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. off?” she laughs. “But then maybe before Hector died, they just saw “It is so different when you’ve been married for a her as an appendage. Curiously, since he died, long time; you’re used to each other and it almost people are very much more interested in her as a doesn’t matter what you look like because you’re human being.They liked and sympathised with so familiar. So seeing someone else is a really big Molly before, but now they really want to know deal for her at this stage in her life.” what is going to happen to her.”

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One major happening is the return of Molly’s prodigal daughter, Lizzie (played by Saskia Wickham).“She is a bit of a tearaway and a free spirit,” Susan explains.“So Molly hasn’t really seen her very much, but she does have a good relationship with her and, even more importantly – Lizzie has her only grandchild.”

One thing is certain: love in many guises will play a big part in Molly’s life. Not only is she the object of ardent affection, but she decides that the lonely folk of Glenbogle also need a helping hand – so she sets up a dating agency.

The move has its repercussions when Andrew (played by Paul Freeman) overhears and misinterprets one of her client conversations. “When Andrew came into the story in the last series, everyone thought he was very tasty and wondered what Molly was going to do about him,” smiles Susan.“Now we are exploring how she comes to terms with a real relationship and whether she can cope with it.”

Coping is Susan’s stock in trade.Always in demand, she managed to fit in a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Sparkling Cyanide between series.“I play another widow, this time with a questionable son,” laughs Susan who, in real life, has been happily married for over 20 years.

“I’m also still busy converting a derelict barn in the Chilterns – the planning permission finally came through last autumn. It’s very exciting to go off into the depths of Shropshire to find special pieces of wood and old slates and I was planning to make a film about it.

“But it just hasn’t been possible. I’m enjoying it very, very much – but you have to get your priorities right and, at the moment, my priorities are learning my lines and being here on time.”

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Alastair Mackenzie plays Archie

It will be a while until the impact hits Glenbogle, On a personal level, one of those challenges is the but viewers of Monarch Of The Glen will soon new dynamic within Glenbogle as Paul – Archie’s discover that the darkly handsome, newly married newly discovered half-brother – takes up his place Laird has itchy feet. in the family.

For Alastair Mackenzie, the series has been a “The advent of Paul does cause some initial life-changing break that has made his face familiar antagonism,” Alastair admits.“Then, slowly but surely, round the world. Now – like Archie – he has Archie comes to realise that Paul is not only useful, but achieved success and is looking for a new that he belongs to Glenbogle because of his father.” mountain to climb. Archie’s emotions are all too familiar for Alastair, “When we join the series Archie and Lexie have who has also seen an important and personal been on their extended honeymoon, so Archie is project materialise through the release of his debut already a different person,” Alastair points out.“He film, The Last Great Wilderness.Along with his film has always been more concerned with trying to director brother, David,Alastair formed his own keep the estate from the debtors, pre-occupied production company, Sigma Films, and wrote and with making sure it doesn’t go bankrupt. starred in the film alongside David Hayman and Victoria Smurfit. “Now it is up and running – it is finally clear of all debts, the mission has been accomplished. So, after Meanwhile, work on Monarch continued and travelling all over the world and being reminded of Alastair had to try and balance the series, his film the wandering, roving spirit that he truly is,Archie and his family – daughter Martha and partner, wants to find something new to challenge him.” Trainspotting actress Susan Vidler.

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“I’ve absolutely loved Monarch and I will miss everyone dreadfully after all this time,” he says.“But I decided that seven months a year is too long to be away from home. I had to sit down and start prioritising. I have a three-year-old child and you need to spend more time with young children.

“There was a point when I hadn’t seen Martha for weeks. I felt really miserable, but didn’t really know what it was, just that I felt pretty grim.

“Then, when I did go home, I had such a fantastic time with her that when I got back on set, someone said to me,‘I can tell you saw Martha at the weekend – you just look so much happier’. I just need that fix. So now I’m looking forward to getting a bit more normality back into my life.”

Not that Alastair will be saying goodbye to the Highlands even when he finally leaves the series. He grew up just 20 miles from where Monarch is filmed and he is now actively looking for a plot of land to create his own Scottish retreat.

