Monarch Of The Glen - · PDF fileLloyd Owen plays Paul ... spread her wings and fly in the...

Monarch Of The Glen

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Cast and production credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Interviews with the cast

Susan Hampshire plays Molly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Alastair Mackenzie plays Archie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Dawn Steele plays Lexie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Hamish Clark plays Duncan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Alexander Morton plays Golly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Lloyd Owen plays Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Paul Freeman plays Andrew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

New faces in the GlenRichenda Carey plays Lady Dorothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Hermione Gulliford plays Hermione . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Rae Hendrie plays Jessica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Martin Compston plays Ewan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Monarch Of The Glen

Monarch Of The Glen

At last, an air of prosperity settles on the turreted,Victorian edifice of Glenbogle, but within this loch-side Lairdom it is family, not fortune, that is aboutto pose problems.Although life has never beensweeter for Archie and Lexie, the family MacDonaldhas adjustments to make.

“The key thing that has changed for Archie is thathis problems have been solved,” explains seriesproducer Stephen Garwood.“But Archie, beingrestless and adventurous, needs challenge.

“When the strain of putting Glenbogle into theblack is stripped away, he needs to find somethingelse – and his quest obviously leads him intodifficulties and dangers.”

Archie’s feverish pursuit of fulfilment is just part ofMonarch’s rich mix of laughter, tears, warmth andwit. His hell-bent bid to regain some challenge inhis life has an impact on everyone close to him.Thesolid ground of Glenbogle is on the move.

First, there is the seismic shift of coming to termswith Paul. His newly-discovered half-brother shows disturbing signs of being just as eager to overthrow

the status quo as a returning Archie was, whenfaced with their father’s stubborn traditionalism.Then Molly, Glenbogle’s guardian angel, looks set tospread her wings and fly in the face of expectation– into the arms of a new man. Even Golly, the veryessence of the estate, whose loyalty and advicehave been food and drink to Archie, is beset by hisown family turmoil when his estranged daughter,Jessica, returns.

Barbara McKissack, BBC Scotland’s Head of Drama,explains:“We join Glenbogle in a new era, withArchie and Lexie firmly at the helm, lookingforward rather than back.Viewers have wanted thatfor so long and it’s lovely to see them together asthe couple everyone hoped they would become.

“That leaves other characters to have a differentview of the world of Glenbogle and what theycontribute to it.This has always been a place where, behind the scenes, lots of change happensand where people find that they have been changedby experience – this year is no exception.“The family has been changed by Hector’s death, byPaul’s arrival, by Molly’s new status in the house andby Lexie and Archie’s new-found commitment toeach other. Now the established world order isabout to be completely thrown in the air –anything could happen in terms of the future ofGlenbogle and how the whole dynasty continues.”

Adds Douglas Rae, executive producer at EcosseFilms:“The community can shift and change aspeople come and go.That gives us the opportunityto bring in new characters, but in such a way thatpeople will see they’re not just bolted on.Theyactually come in for a reason and there’s a reasonfor them to stay.”

As followers of the show will already be aware, thisnew series heralds Archie’s departure. Says Douglas:“Clearly,Alastair has been an incredibly loyal andwonderful performer over five series. But one has tounderstand an actor’s desire to move on and take upnew challenges.”

28Monarch Of The Glen

Introduction

Monarch Of The Glenreturns to BBC One

Stephen Garwood is keenly aware of the affectionfans hold for Monarch.“One of the challenges for ushas been to find a reason why Archie would leave thetwo things he loves the most, Lexie and Glenbogle –and we didn’t want to cheat the viewers.To split upwith her emotionally would be wrong.

“We’ve come up with a device that we think works– but I can’t give it away,” he adds tantalisingly.“Wealso looked for ways of bringing new charactersinto the show and the most obvious place to findthem was under our nose.

Stephen adds:“They already exist in the communityand we haven’t really explored that area except inguest stories from time to time. So, when the familyis forced to leave the house temporarily and gointo the village, we meet a new set of satellitecharacters there.

“The village setting provides a wealth ofopportunities such as the rather hopeless, butpopular, policeman who has an unfaithful wife.Thereare so many ways of discovering new people.”

One of the biggest changes for the family will be incoming to terms with the return of Paul, the secretson of Hector. But it will be even harder for thisindependent outsider to accept his place in thebosom of Glenbogle.

“Beneath that ‘action man’ exterior is a little boywho has never known what it’s like to have a familyand he wants to find a home,” says Stephen.“Butwhat he hasn’t quite worked out is what thedefinition of home might be.

