Monarch Of The Glen Monarch Of The Glen Introduction . 28 Cast and production credits . 30 Interviews with the cast Susan Hampshire plays Molly . 31 Alastair Mackenzie plays Archie . 33 Dawn Steele plays Lexie . .35 Hamish Clark plays Duncan . 37 Alexander Morton plays Golly . 39 Lloyd Owen plays Paul . 41 Paul Freeman plays Andrew . 43 New faces in the Glen Richenda Carey plays Lady Dorothy . 44 Hermione Gulliford plays Hermione . 44 Rae Hendrie plays Jessica . 45 Martin Compston plays Ewan . 46 Monarch Of The Glen Introduction Monarch Of The Glen returns to BBC One the status quo as a returning Archie was, when faced with their father’s stubborn traditionalism. Then Molly, Glenbogle’s guardian angel, looks set to spread her wings and fly in the face of expectation – into the arms of a new man. Even Golly, the very essence of the estate, whose loyalty and advice have been food and drink to Archie, is beset by his own family turmoil when his estranged daughter, Jessica, returns. Barbara McKissack, BBC Scotland’s Head of Drama, explains:“We join Glenbogle in a new era, with Archie and Lexie firmly at the helm, looking forward rather than back.Viewers have wanted that for so long and it’s lovely to see them together as the couple everyone hoped they would become. “That leaves other characters to have a different view of the world of Glenbogle and what they At last, an air of prosperity settles on the turreted, contribute to it.This has always been a place Victorian edifice of Glenbogle, but within this loch- where, behind the scenes, lots of change happens side Lairdom it is family, not fortune, that is about and where people find that they have been changed to pose problems.Although life has never been by experience – this year is no exception. sweeter for Archie and Lexie, the family MacDonald “The family has been changed by Hector’s death, by has adjustments to make. Paul’s arrival, by Molly’s new status in the house and by Lexie and Archie’s new-found commitment to “The key thing that has changed for Archie is that each other. Now the established world order is his problems have been solved,” explains series about to be completely thrown in the air – producer Stephen Garwood.“But Archie, being anything could happen in terms of the future of restless and adventurous, needs challenge. Glenbogle and how the whole dynasty continues.” “When the strain of putting Glenbogle into the Adds Douglas Rae, executive producer at Ecosse black is stripped away, he needs to find something Films:“The community can shift and change as else – and his quest obviously leads him into people come and go.That gives us the opportunity difficulties and dangers.” to bring in new characters, but in such a way that people will see they’re not just bolted on.They Archie’s feverish pursuit of fulfilment is just part of actually come in for a reason and there’s a reason Monarch’s rich mix of laughter, tears, warmth and for them to stay.” wit. His hell-bent bid to regain some challenge in his life has an impact on everyone close to him.The As followers of the show will already be aware, this solid ground of Glenbogle is on the move. new series heralds Archie’s departure. Says Douglas: “Clearly,Alastair has been an incredibly loyal and First, there is the seismic shift of coming to terms wonderful performer over five series. But one has to with Paul. His newly-discovered half-brother shows understand an actor’s desire to move on and take up disturbing signs of being just as eager to overthrow new challenges.” Monarch Of The Glen 28 Introduction Stephen Garwood is keenly aware of the affection Another outsider about to make his mark is fans hold for Monarch.“One of the challenges for us Glasgow tearaway Ewan, played by multi-award- has been to find a reason why Archie would leave the winning actor Martin Compston, the young star of two things he loves the most, Lexie and Glenbogle – Ken Loach’s film Sweet Sixteen. Says Barbara:“Martin and we didn’t want to cheat the viewers.To split up is an exceptional talent and he brings a whole new, with her emotionally would be wrong. young generation to the cast.There’s also a lot of urban chaos coming in with him.” “We’ve come up with a device that we think works – but I can’t give it away,” he adds tantalisingly.“We Stephen agrees.