Monarch of the Glen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
|---|---|
| Format | Drama/Comedy |
| Created by | Michael Chaplin |
| Starring | Alastair Mackenzie Dawn Steele Susan Hampshire Lloyd Owen Richard Briers Alexander Morton Hamish Clark Julian Fellowes Lorraine Pilkington Martin Compston Rae Hendrie Tom Baker |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| No. of episodes | 64 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Barbara McKissack Douglas Rae Gaynor Holmes |
| Running time | approx. 50 mins. (per episode, series 1-3), approx. 60 mins. (per episode, series 4-7) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | 27 February 2000 – 23 October 2005 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Monarch of the Glen was a television drama, produced by Ecosse Films for BBC Scotland and originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom.
The series was created by Michael Chaplin and produced by Nick Pitt, Paddy Higson, Jeremy Gwilt, Stephen Garwood and Rob Bullock. The show saw many directors, most notably Edward Bennett, Richard Signy, Rick Stroud and Robert Knights; and many writers including Chaplin, Niall Leonard, John Martin Johnson, Leslie Stewart and Jeremy Front. The series premiered in February 2000, and its seventh and final series was broadcast from September 2005 until October 2005 - with 64 episodes in total.
Monarch of the Glen is loosely based on Compton Mackenzie's Highland Novels, which are set in the same location but in the 1930s and 1940s. The first book in the series is called The Monarch of the Glen (with a conscious reference to the famous Landseer stag painting). The television drama has been heavily criticised for its "liberty-taking", particularly as Mackenzie, a co-founder of the Scottish National Party, was satirising the pretences of Scotland's thoroughly anglicised nobility. The first five series of Monarch of the Glen told the story of young restaurateur, Archie MacDonald, trying to restore his childhood home in the Scottish Highlands, starring Alastair Mackenzie, Richard Briers, Susan Hampshire and Dawn Steele, whilst the final two series of the show focused on new Laird Paul Bowman trying to modernise the estate, primarily starring Lloyd Owen, Tom Baker, Alexander Morton and, once again, Susan Hampshire.
Contents |
[edit] History
Monarch of the Glen was broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sunday evenings on BBC One, usually at 20.00 GMT (repeats of the series are shown on UKTV Drama). Filming took between six and eight months per series in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of the Scottish Highlands. Seven series, totalling 64 episodes (including a Hogmanay Special), were filmed. The show's mixture of comedy and drama, its location, and cast appealed to countries all over the world, including the USA (BBC America and PBS), Australia (ABC), Canada (BBC Canada), Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Vietnam and Dubai. The series is shown to more than 100 countries on BBC Prime, the BBC's 24-hour global entertainment channel, broadcast to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is one of BBC America's most popular imports, despite only broadcasting the first six series. Publicity in America has included front-page coverage on the Chicago Tribune,[1] one of the top newspapers in the USA. Monarch of the Glen was Australia's most popular BBC drama in 2002 and 2003 [1] After ratings hit an all-time low in 2004, BBC bosses axed the show, but promised they would bring back many of the cast from earlier series for a fantastic series finale. The seventh and final series did bring back Richard Briers, Hamish Clark and Julian Fellowes[2] as promised by the BBC, but the reunion didn't include Archie or Lexie.
| Series | No. of Episodes | Episode Runtime | Series Premiere | Series Finale | Average Viewers (in millions) |
Average Share (in percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 50 minutes | February 27, 2000 | April 16, 2000 | 8.0 | 26.0 |
| 2 | 8 | 50 minutes | January 7, 2001 | February 25, 2001 | 7.6 | 26.5 |
| 3 | 11 | 50 minutes | October 28, 2001 | January 20, 2002 | 6.9 | 25.7 |
| 4 | 10 | 60 minutes | September 1, 2002 | November 3, 2002 | 7.2 | 29.1 |
| 5 | 10 | 60 minutes | September 28, 2003 | November 30, 2003 | 7.2§ | Unknown |
| Hogmanay Special | 1 | 60 minutes | December 28, 2003 | December 28, 2003 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 6 | 10 | 60 minutes | September 19, 2004 | November 21, 2004 | 5.3 | TBA |
| 7 | 6 | 60 minutes | September 18, 2005 | October 23, 2005 | 5.8 | TBA |
§ Unconfirmed.
[edit] Series synopses
[edit] Series 1
Archie MacDonald, trying to carve a living out of the London restaurant he runs with his girlfriend Justine, is called back to his Highland home, to the bed of his dying father, Hector. When he arrives, however, Archie finds that the idea of his dying father was just a ploy by his dotty mother, Molly, to get him to Scotland and tell him face to face that he has inherited his father's large estate and castle, Glenbogle. Archie faces a tough decision: whether to help the debt-ridden Glenbogle, or to return to Justine in London. Archie meets the local school headteacher, Katrina Finlay, and finds he is set to have a love-hate relationship with her. The feisty staff of Glenbogle -- Lexie, Golly and Duncan -- prove hard to handle, and his eccentric parents are difficult. To please all, Archie faces a challenge to save Glenbogle.