“He cuts a swathe across the whole tradition ofGlenbogle because, even though he wants to bepart of it, he doesn’t understand it. So thatinevitably puts him into conflict with Archie and,later, with Lexie.”

Adds Barbara:“Paul is the grit in the oyster forthem all this year. How do you accept somebody aspart of your family that you didn’t know existedbefore? It’s fantastic news for Archie that he has abrother – now he has a chance to have thatbrotherly love and friendship that he’s missed. Butwill he take that chance?”

Another outsider about to make his mark isGlasgow tearaway Ewan, played by multi-award-winning actor Martin Compston, the young star ofKen Loach’s film Sweet Sixteen. Says Barbara:“Martinis an exceptional talent and he brings a whole new,young generation to the cast.There’s also a lot ofurban chaos coming in with him.”

Stephen agrees.“Ewan has some lessons to learnand will make some mistakes and win some hearts.We’re dipping our toe in the water with thischaracter, but I have been really impressed withwhat I’ve seen of Martin’s work – he joins a rank ofreally strong actors and so it’s a great place for himto learn his craft.”

For Douglas, Monarch’s success is simple.“It hasentered the folklore of television because, inaddition to the humour, there are genuineemotional storylines affecting family members andthe community,” he says.

Stephen agrees:“Monarch is the perfect way tospend a Sunday evening which will allow you tolaugh, maybe to cry and be entertained for an hourin the company of old and new friends in somewonderful scenery.”

www.bbc.co.uk/monarchwww.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice


Introduction

Susan HampshireAlastair Mackenzie

Dawn SteeleHamish Clark

Alexander MortonLloyd Owen

Julian FellowesPaul Freeman

Richenda CareyHermione Gulliford

Rae HendrieMartin Compston

ProducerHead of Drama, BBC Scotland

Executive Producers

Writers

Directors

Series Creator

Molly Archie Lexie Duncan Golly Paul Lord KilwillieAndrew Lady DorothyHermione Jessica Ewan

Stephen GarwoodBarbara McKissackDouglas Rae, Robert Bernstein, Gaynor Holmes

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)

Richard Signy (eps 1, 2, 3) Robert Knights (eps 4, 5, 6) Ian Knox (eps 7, 8) Brian Kelly (eps 9, 10)Michael Chaplin


Cast and production credits

Cast

Production credits

Far from being a dotty dowager, Molly – now theSecond Lady of Glenbogle – has style, panache anda penchant for getting men to fall in love with her.But that can bring its own problems to a womanwho was last on the singles market 40 years ago.

“She is hugely nervous about the whole process ofbeing ‘available’ again after Hector’s death,” saysSusan Hampshire sympathetically.“She doesn’tknow how to cope with it and isn’t at all convincedthat she is doing the right thing.

“I think she is going through all the doubts that anywoman of her age would have.To be single againafter decades of marriage must be terribly hard.What do you do, what do you say, how do youbehave – do you ever have to take your clothesoff?” she laughs.

“It is so different when you’ve been married for along time; you’re used to each other and it almostdoesn’t matter what you look like because you’reso familiar. So seeing someone else is a really bigdeal for her at this stage in her life.”

Susan is all in favour of this on-screen explorationof the romantic relationships of an older woman.“It really isn’t tackled very often and yet it musthappen all the time,” she points out.“It is a hugeshock when someone loses a long-time partner,for whatever reason.

“But your life doesn’t end when there is no man in it and it doesn’t mean to say you’re not ready fora new one, or ready for love – it can be such ahuge adventure.”

Viewers have certainly picked up on the post-Hector Molly and Susan has seen an increase inattention from young men.“It has been a realsurprise.They send me very nice letters and Itruthfully don’t know why,” she says modestly.

“But then maybe before Hector died, they just sawher as an appendage. Curiously, since he died,people are very much more interested in her as ahuman being.They liked and sympathised withMolly before, but now they really want to knowwhat is going to happen to her.”


Interviews

Susan Hampshire plays Molly

One major happening is the return of Molly’sprodigal daughter, Lizzie (played by SaskiaWickham).“She is a bit of a tearaway and a freespirit,” Susan explains.“So Molly hasn’t really seenher very much, but she does have a goodrelationship with her and, even more importantly –Lizzie has her only grandchild.”

One thing is certain: love in many guises will play abig part in Molly’s life. Not only is she the object ofardent affection, but she decides that the lonely folkof Glenbogle also need a helping hand – so she setsup a dating agency.

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

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

“I’m also still busy converting a derelict barn in theChilterns – the planning permission finally camethrough last autumn. It’s very exciting to go off intothe depths of Shropshire to find special pieces ofwood and old slates and I was planning to make afilm about it.

