Hamish Macbeth
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Hamish Macbeth was a BBC Scotland television series about a Glasgow policeman who had been relocated to a small coastal village in the Scottish Highlands called Lochdubh (meaning 'black loch' in Gaelic). The titular policeman was played by Robert Carlyle. It ran for three series between 1995 and 1997, with the first two series having six episodes and the third having eight. The series is based on the main character, also called Hamish Macbeth, from a series of mystery novels created by M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney).
Aided by his dog, a West Highland Terrier named Wee Jock, Constable Macbeth kept the peace in his own way without undue reliance on the letter of the law, and with every intention of avoiding being promoted out of what was his ideal job. Running themes included the tensions caused by Hamish's attraction to both the local journalist Isobel Sutherland (Shirley Henderson) and the aristocratic Alex (Valerie Gogan); and the claimed supernatural powers of Hamish's friend and co-worker "TV" John McIver (Ralph Riach). The series had a slightly surreal quality to it, enhanced by the eerie celtic music of John Lunn.
It was filmed on location in the village of Plockton, the town of Kyle of Lochalsh and the surrounding area.
The first two series were released on DVD in the UK in 2005 and 2006, with the exception of the first series episode West Coast Story. It is presumed that this was due to rights issues surrounding the episode's extensive use of excerpts from West Side Story. The third series is due for release in April 2006.