“Ewan has some lessons to learn also looked for ways of bringing new characters and will make some mistakes and win some hearts. into the show and the most obvious place to find We’re dipping our toe in the water with this them was under our nose. character, but I have been really impressed with what I’ve seen of Martin’s work – he joins a rank of Stephen adds:“They already exist in the community really strong actors and so it’s a great place for him and we haven’t really explored that area except in to learn his craft.” guest stories from time to time. So, when the family is forced to leave the house temporarily and go For Douglas, Monarch’s success is simple.“It has into the village, we meet a new set of satellite entered the folklore of television because, in characters there. addition to the humour, there are genuine emotional storylines affecting family members and “The village setting provides a wealth of the community,” he says. opportunities such as the rather hopeless, but popular, policeman who has an unfaithful wife.There Stephen agrees:“Monarch is the perfect way to are so many ways of discovering new people.” spend a Sunday evening which will allow you to laugh, maybe to cry and be entertained for an hour One of the biggest changes for the family will be in in the company of old and new friends in some coming to terms with the return of Paul, the secret wonderful scenery.” son of Hector. But it will be even harder for this independent outsider to accept his place in the bosom of Glenbogle. “Beneath that ‘action man’ exterior is a little boy who has never known what it’s like to have a family and he wants to find a home,” says Stephen.“But what he hasn’t quite worked out is what the definition of home might be. “He cuts a swathe across the whole tradition of Glenbogle because, even though he wants to be part of it, he doesn’t understand it. So that inevitably puts him into conflict with Archie and, www.bbc.co.uk/monarch later, with Lexie.” www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice Adds Barbara:“Paul is the grit in the oyster for them all this year. How do you accept somebody as part of your family that you didn’t know existed before? It’s fantastic news for Archie that he has a brother – now he has a chance to have that brotherly love and friendship that he’s missed. But will he take that chance?” Monarch Of The Glen 29 Cast and production credits Cast Susan Hampshire Molly Alastair Mackenzie Archie Dawn Steele Lexie Hamish Clark Duncan Alexander Morton Golly Lloyd Owen Paul Julian Fellowes Lord Kilwillie Paul Freeman Andrew Richenda Carey Lady Dorothy Hermione Gulliford Hermione Rae Hendrie Jessica Martin Compston Ewan Production credits Producer Stephen Garwood Head of Drama, BBC Scotland Barbara McKissack Executive Producers Douglas Rae, Robert Bernstein, Gaynor Holmes Writers Niall Leonard (eps 1, 10) Mark Holloway (eps 2, 9) Andrew Taft (eps 3, 8) Leslie Stewart (ep 4) Jeremy Front (ep 5) Michael Chaplin (ep 6) John Martin Johnson (ep 7) Directors Richard Signy (eps 1, 2, 3) Robert Knights (eps 4, 5, 6) Ian Knox (eps 7, 8) Brian Kelly (eps 9, 10) Series Creator Michael Chaplin Monarch Of The Glen 30 Interviews Susan Hampshire plays Molly Far from being a dotty dowager, Molly – now the Susan is all in favour of this on-screen exploration Second Lady of Glenbogle – has style, panache and of the romantic relationships of an older woman. a penchant for getting men to fall in love with her. “It really isn’t tackled very often and yet it must But that can bring its own problems to a woman happen all the time,” she points out.“It is a huge who was last on the singles market 40 years ago. shock when someone loses a long-time partner, for whatever reason. “She is hugely nervous about the whole process of being ‘available’ again after Hector’s death,” says “But your life doesn’t end when there is no man Susan Hampshire sympathetically.“She doesn’t in it and it doesn’t mean to say you’re not ready for know how to cope with it and isn’t at all convinced a new one, or ready for love – it can be such a that she is doing the right thing. huge adventure.” “I think she is going through all the doubts that any Viewers have certainly picked up on the post- woman of her age would have.To be single again Hector Molly and Susan has seen an increase in after decades of marriage must be terribly hard. attention from young men.“It has been a real What do you do, what do you say, how do you surprise.They send me very nice letters and I behave – do you ever have to take your clothes truthfully don’t know why,” she says modestly.