“A local woodsman built some wonderful log cabins for the Activity Centre in the show,” he says with an enthusiastic grin.“They are beautiful creations – precision engineering with a chain saw.

“I just love the idea of living in an organic structure in the woods. I also love interior design and working out how you want everything to work, but in our house in London we’ve had a nightmare with builders and architects; it was a very unhappy experience.

“The thing about a log cabin is you don’t have to worry about that; they always look beautiful because the interior is – logs.”

Not that this hugely popular actor will be escaping the spotlight – he is planning an extended trip to the States.

“Through Monarch I’ve proved I can do one thing, but there is a certain amount of re-invention required,” he explains.“I’m not going to move to America lock, stock and barrel, but will go en famille for maybe a couple of months. I’ve told myself I’m never going to have another winter in London.”

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Dawn Steele plays Lexie

Travel may broaden the mind, but an extended, her driving test.“It has totally changed my life,” she round-the-world honeymoon has left Lexie – says happily.“I even went off to Australia and drove Glenbogle’s new First Lady – even more all around there, that was amazing. It’s given me determined to make her mark at home. such confidence.”

Now that she finally has her man and the estate’s No wonder: Monarch is Australia’s number one perilous finances have been dragged into the black, imported show and seeing Dawn, driving round the this resourceful and energetic Glaswegian has time Outback, must have been quite a surprise for her to look beyond the Gothic turrets of her domain fans.“But,” adds this home-loving Scots lass,“It also and give a helping hand where it’s needed. means I can go back to my flat in Glasgow a lot more, just jump in the car, go back and have two “Lexie is always supportive of the community – nights in my own bed. always fighting for the underdog,” says Dawn Steele. “I think it’s because she feels she has to be true to “I used to have to rely on lifts, but now I can just her working-class roots. She never forgets she go when I want. If I just have one day off, I can came from the kitchen. drive up to the gym in Inverness, or potter around this amazing scenery. It’s given me so much “But now she rarely gets to see any pots and pans more freedom.“ – she is much more involved with marketing plans and accounts – the boring stuff.That’s why she Looking back, Dawn wishes she had taken needs an outlet in the village.” the plunge earlier.“I was just never interested,” she explains.“When I was 17, I remember having Dawn has been having a few new outlets of her a few lessons and I hated it; I just found it own, in that the 27-year-old finally took and passed too stressful.

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“Now I’ve got a new Mini Cooper, which is great Not that Lexie is likely to turn into a perfectly and so nice to drive. But I know I should have polished glamour puss any day soon.“She’s relaxed learned straight away when I first started on a bit with her clothes,” laughs Dawn with relief. Monarch – it’s taken me four series up here to get “When she first got engaged to Archie she felt she round to it.” had to wear suits to make the point about becoming the Laird’s wife. It has taken rather longer for Lexie’s brother-in-law to discover his Highland heritage. But, after a “But now she can allow herself not to be quite so lifetime not knowing about his real father, Paul is smart and posh. She’s more mature, more confident making his presence felt.“Lexie is mainly very and happy, and that allows her to let some of the supportive of Paul,” says Dawn.“She was the one quirkiness back in – and that’s great.” who wanted to bring him into the family and get everyone to really accept him. Dawn’s high profile on the show has earned her a rare accolade – readers of a Scottish newspaper “They actually have a lot of things in common – voted her the country’s number one “Most Paul never knew his father and Lexie’s father left Wanted” single female and featured in the male list when she was really young. But there will be times was her new, young, co-star Martin Compston, in at when they clash, especially when he is setting up the number four. Activity Centre and wants to benefit youths from other cities – she wants it to benefit the locals.” “I don’t often feel very glamorous,” she grins. “Working on The Key I was given wrinkles round There are problems, too, with Lexie’s nearest and my eyes and some grey in my hair to look 47 – but dearest – Duncan and Golly.“She has always been I found it much harder playing 17.” really close to them and that helps her to know what is important on the estate. But sometimes she gets caught between them all.

“Lexie feels she has to support Archie – and sometimes he makes decisions that may not be what Golly and Duncan want. She has to be the girl in- between who has to try and keep everyone happy.”