[edit] Series 2
After his split with Justine, Archie finally knows where his future lies - at Glenbogle. With a relationship with Katrina set to bloom, Archie faces obstacles: with his new Head Ranger, Fergal MacClure who has also taken a shine to Katrina, and with Lexie, who seems to have her own eye on the Laird. Hector and Molly face problems, too, as their daughter Lizzie comes, heavily pregnant, to Glenbogle. Hector must visit an old flame, whilst Golly faces a battle with Fergal to keep Duncan as his friend and assistant. Archie once again has a challenge on his hands to save his childhood home and to please all who live there.
[edit] Series 3
Glenbogle has finally lost control of its debts, and the bank, Lascelles, sends Stella Moon to take over the estate as financial controller. The hard and stubborn Stella proves difficult to handle, so Archie seeks solace with Lexie, after his split with Katrina. Duncan also faces romantic problems. Hector's and Molly's relationship goes through bad patches as Molly realises that Hector is spending more time with his chum Kilwillie than with her. Golly is reunited with his daughter after many years, and local entrepreneur Stuart McKintosh tries to take land from under the MacDonalds' feet. Archie faces difficulties in juggling his work, his family, and his love life as he loses ultimate control of Glenbogle.
[edit] Series 4
Lexie struggles to become the new Lady of Glenbogle after her marriage to Archie. Molly tries to come to terms with being a widow after Hector's death and finds she has a suitor in the shape of new neighbour, Andrew. Archie is horrified to learn that his father once had an affair and that a child was produced -- and that the child, Paul, is now coming to Glenbogle. Golly is devastated to find that Duncan is romantically involved with new housekeeper, Irene, but Duncan himself is horrified to find that Irene is set to have a child. Archie must deal with his father's astronomical death duties and finds that he has some competition for the Lairdship of Glenbogle.
[edit] Series 5
Glenbogle's financial problems are finally over, and Archie starts to find that he has cold feet and wonders whether his future lies in Glenbogle. Paul returns to Glenbogle to start afresh but is treated like dirt by the locals. Molly wonders whether she is in love after her relationship with Andrew starts to blossom. Golly's daughter, Jess, comes to live in Glenbogle. Duncan finds a new girlfriend in Kilwillie's niece Hermione, and Paul finds that he has some admirers in the glen. Lexie wonders whether she has what it takes to be Laird after Archie leaves Glenbogle to climb a mountain with Lizzie in honour of their late father.
[edit] Series 6
Paul becomes Laird of Glenbogle after Lexie and Archie move to New Zealand, but he falls in love with Lexie when she comes back to Glenbogle temporarily. Ewan sets up a pirate radio station in the glen, and forms a friendship with Paul's uncle Donald, who comes back to his childhood home under a curfew order. Golly falls in love with new dancing teacher, Meg, but wonders whether he is too old to have a relationship. Jess tries to come to terms with Duncan's departure from the glen, as Molly's relationship with Golly comes to pieces. Paul tries to decide who he really loves after new arrivals threaten a possible love interest - a new farmer, Isobel.
[edit] Series 7
Paul becomes close to a local shepherdess, Iona McLean, but his romantic dreams are dashed when Iona's former fiancé arrives in the glen. Ewan wonders whether to stay with girlfriend, Zoe, when he takes a shine to Paul's goddaughter, Amy. Molly becomes a mother-like figure to Golly's new son, Cameron, after the death of Meg. Jess tries to prove herself to her father when she starts to feel that Golly does not care about her. Donald wonders whether to go to a retirement home when he starts to feel his age. Glenbogle is threatened with closure after Paul realises that the financial problems that once plagued the estate are slowly returning.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Regular cast
The following is a list of the regular cast of Monarch of the Glen who were credited in the opening credits of the show (in appearance order).
| Actor | Character | Series | Recurring | No. of Episodes (/64) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Briers | Hector Naismith MacDonald | Series 1-3 | Series 7 | 28 |
| Susan Hampshire | Molly MacDonald | Series 1-7 | 60 | |
| Alastair Mackenzie | Archibald 'Archie' Horatio Hector MacDonald | Series 1-5 | 43 | |
| Lorraine Pilkington | Katrina Finlay | Series 1-3 | Series 4 | 18 |
| Alexander Morton | Golly Mackenzie | Series 2-7 | Series 1 | 64 |
| Dawn Steele | Alexandra 'Lexie' MacDonald | Series 2-6 | Series 1 | 51 |
| Hamish Clark | Duncan McKay | Series 2-6 | Series 1, 7 | 51 |
| Julian Fellowes | Lord Angus Errol Sharon Kilwillie | Series 4-5 | Series 1-3, 7 | 24 |
| Lloyd Owen | Paul Bowman-MacDonald | Series 5-7 | Series 4 | 29 |
| Simone Lahbib | Isobel Anderson | Series 6 | 10 | |
| Martin Compston | Ewan Brodie | Series 6-7 | Series 5 | 20 |
| Rae Hendrie | Jessica 'Jess' MacKenzie | Series 6-7 | Series 3, 5 | 26 |
| Tom Baker | Donald Ulysses MacDonald | Series 6-7 | 12 | |
| Kirsty Mitchell | Iona McLean | Series 7 | 6 | |
| Kellyanne Farquhar | Amy McDougal | Series 7 | 5 |
[edit] Recurring roles
The following is a list, in order of appearance, of actors who were in three or more episodes of Monarch of the Glen as the same character but who were not credited as a regular in the opening titles of the show.
