Line of Duty star Martin Compston reveals why friendship is so important to him
Line of Duty actor Martin Compston is starring in a new content series which promotes the importance of friendship in his life.
Line of Duty actor Martin Compston says "laughs, social rituals and time together" with his friends is very important to him.
The 41-year-old Scottish actor - who plays Steve Arnott in the police drama - travels all over the world for his career and he also has homes in Las Vegas and Greenock, Scotland. He has lived in Las Vegas for over half a decade with his American wife, Tianna Chanel Flynn, and their son.
One thing about his international lifestyle is that he doesn't always get time to hang out with his friends, especially his pals from his hometown.
Compston insists making time for friends is important which is why he has teamed up with The Famous Grouse - proud sponsors of Scottish Rugby for over 35 years - to launch the new 'Get Together' content series, which coincides with the start of the Guinness Six Nations rugby tournament.
He said: "Acting takes me all over the world, which makes it harder to make plans with mates, especially when you’re far away from the people you grew up with. The laughs, social rituals and time together really matter, which is why The Famous Grouse’s ‘Get Together’ series - celebrating those moments friends still show up for, like a rugby matchday - feels so personal to me.”
To launch the content series, Martin Compston features in a tongue-in-cheek video celebrating when friends finally take plans out of the group chat and into the pub; swapping stories, banter and cheering for their favourite team over a Famous Grouse and Ginger. For the eagle-eyed fans of The Line of Duty, there is a hidden Easter egg in the video. Can you spot it?
Alongside the content series, one lucky rugby fan and their mates have won a money-can’t-buy VIP experience to watch the upcoming Men’s Scotland v England match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield as part of a social competition via @TheFamousGrouseUK, as another chance to raise a dram to friendships.
Karen Daly - Marketing Manager at The Famous Grouse - said: "Rugby isn’t just about who’s scoring the tries - it’s about who you’re watching it with. ‘Get Together’ from The Famous Grouse is designed to celebrate those social rituals - from lucky scarves to having a Grouse and Ginger at ‘our pub’ - which makes those 80 minutes more meaningful far beyond the final whistle. Partnering with Martin Compston felt like the perfect way to bring that sociable spirit to life. Wherever you are in the world, and no matter how busy you get, the friends you surround yourself with pre, during and post-game create some of life's best moments. Cheers to that!”
Scottish rugby player Josh Bayliss said: "As a professional rugby player, matchday is just one part of the story. From the changing room, to on the training pitch and traveling together, it's much bigger than those 80 minutes. It’s all about the shared routines, rituals, and having each other’s backs. It’s been great to be part of The Famous Grouse and Scottish Rugby's 'Get Together’ content series celebrating how the game offers people the reason to show up for each other.”
Research commissioned by The Famous Grouse reveals that over half of Brits (52%) spend less than 80 minutes a week with their closest mates - less time than a game of rugby. And yet, new research reveals that three in four Brits (75%) feel happier within a minute of seeing their friends, and live sport acts as a powerful social glue.
The research also shows that busy schedules, long workdays and group chat chaos are making it harder to lock in plans, with work commitments (34%), clashing diaries (31%) and travel time (30%) the biggest blockers. But when it comes to seeing friends, live sport still cuts through.
Watching sport together ranks among the top reasons people actually commit to meeting up - with one in five Brits (20%) saying it’s a key friendship tradition. From sharing in-jokes (35%) and ordering the exact same food and drinks (26%) to meeting at “our pub” (33%), nearly half of Brits say they have “silly but sacred” traditions they fiercely protect on matchdays.
Follow @TheFamousGrouseUK on Instagram to see this ongoing rugby partnership with Scottish Rugby come to life.