Dawn couldn’t be happier at the moment, despite a frantic workload, which meant finishing work on Monarch one evening and driving to Glasgow to begin work on a major new BBC family saga early next day.

“It is called The Key,” she reveals.“There I was, in a period costume, with a big steam engine, 300 extras and the actor Kevin McKidd, saying ‘Hi, I’ve got to kiss you today’.

“The hardest thing was that I wasn’t allowed any make-up, even though I age from 17 to 47; I get beaten up, so there are cuts and bruises; I wear cardigans; and I’m really padded out to look fatter.

“But it’s so nice to play parts like that where looking glamorous is not an issue – you can just concentrate on the acting.”

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Hamish Clark plays Duncan

There is an extra twinkle in Hamish Clark’s roguish “Hermione unashamedly introduces him to the high eyes when he reveals just what Duncan will be up life and dangles car keys in front of him and to in the new series of Monarch Of The Glen – the Duncan, unashamedly, goes for it.” lad becomes a hit with the ladies. Romance and riches are rare enough in Duncan’s “Duncan has never been short of girls over the life; when they come as a complete package he just four series,” Hamish insists manfully.“In fact, in the can’t resist.“The scenes with Hermione are really first series, there were lots of little hippie chicks good fun to do; hilarious, good old heightened who liked the cut of Duncan’s jib. If you look back reality stuff,” Hamish explains.“It’s good to have a he was averaging three a series, but they were laugh and a bit of flirtation.” always blowing up in his face – he was either like a rabbit caught in the headlights, or being jilted.” But other female relationships will also take their toll on Duncan’s life when Golly’s estranged But when Kilwillie’s niece, Hermione, descends on daughter, Jess, returns to the estate after studying Glenbogle with her mother, the daunting Lady Land Management at university.“With Jess there is Dorothy, things are about to change.“This time he rivalry, but lots of respect and an attraction and has a choice,” says a happy Hamish.“He is slightly fondness – plus, Golly is like a father to both of us. more his own man this time round – probably because he knows that she is even more desperate “That is pregnant with potential, whereas, with than he is. Hermione, it’s high comedy. I am just really pleased

Monarch Of The Glen 37 Interviews

with how they have written the part up over the “Because of Monarch everyone knew me, it was past couple of years. Now he spends a lot less time amazing. I’d never been to either country and when mending fences and has much more inter-action I arrived in New Zealand we flew in through the with the other characters – girls, mainly.” cloud and before I’d even got my bags off the carousel, people were shouting,‘Duncan, Duncan’. This could be why Hamish feels he needs to keep his strength up.The hugely popular actor has been “One morning before breakfast I was swimming in out pounding the Scottish turf at every the hotel rooftop pool – I felt like James Bond, opportunity. looking out over the yachts in the harbour.Then I was asked if I could come down because the Prime “I’ve been running a lot at night in the hills behind Minister [Helen Clark] was at the hotel for Newtonmore,” he reveals.“It’s really great at night, breakfast and wanted to meet me. after work, to just go and run it all off. It is so, so beautiful that it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining “She was a really nice woman and a fan of or not. the show.”

“But the weather has been tremendous this year. But the modest actor is down to earth about his Yesterday I was out until midnight in the hills, up on fame, even though he has been asked for his the ridges, after watching the sun setting in the autograph all over the world – including the top of glens. It was spectacular.” Table Mountain.“I feel as though it’s not really me, it’s Duncan,” he explains.“It is him that the public Always health-conscious, the 36-year-old really gets respond to and him they’re cheering. into his stride when he heads north of the border for Monarch.“I always did hill walking because my “I’m just his caretaker.” mum and dad live in the Highlands and when we were kids all our holidays were spent fishing, walking and climbing. But it’s weird – as I get older, my lifestyle gets more healthy,” he laughs.

“I was invited to start the Laggan 10k race recently, which I had done last year. But this time I decided to not only start it, but to run in it as well. I did a good time and then, when I got back, I handed out the prizes, which was excellent.”

The London-based star has covered all the bases when it comes to keeping his perfectly formed body in trim.When he is at home he is a regular at the gym, where he has a personal trainer.

“He’s even designed a work-out with weights that I can do while I’m on Monarch because, obviously, we don’t have ready access to a gym.”

