Whether you were arriving in the city or saying goodbye, Thursday at Glasgow Central Station made sure you felt right at home.
Sprawled across the concourse was a giant “Weclome” mat, a playful tribute to the famously misspelt doormat from Glasgow’s iconic sitcom Still Game. Roped off for photos and instantly drawing a crowd, the installation transformed the busy station into something closer to Craiglang than a commuter hub.
The oversized mat was brought to Scotland’s busiest station by BBC Scotland as part of its Made of Glasgow campaign, celebrating the city as a powerhouse of comedy and storytelling. What started as a curious sight for early-morning travellers quickly turned into a full pop-up moment, with fans stopping mid-journey to snap pictures.
The surprise didn’t stop at the prop itself. The reveal saw appearances from Still Game creators and stars Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan, followed later by Jane McCarry and Mark Cox, who play Isa Drennan and Tam Mullen. Their arrival sparked cheers, selfies and plenty of classic Glaswegian banter echoing through the station.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, said: “Made of Glasgow celebrates the humour, humanity and originality of the city’s storytelling and today’s installation was a fun nod to one of our most beloved comedies that is unmistakable Glaswegian. The wider Made of Scotland campaign is all about championing homegrown storytelling, and there was no better way to open the celebration than by giving Glasgow a suitably huge weclome.”
Greg Hemphill added: “It’s not every day you get to see a weclome mat this size! It gave everyone a great laugh and it shows how much affection there still is for Scottish comedy and storytelling.”
Ford Kiernan said: “Glasgow is full of funny people and stories – and Still Game captured that. It is brilliant to be part of something that celebrates the stories made right here, and I think Jack and Victor would approve.”
The installation formed part of the BBC’s wider Made of Here initiative, described as a Valentine’s “love letter” to Glasgow. Alongside the Central Station takeover, audiences across Scotland will see a new brand film, Made of Scotland, spotlighting programmes created and inspired by communities across the country. The film features titles including Rebus, Highland Cops, Jules & Greg’s Wild Swim, Granite Harbour, Only Child and Banjo & Ro’s Grand Island Hotel, enforcing the broadcaster’s focus on championing Scottish-made stories.
For the full day, the daily rush paused for a reminder of what Glasgow does best: humour, heart and a properly warm – if slightly misspelt – weclome.
Hi, I’m Julia Braun Raven, a second-year Journalism, Media & Creative Writing student. I’m co-Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor, and I love creating stories that matter to students, inspiring them, supporting what they’re passionate about, and celebrating their achievements. I’m especially interested in arts, culture, and student life, and I enjoy bringing energy, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to every piece I work on.