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Taggart

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For other uses, see the Scottish television series.
Taggart
File:TaggartTeam.png
Current Cast
GenreDrama
Created byGlenn Chandler
StarringBlythe Duff,
John Michie,
Alex Norton,
Colin McCredie
Country of originScotland
No. of series24
No. of episodes92 made (1 unaired)
Production
ProducerSMG Productions
Running time60 - 120 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release6 September, 1983 –

present

Taggart is a long-running Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler (who has written many of the episodes), and made by SMG Productions (STV) for the ITV network. Taggart is a Glaswegian detective television programme, originally set and filmed in the area of Maryhill police station in Glasgow, Scotland, but is internationally famous and is now translated into many languages including Dutch, French and Japanese. The series revolves around a group of detectives in the Maryhill CID of Strathclyde Police. It is the world's longest continually running police drama,[1] although "Woodentop", the one-off drama that later served as a the pilot for another ITV police drama, The Bill, aired one month before the first episode of Taggart.

The Scottish English and Glasgow Patter used by the characters in the show has been the subject of a number of skits. The 1980's BBC Scotland comedy series Naked Video regularly featured a series of 'Taggart' sketches in which Tony Roper portrayed Mark McManus/Jim Taggart complete with his "There's been a murder!" catchphrase pronounced with an extremely thick Glaswegian accent rolling the 'r' in murder. There is also a Tennents lager advert where CG-animated pints of Tennents play Taggart characters. "There's been a murder!" was commonly used to stereotype the show - especially in the Mark McManus era.

The programme is considered in France as part of the 'film noir' genre due to its dark and grim storylines.

History

The pilot episode, "Killer", broadcast in 1983, introduced the character of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Jim Taggart (played by Mark McManus until his death in 1994), a tough and experienced detective who had worked his way up through the ranks. His original sidekick was Detective Sergeant (DS) Peter Livingstone (Neil Duncan). Livingstone represented the new breed of young graduates entering the police force, and frequently had a difficult relationship with Taggart as a result. Taggart's boss in the pilot was Supertintendent Robert Murray (Tom Watson), known as The Mint after the well known sweet. This humour was continued in the subsequent series with Taggart's boss replaced by Superintendent Jack McVitie (Iain Anders), nicknamed The Biscuit after the popular brand of biscuits. Another important character was Taggart's long-suffering, crippled, wheelchair-bound wife Jean (Harriet Buchan) whose disability did not prevent her from pursuing a number of interests in life, while her cynical husband stuck mainly to his job.

In 1987 the character of Mike Jardine (James MacPherson) was introduced, and when Neil Duncan left the series in 1989, a new female sidekick, Jackie Reid (Blythe Duff) was introduced.

McManus died in 1994 in the middle of filming an episode. His absence was explained by the claim that Taggart was in constant meetings with the Chief Constable. After his death the character was also killed off and the show renamed 'Taggart: The Legend Lives On', which was later shortened to 'Taggart: Legends', before eventually reverting to the original title. After Jim Taggart died, Jardine was promoted to Detective Inspector and DC Stuart Fraser (Colin McCredie) was introduced, becoming the long-suffering sidekick to Jardine, former long-suffering sidekick to Taggart. DI Robbie Ross (John Michie) joined the team in 1998. Fraser was later revealed to be gay.

When MacPherson left the series in 2002, his character was killed off, and replaced with DCI Matt Burke, formerly of Special Branch (played by Alex Norton who had previously appeared in the series playing a murder suspect in the 1986 episode, "Knife Edge"). Alex Norton's Matt Burke character has gained widespread critical acclaim, many believing him to be the first credible successor to McManus's original Taggart character.

Much was made of the platonic relationship between Jardine and Reid, with the two being shown to share a brother/sister-like bond. Both pursued a number of relationships with other characters over the years. Reid even got married, but later separated from her husband. The personal relationships of the police officers in this series are shown as nothing to be envious of; Reid once describing herself, Burke, Ross and Fraser as three divorcees and a celibate homosexual.

Guest appearances

Actors appearing on Taggart episodes over the years include Dave Anderson, Isla Blair, Billy Boyd, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Ian Colquhoun, Annette Crosbie, Alan Cumming, Henry Ian Cusick, Barbara Dickson, Fish, Jill Gascoine, Hannah Gordon, Clare Grogan, John Hannah, Celia Imrie, Jason Isaacs, Ashley Jensen, Diane Keen, John McGlynn (in 5 episodes, each as a different character), Ann Mitchell, Peter Mullan, Amanda Redman, Dougray Scott and Ken Stott.

Quotes

  • From the episode "Cold Blood" (1987):
Taggart: "Yer brains'll be oan the pavement unless ye help us!!!" (Taggart dealing with jovial remarks made by a hot dog seller who is reluctant to co-operate)
  • From the episode "Violent Delights" (1990):
Taggart: "Oh my goad (God)........wimmen polis!!!" (shortly after DC Reid has mistakenly boarded a London-bound train and ended up in the middle of nowhere [it turned out to be Carstairs Junction])
  • From the episode "Funeral Rites" (1987)
Taggart: "You trying to make his day?" (looks down into the quarry) "Well, that's the easy part of it."
Jardine: "Easy?"
Taggart: (smiles) Now I have to go home and tell Jean she needs a new hairdresser."
  • From the episode "Babushka" (1998)
Reid: "These were bought recently." (after finding women's clothes while looking for evidence.)
Jardine: "How do you know?"
Reid: "It's called fashion, Michael."

Theme music

The programme's theme music is "No Mean City" composed by Mike Morran and performed by Maggie Bell, formerly a member of Stone the Crows.

References

  1. ^ SMG Productions

External links

Template:STV programmes

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