But Hamish did take some time out from his regime between series, to travel Down Under for a promotional tour of a website for Australians and New Zealanders anxious to trace their Scottish roots and visit their ancestral homeland.

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Alexander Morton plays Golly

There are two women in the life of Golly, “She now does what he does and I think he finds Glenbogle’s fiercely loyal ghillie, and for both of that very challenging at first; he just isn’t used to them he holds complex and deep-seated feelings having her around. She suddenly appears and takes which look set to cause him heartache and distress. over the house. It’s the first time that he has had to deal with any parenting problems at all and he is a This sternly silent man has long held a special bit lost – it’s a shock to the system. affection for Molly, the widow of his old boss. As Molly finds new companionship with Andrew, “So many things have changed in Golly’s life after Golly suddenly realises that his relationship with the death of Hector and his feelings for Molly are her is about to change forever.And, to complicate developing,” he continues.“I’m really hoping he matters further, the return of his estranged might get a bit of sympathy.” daughter, Jess, turns his already rapidly changing world upside down. Golly may be the strong, silent type, but his character has always attracted a lot of female “She’s his daughter and he loves her,” says attention, something that makes Sandy smile.“He Alexander “Sandy” Morton.“Without knowing it, did smarten himself up in the last series, because he will actually have planted the seeds of his own he wanted to impress a lady friend. So, when he’s love for the land in her and now she has gone one not working on the land, he does look quite good step further and has studied it at university. in his designer jeans,” he concedes.

Monarch Of The Glen 39 Interviews

“But one thing a lot of people commented on was his leather jerkin – and actually I have had that since I was at drama school and a pal of mine sold it to me for £2 19s 6d. It’s one of my favourite things and I’d never part with it.

“It’s just great to see it on screen. I’d treated it almost as an heirloom now, just keeping it hung up – but it is rather special. It used to have a beautiful, bright red tartan lining, so when I went to Wembley in 1967 and Scotland beat England 3-2, I was wearing that jacket inside out,” laughs Sandy.

However, fortune wasn’t on Sandy’s side when his feet were – quite literally – taken from under him. “Between series I fell down the stairs and hurt my leg; it was extremely painful but I was so pleased that I could move it. I thought, it can’t be too bad if it’s not broken,” he explains.“But actually the doctor said that a break would have been easier to heal.”

The accident meant that a film part Sandy had been cast in looked in jeopardy.“I had a day’s filming on I Sleep When I’m Dead, directed by Mike Hodges and starring Clive Owen.Although I knew it was a sit-down scene, I had to let them know what had happened and that I would be on crutches.

“I had to hop around for weeks, I was like Long John Silver – all I needed was the parrot.”

But Sandy’s troubles weren’t quite over – like Golly’s problems with women, they came in twos. “Just after I started work again on Monarch I did the other ankle. I thought,‘I can’t believe this’. I’d only just got the other one back to normal. But this time it wasn’t nearly so bad,” he says with relief, “and they are both fine now.”

Monarch Of The Glen 40 Interviews

Lloyd Owen plays Paul

Feel the fear and do it anyway – that’s the motto of “But I have to admit it has become a bit of an obsession acclaimed actor Lloyd Owen.The ruggedly and it gives me something to do on my days off.” handsome addition to the MacDonald family tree cheerily admits he has no head for heights – which Lloyd rejoins the series when Paul – Hector’s is why he has taken up climbing. secret son – decides to come back and give life at Glenbogle a try.“I’ve built up my own little life “Paul is an outdoor action man; he sets up a new story for him,” he reveals.“I think his mother project at Glenbogle – an outdoor activity centre would have told him that his father died and then where there is climbing, football, canoeing and brought him up on her own. But she maybe had a everything that might appeal to kids from the few boyfriends who came and went – so there was inner city. never any reliable father figure.

“So, as I have to climb in this series, I’ve been “Then he decided to join the Army and has training on an indoor climbing wall just up the road developed into this rather lonesome figure who from the set. I have never liked heights,” he really needs a family.” confesses.“But I always think you should challenge your fears. Coming into a well-established series is nothing new for Lloyd, who made quite an impact on “It was quite frightening when you’re low down and female viewers when he joined Hearts & Bones. I was really daunted.As you get higher, it does take “That was the same – a new character coming into on a different perspective and, even though you an established story and smashing the dynamic of know you’re safely on the end of a rope, it is scary. the group.

