Plot

Rab C. Nesbitt is lowlife scum (and proud of it) in Glasgow, Scotland who spends his time drinking in his local and speaking to the camera about the state of society as he sees it.

Classic BBC Sitcom about Rab C. Nesbitt, a stringed vested philosopher (in his own way) who spends his days getting drunk in his local with best mate Jamesie and going home to clash with wife Mary and his two sons Gash and Burnie. The series follows Rab as he talks to the camera about the way life is and the state of the country, When he's not doing that he is drinking, trying to keep his family together or shouting the odds at anybody who is stupid enough to argue the point. No matter where in Govan you go you cant escape the wrath of the Nesbitt man!—Anonymous

Rab C. Nesbitt is a drunken, string vested lay about who lives with his long suffering wife Mary and his two sons in the working class area of Govan in Glasgow. When he's not getting drunk with his pals that include the devious, womanizing Jamesie Cotter. He's offering his philosophical outlook on life to whoever will listen.—Robert-filmfan

The series is a sitcom set in Glasgow, Scotland. Robert "Rab" C. Nesbitt, the main character, is a self-styled "street philosopher", who expresses his opinion about the world around him. He spend most of his life as alcoholic, unemployed, and proud of it. Starting from 2008, Rab gave up drinking in an attempt to change his life. However he still feels temptation to drink and has had a couple of relapses.

Rab comes from a troubled household. He was one of five sons born to Robert "Rab" B. Nesbitt and his wife Isa. The senior Rab was reportedly "a monster, a vile, cruel, unpredictable sadist" who abused his family and drove one of his sons to insanity. Rab the younger is the only survivor among his siblings, supposedly because he was the smartest and sanest of them. (The only one able to understand the benefits form and to receive unemployment benefits.)

Mary "Mary Doll" Nesbitt is Rab's wife, who is far likelier to work and earn money than him. For many years she worked odd-jobs to provide for herself and her family. In later seasons, Mary is the co-owner of a successful housecleaning company. Mary has left Rab several times, but they keep reconciling.

Rab and Mary had two sons, both with problematic behaviors of their own. Gash Nesbitt (the elder son) has spend several years trying to "find himself", mostly unsuccessfully. His search for an identity has led him to convert to multiple religions, religious cults, and political ideologies, to dabble in hard drugs, and to practice burglary. Nothing has led to permanent changes. In later seasons, Gash has a daughter of his own and tries to play father.

The other son was Burney Nesbitt, an angry young man who typically caused more problems. At one point, Burney joined a Neo-Nazi group, but ended up quitting. Burney left the family in 1993. In 2008, it was mentioned that he eventually died in an accident. From 1994 to 1997, Burney was replaced by his rebellious cousin Screech Nesbitt.

The rest of the cast consists of Rab and Mary's friends and acquaintances. The longest-running supporting cast members are James Aaron "Jamesie" Cotter and his wife Ella. They seem to loathe each other, cheat on each other at every opportunity, but refuse to divorce. Jamesie is a self-described "scumbag" and offers advice to Rab to re-embrace his vices. Ella has a bad temper, and has repeatedly injured her husband with crowbars and other tools. Though they blame each other for never having children, a subplot indicates that they are both sterile and were never likely to have children.