| Actor | Character | Series | No. of episodes (/64) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Wilson-Jones | Justine | Series 1-2 | 6 |
| Carole Cassidy | Maureen MacLean | Series 1-2 | 4 |
| Simon Slater | Lancelot Fleming | Series 1-2 | 3 |
| Paul Goodwin | Alan Smythe | Series 1 | 4 |
| Jason O'Mara | Fergal MacClure | Series 2 | 6 |
| Alexandra Gilbreath | Stella Moon | Series 3 | 9 |
| Jenny Lee | Aunty Elizabeth 'Liz' Logan | Series 3-5 | 4 |
| Gavin Mitchell | PC Callum McIntyre | Series 3, 5-6 | 8 |
| Rebecca Lacey | Irene Stuart | Series 4 | 8 |
| Angus Lennie | Hamish 'Badger' | Series 4-5 | 4 |
| Paul Freeman | Andrew Booth | Series 4-5 | 11 |
| Richenda Carey | Lady Dorothy Trumpington-Bonnet | Series 5 | 5 |
| Hermione Gulliford | Hermione Trumpington-Bonnet | Series 5 | 4 |
| John Yule | Dougal Raeburn | Series 5-6 | 3 |
| Sara Stewart | Amanda MacLeish | Series 5 | 3 |
| Kari Corbett | Zoë | Series 6-7 | 6 |
| Donald Douglas | Dr. Gordon McKendrick | Series 6-7 | 3 |
| Karen Westwood | Meg Paterson | Series 6 | 5 |
| Lucy Akhurst | Lucy Ford | Series 6 | 4 |
| Anthony Head | Chester Grant | Series 6 | 4 |
| Rhianna and Katelyn Duff | Cameron MacKenzie | Series 7 | 5 |
| Antony Strachan | Frank | Series 7 | 4 |
[edit] Notable guest stars
The following are famous actors who have appeared as guest stars in one or two episodes of Monarch of the Glen, alongside (in brackets) their character name on the show (in appearance order).
Abigail Cruttenden (Lizzie MacDonald (I)), Julia Haworth (Janice), Phillip Whitchurch (Mr. Brown), Serena Gordon (Mary), Phil McCall (Tosh McKellen), Sam Graham (Reverend Mitchell), Benjamin Whitrow (Terry 'Toad' McLean), Olga Sosnovska (Marie-Helene), James Murray (Jeff Ramsden), Phyllida Law (Professor Isobel Hogg), Leslie Phillips (Louis Grimshaw), Charles Edwards (David Fraser), Hugh Ross (Greg MacDonald), Saskia Wickham (Lizzie MacDonald (III)), Robin Hooper (Ian Body), Steven Elder (Alex Faversham), Robert Fyfe (Jackie McIntyre), James Fleet (Phillip Liel 'Liam' Forester), Michael Cochrane (Colonel Ford), Matthew Marsh (Viktor Zinchenko), Ruth Millar (Catriona Zinchenko), Clive Russell (Peter Finlay).
For a detailed list of the Monarch of the Glen cast, please click here.
[edit] DVD releases
Monarch of the Glen has been released on DVD in the UK and USA only on Region 2 and 1 respectively. In the UK, series 1, 2 and 7 were released in one set, and series 3-6 in two sets - each set containing two discs. Acorn Media produced the original DVDs, but in 2006 a box-set featuring all seven series on 22 discs was produced by the BBC themselves. The Acorn Media DVDs, featured special features such as an exclusive interview with Susan Hampshire, photo galleries, production notes and filmographies. The BBC box-set only featured a making-of show entitled The Last Monarch, which was broadcast on BBC Scotland before the series finale on 23 October 2005.
The USA Region 1 DVDs are produced by BBC Warner.
|
DVD Series
|
Release Dates
|
||
|
Region 2
|
Region 1
|
Region 4
|
|
| Series 1 | December 27, 2002 | September 16, 2003 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 2 | May 5, 2003 | May 4, 2004 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 3 | October 6, 2003 | May 17, 2005 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 4 | December 29, 2003 | May 16, 2006 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 5 | December 27, 2004 | October 24, 2006 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 6 | October 10, 2005 | May 15, 2007 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 7 | April 3, 2006 | October 23, 2007 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
| Series 1-7 | October 24, 2006 | October 23, 2007 | July 2007 (box set compilation only) |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Monarch of the Glen returns for a sixth series on BBC ONE BBC, 21 November 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
- ^ Faces from Monarch's past BBC, 24 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