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“Here, Paul changes that dynamic. He wants to “I think it’s because there are so many choices to introduce things that don’t always go down too be made about how you spend your time. Up here well with everyone else.There are frictions with it can be quite challenging.You think,‘Well, what am Archie, which are very similar to the trouble Archie I going to do on my day off, I should plan a trip’. had with their father. “Having said that, it has made me do things I would “There is a tension there, yet they are more alike never have thought of anywhere else. I’ve been than they allow themselves to realise. Paul is quite spending a lot of time walking, hiking, doing the forthright and determined and comes into climbing wall.Where I’m staying there is a guy who Glenbogle wanting to change things – just as Archie used to play the bagpipes in the Strathclyde Police did when he first came up from London. Band, so I have asked him to teach me.

“Paul’s idea is to bring kids in from the inner cities “With all the training I’ve been doing I’ve got to get a taste of something totally different to their the lungs for it, but I can hardly get a note out at normal lives. He is an outsider there and yet he has the moment.” also fallen in love with the place.” Lloyd readily admits that his television career, which The magic has certainly cast its spell on Lloyd, who also includes appearances in Coupling, The Vice and has thrown himself heart and soul into life in the The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, helps to subsidise Highlands.“I grew up in north London, but my the real love of his life – the theatre. family are from Snowdonia in north Wales,” he explains.“So I have some knowledge of this kind “Recently I did Edward II with Joseph Fiennes at of countryside. The Crucible in Sheffield and last year The York Realist, which won the Critics’ Circle best play “When I was with the Cheek By Jowl theatre award,” he says.“But the role I really want to company some years ago, we did 35 countries in tackle is Macbeth.” three years. But I still think Scotland is exceptional because the change in geography is extraordinary. Meanwhile, he is more than happy in Monarch, but Scotland has got everything.” with one reservation.“They haven’t given Paul any romance so far,” bemoans Lloyd.“It would be nice The locals have taken this enthusiastic incomer to to think there was someone in the future, but I’m their hearts – and their hearths, giving Lloyd a real still in the dark about who it might be.” taste of Scottish hospitality.“I’ve just been to my first proper ceilidh recently – for a retiring sheep farmer who was moving to a croft on Skye.The whole village threw a big party for him.

“They were doing wonderful dances, including one called “Strip The Willow”, that I had no idea of at all,” he admits with a grin.“But I was being helpfully pushed around by people.That is what is so wonderful about this job – you can get involved in the community you’re working in and see a side of life that the tourists don’t see.”

But London-born Lloyd says he is torn between rural and city life.“It is very addictive up here, it is so beautiful” he says, adding,“but I like the city, I like the buzz and I can’t see myself living anywhere other than a city.

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Paul Freeman plays Andrew

“It’s a great antidote to the whole business of working as an actor where you’re surrounded by people.To be able to get away so completely, with not a road or a house in sight, is just wonderful. I had done it before, but I’d rather lost touch with it.

“I live in London, so trying to do it near there always involved an excursion.To be able to leave my house in Newtonmore and be in a glen in five minutes where there is nobody for 20 miles is just extraordinary.”

Well known from films such as Raiders Of The Lost Ark, The Long Good Friday and the TV hit ER – in which his on-screen daughter, Dr Corday, is played by Alex Kingston – Paul has spent a lot of his working life in America where he is due to return to promote the film Morlan, which gained him the Best Actor award at the prestigious Cairo Film festival.

