Monarch of the Glen (TV series)

This article is about the tv series. For other uses of "Monarch of the Glen", see Monarch of the Glen.

Monarch of the Glen
Genre	Comedy drama
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
Theme music composer	Simon Brint
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	7
No. of episodes	64 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Barbara McKissack Douglas Rae Victoria Evans Robert Bernstein Gaynor Holmes
Running time	50 mins. (series 1–3) 60 mins. (series 4–7)
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	27 February 2000 (2000-02-27) – 23 October 2005 (2005-10-23)

Monarch of the Glen is a British drama television series produced by Ecosse Films for BBC Scotland and broadcast on BBC One for seven series between 2000 and 2005.

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 Susan Hampshire.

Several storylines were inspired by, and closely resemble, three series of a reality television programme called Country House by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two, featuring the 14th Duke of Bedford and his family's daily life at Woburn Abbey.

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.

The series is currently repeated on British digital channel ITV3.

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 have been shown on UKTV Drama and are currently running on ITV3). Filming took between six and eight months per series in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of the Scottish Highlands. Seven series were filmed, totalling 64 episodes (including a Hogmanay Special). The show's mixture of comedy and drama, its location, and its 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 Entertainment (formerly BBC Prime), the BBC's 24-hour global entertainment channel, broadcast to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Publicity in the United States included front-page coverage in the Chicago Tribune. Monarch of the Glen was Australia's most popular BBC drama in 2002 and 2003.

British ratings in the first five series were always high, but they lowered after the departure of several of the main characters (Archie, Hector, Lexie, Duncan, and Katrina). A petition was formed by 21-year-old "Boglie" Emma Richards to ensure that lead character Archie stayed on the show, but it failed when the actor left the show midway through the fifth series. Ratings hit an all-time low in 2004, and BBC bosses axed the show, but promised that 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 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	27 February 2000	16 April 2000	8.0	26.0
2	8	50 minutes	7 January 2001	25 February 2001	7.6	26.5
3	11	50 minutes	28 October 2001	20 January 2002	6.9	25.7
4	10	60 minutes	1 September 2002	3 November 2002	7.2	29.1
5	10	60 minutes	28 September 2003	30 November 2003	7.2§	Unknown
Hogmanay Special	1	60 minutes	28 December 2003	28 December 2003	6.3	Unknown
6	10	60 minutes	19 September 2004	21 November 2004	5.3	TBA
7	6	60 minutes	18 September 2005	23 October 2005	5.8	TBA

^§ Unconfirmed.

Series synopses

Series 1

While trying to carve a living out of the London restaurant he runs with his girlfriend Justine, Archie MacDonald is called back to his Highland home, to the bed of his dying father, Hector. When he arrives, however, he finds that the news 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 with whom he finds he is set to have a love-hate relationship. The feisty staff of Glenbogle —- Lexie, Golly, and Duncan —- also prove hard to handle, and Archie's eccentric parents are difficult. To please all, Archie faces the challenge to save Glenbogle.

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.

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, though she has her eye on Archie, who has 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. Despite Stella's sabotage, intending to show Glenbogle in a dim light at the Midsummer's Ball, the bank's chair returns control of the estate to Archie, who finally realizes he's in love with his faithful friend Lexie, and proposes. This causes friction between Archie and Hector, who disapproves of the match. Hector meets a tragic and sudden end just shortly before the wedding is to take place. Lexie gets cold feet on the day of the wedding, which is postponed indefinitely.

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.

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.

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. New barmaid, Zoe, first appears in Glenbogle, catching Ewan's eye.

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.

Cast

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		59
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	53
Julian Fellowes	Angus, Lord Kilwillie	Series 4-5	Series 1-3, 7	24
Lloyd Owen	Paul Bowman-MacDonald	Series 5-7	Series 4	28
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
Johno Whittington	Danny	Series 1-5	Series 5	45

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
Donald Douglas	Dr. Gordon McKendrick	Series 6-7	3
Kari Corbett	Zoe	Series 6-7	6
Karen Westwood	Margaret '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

For a detailed list of the Monarch of the Glen cast, please click here.

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 UK 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 UK 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 titled The Last Monarch, which was broadcast on BBC Scotland before the series finale on 23 October 2005.

+ Region 4 (Australia) - Series 4,5,6,7 Only available in a Compilation Boxset exclusive to the ABC Shop July 2007.

The USA Region 1 DVDs are produced by BBC Warner.

DVD Series	Release Dates
	Region 2	Region 1	Region 4
Series 1	27 December 2002	16 September 2003	12 November 2003
Series 2	5 May 2003	4 May 2004	3 February 2005
Series 3	6 October 2003	17 May 2005	4 May 2006
Series 4	29 December 2003	16 May 2006	15 April 2010
Series 5	27 December 2004	24 October 2006	Box set only - see above +
Series 6	10 October 2005	15 May 2007	Box set only - see above +
Series 7	3 April 2006	23 October 2007	Box set only - see above +
Series 1-7	24 October 2006	23 October 2007	July 2007 (box set compilation only +)

See also

• List of episodes
• Monarch Country

External links

• Monarch of the Glen at BBC Online
• Monarch of the Glen at IMDb