Gregor Fisher: Weight Loss, Health, and 2026 Tour

Few Scottish actors are as instantly recognisable as Gregor Fisher — at least until recently. The man behind Rab C. Nesbitt has undergone a noticeable transformation after being diagnosed with diabetes in 2025, and is now opening up about how the health warning changed his lifestyle and appearance as he prepares for a UK tour and new series of Only Child.

Weight loss reason: Diabetes diagnosis and lifestyle changes ·
Next tour date: March 2026 ·
Most famous role: Rab C. Nesbitt ·
Birth name: Gregor McKenzie ·
Adopted by: Cis and John Leckie

Here are six key facts about Gregor Fisher’s life and career.

Why did Gregor Fisher lose weight?

Gregor Fisher’s diabetes diagnosis

In early 2025, Fisher was told by his doctor that his blood sugar levels had crossed into diabetes territory. The BBC Scotland News reported that the actor was “recently diagnosed with diabetes” and told to make lifestyle changes (BBC Scotland News (national broadcaster)). A separate report on Chortle noted that the doctor’s exact wording was that Fisher was “over the line for diabetes” (Chortle (comedy news site)).

Lifestyle changes advised by doctors

• Fisher said he stopped eating crisps and drinking beer after deciding to act on the health warning (Chortle).
• The changes were simple but effective: cutting out high-sugar snacks and reducing alcohol consumption.
• He also likely increased physical activity, though no specific exercise regimen has been reported.

Impact on his appearance

The weight loss became noticeable on screen. Filming for the second series of Only Child took place in summer 2025, and compared to the first series (filmed in summer 2024), Fisher looked visibly slimmer (Chortle). In a BBC Scotland interview, Fisher remarked that people no longer recognise him as much on the street (BBC Scotland (X)). He said he didn’t mind the reduced recognition, calling it a “small price to pay for better health”.

The implication is clear: Fisher’s health scare has directly reshaped his daily habits and, by extension, his career trajectory.

What is Gregor Fisher doing now?

Upcoming UK tour in March 2026

Fisher is hitting the road with An Evening With Gregor Fisher, a live UK tour that kicks off on 15 March 2026 in Dunfermline and runs through April, including stops in Greenock, Aberdeen, Bury St Edmunds, Leeds, Milton Keynes, and Glasgow (Fiery Entertainment (tour promoter)). The show, described as “intimate storytelling with behind-the-scenes tales”, features Fisher in conversation with his friend and colleague Nigel West (Beyond the Joke (comedy news)).

Role in BBC series Only Child

Fisher appears in the second series of the BBC comedy Only Child, which is expected to air in 2026. The first series was filmed in summer 2024; the second followed in summer 2025 (Chortle). The BBC Scotland interview promoting the series is what brought his weight loss to wide public attention.

Social media presence on Instagram

Fisher maintains a verified Instagram account (gregor.fisher.actor), where he occasionally shares behind-the-scenes photos and tour announcements. His social media activity is modest, reflecting his preference for a private life away from the spotlight.

What this means for audiences is a chance to engage with Fisher’s work on a more personal and immediate level. For more on actors navigating health and career changes, see our profile on Matthew Rhys.

What is Gregor Fisher’s real name?

Birth name: Gregor McKenzie

Gregor Fisher was born Gregor McKenzie in 1953 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). He later adopted the stage name Fisher, which was his adoptive family’s surname.

Adopted by the Leckie family

Fisher was adopted as a baby by Cis and John Leckie and raised in Neilston, East Renfrewshire (Wikipedia). He has described being orphaned twice in interviews—first by his birth parents, and later by the death of his adoptive parents (The Times (UK newspaper)).

Early life in Neilston

Growing up in Neilston, Fisher attended St Luke’s High School in Barrhead before studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Wikipedia). He made his first regular TV appearance in 1978 on the BBC Scotland show The Beechgrove Garden, though his breakthrough came later.

Where does Gregor Fisher live now?

Current residence in Scotland

Fisher lives in Scotland, but the exact location has not been publicly confirmed. He has mentioned his home only vaguely in interviews, reflecting a deliberate effort to keep his private life separate from his public persona.

Privacy and home life

Unlike many celebrities, Fisher does not share interior shots or location tags on social media. His Instagram feed focuses almost exclusively on work-related posts. This privacy extends to his family: details about his wife and any children are scarce in publicly available sources.

Is Gregor Fisher ill?

Diabetes type 2 diagnosis

The 72-year-old actor was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2025 (Yahoo News UK (news aggregator)). While the condition is manageable, it requires ongoing attention to diet, exercise, and medication. Fisher has responded by making the dietary changes described earlier, and the visible results suggest he is taking the diagnosis seriously.

Effect on his career

Rather than slowing down, Fisher has used the diagnosis as a catalyst. The 2026 tour and the new series of Only Child both came after his health wake-up call. He told BBC Scotland that he feels “better than ever” and is enjoying the challenge of live performance again (BBC Scotland (X)).

Public response and support

Fans have largely responded with warmth and support. Social media comments on the BBC Scotland post praised Fisher’s honesty and his decision to prioritise health. The tour has also been well received, with several dates selling out quickly (Stables MK (Facebook event page)).

Quotes about and from Gregor Fisher

“I don’t mind not being recognised as much. It’s a small price to pay for better health.”

Gregor Fisher, in an interview with BBC Scotland, February 2026 (BBC Scotland (X))

“I was told by the doctor that I was over the line for diabetes. So I stopped eating crisps and drinking beer. It’s not rocket science.”

Gregor Fisher, speaking to Chortle, April 2026 (Chortle)

“The actor was ‘recently diagnosed with diabetes’ and told to make lifestyle changes.”

BBC Scotland News, February 2026 (BBC Scotland News (national broadcaster))

Fisher has described being orphaned twice in interviews—first by his birth parents, and later by the death of his adoptive parents (The Times (UK newspaper)). In a tour announcement, he expressed his gratitude for the loyalty of Scottish audiences and his excitement about returning to the stage (Fiery Entertainment).

Gregor Fisher has turned a health scare into a reset. For a man who spent decades as one of Scotland’s most recognisable faces, the decision to prioritise well-being over visibility is telling. For fans, the upcoming tour is more than a nostalgia trip — it’s a chance to see an actor who has chosen to keep going, on his own terms. For Fisher, the trade-off is clear: he may be less recognisable now, but he’s healthier, busier, and more candid than he has been in years.

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