“It is based on a true Dutch story about a couple who enter into a suicide pact because the wife Handsome, charming and affluent,Andrew Booth is ill,” he explains.“But after she kills herself, could sweep any woman off her feet – but will his the husband doesn’t – he goes off with a young softly-softly approach work on Glenbogle’s blonde instead.” winsome widow? He may have a reputation for playing chilling screen As his feelings for her grow, this suave suitor also baddies, but Paul insists he enjoys nothing more has to cope with the realisation that he might have dangerous than cooking and gardening.“I bought a a rival for Molly’s affections. But faint heart never house in France last year, near Avignon, and I’m won fair lady. looking forward to spending some time in the garden there, among the vineyards. “There is a continuing tango of Andrew getting closer to Molly over the episodes,” explains Paul “Not that it will be very relaxing,” he adds with a Freeman.“But there are also hints of jealousy from laugh.“Last time we turned up there a family of Golly and a bit of a struggle between the two of us.” wild boar had been trampling through it, so there was hardly anything left of what we planted in Paul’s spell on Monarch has given him the chance to the spring.” rediscover a hobby that has helped him cope with the pressures of filming.“It’s hill walking,” he grins. “I hill walk like a lunatic.As soon as I’m off the set I’ve got my boots on and I’m gone.

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New faces in the Glen

Richenda Carey plays are best.“Look at JR in Dallas, or Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,” she points out.“But Lady Dorothy they are characters we love to hate.

“Obviously, I have to play it from her point of view and I imagine she has been rather disappointed in life. She’s very, very urban – London urban – and she has an innate snobbism that is to do with class, but also with locality.

“She does assume that she’s right all the time and I have a certain sympathy with that. My nearest and dearest would say that I very occasionally may be the same. But really, you just want to smack her.”

As well as a brief appearance in Tomb Raider, Richenda has worked with Mike Leigh and Victoria Wood on television and has spent a lot of time on radio drama. But this is only her second working trip to Scotland and she has fallen in love with it. “It is beautiful, what a lovely country,” she says. “I have been going for walks and exploring the Cheerful and charming, Richenda Carey is relishing countryside, climbing the hills. her role as the woman who is about to unleash the fury of Monarch fans everywhere.“I confidently “I was born near Bristol and have spent a lot of expect hate mail; I shan’t have been doing my job childhood in the country, but have been living in properly if I don’t get any,” she declares.“I think there London because of work for the past 30 years – is something rather delicious about horrid people.” gosh, that sounds a long time. But I love the country and I’ve brought my hiking boots up here. This versatile actress takes on the haute couture It’s such a bonus to the job.” mantle of Lady Dorothy, Kilwillie’s sister and a scheming, sour-faced snob.With her spoilt daughter Hermione, she will make her peevish presence felt Hermione Gulliford throughout the estate, leaving a trail of havoc in her wake. plays Hermione

“She comes in like a dose of salts and a splash of Female fans will be furious: cute and cuddly Duncan vinegar,” grins Richenda.“She is terribly irritating as is about to be seduced by the girlfriend from hell – well as being this monstrous person and she’s very and he’s going willingly. snobby about Scotland, which immediately makes her the bad guy. “There will be letters,” warns Hermione Gulliford with a laugh at her namesake’s expense.“She’s not “She will be appallingly patronising to the people at all interested in other people. Even when she the viewers love – like Duncan and Lexie. It will be first meets Duncan, it doesn’t occur to her to ask like kicking a dog on screen.” him any questions.

Richenda’s obvious happiness at playing this “She is Lady Dorothy’s daughter and a real chip off harridan comes from her firm belief that baddies the old block. If she can’t get her own way she

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So far, most of Hermione’s career has been on the stage where her Olivia in Twelfth Night was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award. She also played Portia in the RSC’s world-touring production of The Merchant Of Venice.

“We went to America, China, Malaysia and Japan,” she explains.“The Japanese are notoriously very quiet and respectful and that was a bit weird. But at The Globe in Tokyo, we were told that they were usually much quieter than that – so we must have stirred them up a bit.”

Rae Hendrie plays Jessica does terribly manipulative things, or throws money at the problem. She thinks the world should revolve around her and everyone should come running. If I met anyone like her, I think I’d probably run a mile.”

Yet Hermione, the Somerset-born actress, does feel the need to defend Hermione, the spoilt, little rich girl.“There is a vulnerable side to her,” she insists. “If she was too awful, Duncan wouldn’t like her.

“She can’t help herself because that’s what she’s grown up with. Until now, her love life has been hopeless. She falls in love very easily and then throws herself at these men who clearly can’t be doing with her. So they make up all these dreadful excuses – like terminal illnesses.

