Created by Michael Chaplin for the BBC, this Scottish BAFTA award-winning comedy drama is loosely based on the ‘Highland Novels’ by Compton Mackenzie, although the novels were set in the 1930 and 40s; Monarch of the Glen is set in the modern day. The story begins when Archie MacDonald (Alastair MacKenzie) is called back to his childhood home of Glenbogle and informed by his father, Hector (Richard Briers) that he is now the new Laird, a role he is not too pleased about accepting but it appears he has no choice. As the series unfolds Archie is set various challenges to move the 40,000 acres estate into the 21st century and sustainability. Monarch of the Glen ran for 7 series (64 episodes). The show’s popularity and cinematography had an extremely positive impact on tourism in the area. Susan Hampshire plays Molly MacDonald, Alexander Morton plays Golly MacKenzie and Hamish Clark plays Duncan McKay throughout the series; Tom Baker plays Donald MacDonald.
Release / Airing: 27/02/2000
Locations used for this production:
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Action Underwater Studios >
Monarch of the Glen largely shot on location in The Highlands (Scotland) but did use Action Underwater Studios although it is not entirely clear which episode(s) these scenes appeared in. There is a possibility that one scene could have been where Paul (Lloyd Owen) has his encounter with the legendary Water Horse in Series 7 Episode 4. Another scene in Series 6 Episode 4 seems more likely as this involved the discovery of a World War II period plane at the bottom of the loch by Golly and Ewan (Martin Compston). The British Army in the form of Alex (Steven Elder), a friend of Pauls, arrives to retrieve the plane. Further investigations concerning the whereabouts of the pilot and the plane’s mission leads to a startling revelation involving Irvine Taylor (older Irvine: Randal Herley; younger Irvine: Ali Craig), the local butcher! It transpires he was a German pilot delivering a spy who died in the crash but has been hidden by the community ever since.
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