Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling — air date, destinations, what happens, trailer, first looks, episode guide and all about the Line of Duty star's travel series

Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling is a new BBC2 project close to the heart of the famous Line Of Duty star. The bright lights of Las Vegas might be where he currently calls home, but Martin Compston will always be a proud Scot at heart. 

In Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling he teams up with his friend, TV presenter Phil MacHugh, to tour the country and see how it's being shaped by its people and its landscape. The pair journey from the bustling cities to the wild highlands to meet the locals and visitors that share their special love for Scotland.

"After 10 years of doing Line of Duty, it surprises me that people still don’t know I’m Scottish," Martin says. "But I don't mind! I’ve traveled all over the country for work and leisure – but this is the first time I’ll be meeting real modern Scots on camera, sharing their thoughts and passions,” says Martin. “We’re excited to get stuck in, and to experience the best that Scotland has to offer in the 21st century.

"I hope I've done a good job," adds Martin, who divides his time between Scotland and Las Vegas, where he lives. "I love Vegas but Greenock will always be home."

So here's everything you need to know about Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling on BBC2...

Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling release date 

Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling is a six-part series that will air on BBC2 and BBCiPlayer from Friday September 9 at 9.30pm (10pm on BBC Scotland) as part of the BBC's autumn 2022 season. We'll update here if there's a worldwide air date.

Is there a trailer for Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling?

Yes BBC Scotland has now released a trailer for Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling which shows quite a lot of what Martin and Phil get up to on their trip around Scotland. Take a look below

Martin’s Compston’s Scottish Fling — episode guide, people Martin meets and locations

For Martin’s Compston’s Scottish Fling, Martin and Phil take a deep dive into contemporary Scotland, veering off the beaten track and taking part in some of the most exciting experiences their homeland has to offer. They'll meet the locals who help to shape the nation as well as the ‘odd famous friend’. The pair will be well and truly pushed out of their comfort zones and will experience Scotland at its most extreme. Martin has revealed to fans that he was learning some Scottish Gaelic (which Phil speaks fluently) as part of his documentary tour, speaking to locals about their thoughts on Scotland.

Martin has given a taste of where he visits through posts on Twitter, so take a look at his Tweets below including his trip to Tapadh Lea on the Western Isles. Also, here's our episode guide for Martin’s Compston’s Scottish Fling which we'll update as the series progresses.

Episode 1: Friday September 9
The pair’s travels begin in Martin’s hometown of Greenock, on Scotland’s West Coast where they catch up with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Lawrence Chaney. Later across the six-part series, Martin and Phil take in The Highlands, the East Coast including Aberdeen, and Phil’s turf, The Western Isles. It’s then on to Glasgow and Edinburgh, before heading back to Greenock via the Borders and Galloway Forest, although Martin got a little tired of the driving…
"Phil’s energy and positivity are his best qualities but his worst is he can't drive - I do all the driving," says Martin. "We went to several lovely restaurants where I could only drink tea. If we get a second series, it will be in my contract that Phil has to drive!"

Episode 2: Friday September 16
Martin is given a taste of island life when pal Phil takes him on a journey back to his family’s homeland of the Western Isles of Scotland. From an unexpected Hebridean pipe-playing welcome at the airport in Stornoway courtesy of Phil, they embark on their island odyssey. To give Martin a wee flavour of Gaelic life, they first head for a brunch-time rendezvous, with a man who’s been taking Hebridean culture to the world, the Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod. At the tiny village of Cromore the boys join Coinneach, his partner Peter and little Scottie dog Seoras to cook up a local recipe in the ruins of an old croft. After their ‘extreme’ cooking the next stop is back in the capital Stornoway, with a suitable snatch of Peat & Diesel’s most recognised lyrics.
In Stornoway, the boys have an appointment at the barbers to meet Syrian refugee Ousama and his eldest son Abdullah to see how the family have been settling into Western Isles' life. They then leave Lewis behind for the dramatic landscape of the isle of Harris where they meet local artist and photographer Danielle MacLeod, who’s passion for folklore inspires Martin and Phil to model for a very memorable photo shoot. The boys then take the ferry to Uist and an emotional homecoming for Phil at his late grannie's house in Gartnamore, where as a boy he used to spend his summers. Finally, it’s Martin’s debut for Eriskay Football club in their first game of the season, on their home pitch which sits against a backdrop of the Atlantic ocean on this island which is home to around 150 people… But not before him and Phil lend a hand to clean the FIFA awarded pitch of its livestock detritus. And as the whistle blows for the end of the game and episode, Martin and Phil have a unique campfire moment looking out over the Western Isles.

Episode 3: Friday September 23
Martin and Phil MacHugh travel to Scotland’s East Coast, from St Andrews in the south to Aberdeen in the north, to challenge expectations and reveal the surprising side of some well-known places. Starting in the home of golf, St Andrews, the boys take to the sands. No not a bunker, but rather the beach made famous by the movie Chariots of Fire to indulge in a spot of land yachting with brothers Jamie and Guy McKenzie. Having swept the sand from their hair, it’s off to high tech Dundee and West Coaster Martin has a surprising admission: “I love Dundee…and I love Dundonians.”
To get to grips with the cyber city's position as a world gaming developer, they meet 4J co-founder Chris van der Kuyl who’s company makes the console edition of the biggest game in the world, MINECRAFT, to see what it would be like to literally be part of a game. It’s then off to Abertay University who were the first to offer a degree in computer games to get a tour from lecturer Jung In and discover what other possibilities there are in the virtual landscape.
From high tech to lo-fi, the boys take a break from the future and indulge in a local tradition that dates back to the Vikings. They get hands on to help 5th generation smoker prepare the local delicacy, the Arbroath smokie on the atmospheric Auchmithie beach.
Next stop is Aberdeen, where the boys discover the East Coast’s burgeoning hip hop scene…and (Compston cringe-alert) it’s MC P-Mac in the house! They’re given a musical insight by Aberdonian rapper Ransom FA and meet Dundonian songstress India Rose in the park for an impromptu performance. Before finally taking to the mic to record some unforgettable words for local artist Chef in his recording studio.

Episodes 4 to 6
We'll be updating when we can, do do check back!

A brief history of Martin Compston

Martin is best known for his role as DS Steve Arnott in the series Line of Duty, in which he seeks out justice as part of the police anti-corruption squad AC-12. Last year he also starred in the hit series Vigil and most recently was on our screens in Our House on ITV. He has also starred in Traces, The Nest, Mary Queen of Scots and Death in Paradise. Back in 2003-2005 Martin played Ewan Brodie in Monarch of the Glen. Martin was a teenager when he starred in the Ken Loach movie Sweet Sixteen.
Later in 2022 Martin will be starring in Prime Video thriller The Rig set on a Scottish oil rig and BBC1 drama Mayflies.

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