“But, playing her, I have to find things that I like about her, otherwise she would just become a caricature. I do feel she genuinely falls for Duncan. There is a moment she realises that he is a proper human being, someone genuine – not like the It is a happy return to the world of Glenbogle City types she’s used to. Her motives are from a for Rae Hendrie – but will her character, Jessica, good place.” feel quite as delighted at the reception she gets when she bowls back into the life of Golly, her It was “like mother, like daughter” for real-life estranged father? Hermione, whose own mum was a drama teacher. “I told her at a young age that I wanted to be an “She does do quite a lot of walking off, a bit of actor and she wasn’t too surprised,” she grins. flouncing,” laughs Rae, who initially won the part of “I also found out later that my great-grandfather Jess while she was still at drama school.“I got my had been a keen amateur actor, so it must be in degree results while we were filming,” she recalls. the blood.”

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“I was so excited about the job, I’d forgotten they Martin Compston were coming out.” plays Ewan Since then, Selkirk-born Rae has appeared in Rockface and Taggart, despite having recently moved to London.“It’s exciting being in London, but I miss my mum and dad,” she admits.“I live in the East End, which is a little bit rough and ready, but it’s great to be in the thick of things.

“I share a flat with two other actors, which is quite good because we all go through our little lulls and we spur each other on.”

Rae was a latecomer to acting, having gone to Edinburgh University to study psychology and linguistics.“I got involved in a production of Bugsy Malone and was enjoying doing that a lot more than I was enjoying my course,” she explains. “So I dropped out and decided to apply to drama schools.

“My parents weren’t exactly happy, but once they realised it was what I wanted to do, they were fine and really supported me.They were just worried because they had it in their head that I was going to Young actor Martin Compston comes to Monarch be a psychologist and then, suddenly, I wanted to be Of The Glen trailing clouds of glory from his multi- an actor. But every job is unreliable these days, so award-winning screen debut in Ken Loach’s film, you might as well do what you really want to do.” Sweet Sixteen. Hailed as a new James Dean, or Paul Newman, this likely lad could be forgiven for being Rae knows how tough it can be to keep an acting too big for his boots. career going, but this former cello player has more than one string to her bow.“I started off singing Instead, Greenock-born Martin is determined to when I was younger – classical singing and learn his new craft, ignore the hype and build a performing in Burns competitions.That led to me career that doesn’t depend on the latest tabloid doing parts in school shows, playing in orchestras, headline.That’s why he turned his back on tempting doing ballet and contemporary dance – everything “get rich quick” offers from the States and plumped but acting. instead for the role of street-wise Ewan, a loveable rogue from the wrong side of the tracks. “Now, when I’m not acting, I’ve been working with kids with behavioural problems in a school in “After Sweet Sixteen I kept thinking,‘I don’t want to Camden and totally loved that. rush into anything’. I had the feeling that for a lot of people, all that attention would go to their head “It’s been brilliant, so exciting and satisfying – never and they would try and do too much, too soon,” a dull moment.When I got this part back in he says candidly. Monarch they didn’t believe me, obviously. But I think they will definitely be watching; I’ve got my “I needed to step back and chill out and wait for little fan base now.” the right things to come along and then just do

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what I thought was best.There has been some pressure on me to move to London or America, but I never went to acting school, or anything like that, so I’m still learning my trade.

“The reviews I got for Sweet Sixteen were unbelievable, but I’ve got a long, long way to go if I’m going to make it to Hollywood.Anyone who has made it there has got my total respect because it must be so hard to get there. I’ve got years yet and I need to learn. Monarch is brilliant for that because it has a really talented cast and I’ll be on set all the time.”

Plucked from school to star in Loach’s acclaimed film, Martin had his sights set on a career as a professional footballer – a dream he has had to give up.“I was absolutely gutted,” says the former Morton FC player.“I’m 19 now and that was a good 10 years of my life where all I had done was play football and train every day, really hard.

“It was my only ambition, all I ever wanted to do and I had a good chance of getting where I wanted to be and to have to give up on it was a nightmare, devastating. But acting’s not a bad compensation and I know I’ve done the right thing.”

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