Those who claim to despise the limelight always seem to end up being drawn back into it one way or another. Former SNP MP Mhairi Black is a prime example. The former nationalist politician claimed to feel uncomfortable about the scrutiny she received as a politician – and yet she frequently drew attention to herself in the Commons by, for example, being the first MP to use the ‘c-word’ in a speech. Charming!
Black didn’t stand in the 2024 general election and, instead of retreating to the more normal life she claimed to crave, she went on to try her hand at comedy at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival. Her journey from politician to performer was chronicled in a Beeb documentary called ‘Mhairi Black: Being Me Again’. After the hurrah from all that had died down, she announced some months later that she was no longer a member of the SNP – generating yet another flurry of headlines.
The former politician appears to have become rather bored with life on the sidelines again: today it has been announced that Black will join the case of a new BBC legal drama. The production – called ‘Counsels’ – will be set in Glasgow and see the ex-SNP MP play a character called Detective Inspector Bridges. Speaking about her new career path, Black gushed:
I’ve been relishing trying different things since politics. This is my first TV acting role and I really enjoyed auditioning for the part. To work on a series which is set and filmed in Glasgow is an amazing opportunity – what a brilliant show to be part of.
Steerpike hopes for the director’s sake that Black will be a little more committed to the gig than she was in the Commons. And if she enjoys this investigative role enough, she could turn her attention to the Operation Branchform probe into the SNP’s funds and finances which is still, er, yet to conclude…
Comments