Watch Falkirk minister's hilarious tribute to Scottish comedy institution Reverend IM Jolly

Normally found preaching the word of God to his flock at Falkirk Trinity Church, Reverend Robert Allan posted a video tribute to the popular Scotch and Wry character – a sad-faced lampoon of the Late Call ministers who used to come on Scottish television at the end of the night.

In the new video, Robert claims to be the Reverend IM Jolly Jnr and proceeds to wax lyrical about life in the coronavirus crisis.

It was an affectionate tribute to both the talents of Rikki Fulton and to the days of Late Call.

For those too young to have enjoyed Scotch and Wry in its heyday, the Last Call sketches were the programme’s most anticipated segments, with Rikki in fine form as the glass half empty, doom and gloom minister.

Robert said: “When I first came to the Falkirk area back in 1990s as minister of Larbert West, I actually made a series of Late Calls – they were still doing them on television at that time. I think a lot of people my age had parents who would watch Scotch and Wry.

“It gave people a laugh at the New Year.”

Robert is certainly well used to being in front of the camera – he streams Falkirk Trinity Church sermons every Sunday to give people the chance to enjoy some form of worship during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Reverend IM Jolly Jnr was just a bit of fun that grew out of the sermon filming sessions.

“I thought i would give it a go,” said Robert. “I like a lot of comedy that deals with the everyday current stuff. It’s a dreadful situation we are all facing, but we have got to have a wee smile through it, otherwise we would just give up.

“We should listen to a lot of the good stories that are coming out of this coronavirus crisis – focus on the good stuff and it does cheer you up.

“I’ve had people tell me they enjoyed the IM Jolly Jnr video, so, who knows, maybe we will do another one.”

Watch the video and see for yourself that Robert’s Jolly Jnr is a chip off the old block.