ some of the lyrics was the spark which made it happen.

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Thirty-three years after its original release, 33 years later, Blythe and Cameron have taken Shane McGowan’s words, and turned them into a stunning video which will now help to support other freelance creatives.

Their version tells the story of single mum, Christina Chalmers – or Chrissy as she was known in her heyday - who is living her life vicariously through her multi-talented musician son, Guy.

She encouraged him to leave Glasgow and follow in her footsteps to seek his fortune in New York City - but it didn’t work out.

The money ran out, the global pandemic sapped his creative energy, and his online betting habit has impacted.

Within a week the new version of Fairytale was done with huge input from Scott Wood and Mhairi Marwick’s creativity and musical talents.

Blythe said: “If I had been told that 2020 would end with me ticking off, the biggest wish on my bucket list - to record a single - I would have laughed in disbelief.

“To work with Cameron, Scott and Mhairi was a thrill - throw in the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and it has just tipped me over the edge!”

The song will be released on Friday on Distrokid. and the video on December 14, with all profits going to Nordoff Robbins and ACT the Actors’ Children’s Trust.

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