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


Interviews

It will be a while until the impact hits Glenbogle,but viewers of Monarch Of The Glen will soondiscover that the darkly handsome, newly marriedLaird has itchy feet.

For Alastair Mackenzie, the series has been a life-changing break that has made his face familiarround the world. Now – like Archie – he hasachieved success and is looking for a new mountain to climb.

“When we join the series Archie and Lexie havebeen on their extended honeymoon, so Archie isalready a different person,” Alastair points out.“Hehas always been more concerned with trying tokeep the estate from the debtors, pre-occupiedwith making sure it doesn’t go bankrupt.

“Now it is up and running – it is finally clear of alldebts, the mission has been accomplished. So, aftertravelling all over the world and being reminded ofthe wandering, roving spirit that he truly is,Archiewants to find something new to challenge him.”

On a personal level, one of those challenges is thenew dynamic within Glenbogle as Paul – Archie’snewly discovered half-brother – takes up his placein the family.

“The advent of Paul does cause some initialantagonism,” Alastair admits.“Then, slowly but surely,Archie comes to realise that Paul is not only useful, butthat he belongs to Glenbogle because of his father.”

Archie’s emotions are all too familiar for Alastair,who has also seen an important and personalproject materialise through the release of his debutfilm, The Last Great Wilderness.Along with his filmdirector brother, David,Alastair formed his ownproduction company, Sigma Films, and wrote andstarred in the film alongside David Hayman andVictoria Smurfit.

Meanwhile, work on Monarch continued andAlastair had to try and balance the series, his filmand his family – daughter Martha and partner,Trainspotting actress Susan Vidler.


Interviews

Alastair Mackenzieplays Archie

“I’ve absolutely loved Monarch and I will misseveryone dreadfully after all this time,” he says.“ButI decided that seven months a year is too long tobe away from home. I had to sit down and startprioritising. I have a three-year-old child and youneed to spend more time with young children.

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

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

Not that Alastair will be saying goodbye to theHighlands even when he finally leaves the series. Hegrew up just 20 miles from where Monarch isfilmed and he is now actively looking for a plot ofland to create his own Scottish retreat.

“A local woodsman built some wonderful logcabins for the Activity Centre in the show,” he sayswith an enthusiastic grin.“They are beautifulcreations – precision engineering with a chain saw.

“I just love the idea of living in an organicstructure in the woods. I also love interior designand working out how you want everything towork, but in our house in London we’ve had anightmare with builders and architects; it was avery unhappy experience.

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

Not that this hugely popular actor will be escapingthe spotlight – he is planning an extended trip tothe States.

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


Interviews

Travel may broaden the mind, but an extended,round-the-world honeymoon has left Lexie –Glenbogle’s new First Lady – even moredetermined to make her mark at home.

Now that she finally has her man and the estate’sperilous finances have been dragged into the black,this resourceful and energetic Glaswegian has timeto look beyond the Gothic turrets of her domainand give a helping hand where it’s needed.

“Lexie is always supportive of the community –always fighting for the underdog,” says Dawn Steele.“I think it’s because she feels she has to be true toher working-class roots. She never forgets shecame from the kitchen.

“But now she rarely gets to see any pots and pans– she is much more involved with marketing plansand accounts – the boring stuff.That’s why sheneeds an outlet in the village.”

Dawn has been having a few new outlets of herown, in that the 27-year-old finally took and passed

her driving test.“It has totally changed my life,” shesays happily.“I even went off to Australia and droveall around there, that was amazing. It’s given mesuch confidence.”

No wonder: Monarch is Australia’s number oneimported show and seeing Dawn, driving round theOutback, must have been quite a surprise for herfans.“But,” adds this home-loving Scots lass,“It alsomeans I can go back to my flat in Glasgow a lotmore, just jump in the car, go back and have twonights in my own bed.

“I used to have to rely on lifts, but now I can justgo when I want. If I just have one day off, I can drive up to the gym in Inverness, or potter aroundthis amazing scenery. It’s given me so much more freedom.“

Looking back, Dawn wishes she had taken the plunge earlier.“I was just never interested,” she explains.“When I was 17, I remember having a few lessons and I hated it; I just found it too stressful.


Interviews

Dawn Steele plays Lexie

“Now I’ve got a new Mini Cooper, which is greatand so nice to drive. But I know I should havelearned straight away when I first started onMonarch – it’s taken me four series up here to getround to it.”

It has taken rather longer for Lexie’s brother-in-lawto discover his Highland heritage. But, after alifetime not knowing about his real father, Paul ismaking his presence felt. “Lexie is mainly verysupportive of Paul,” says Dawn.“She was the onewho wanted to bring him into the family and geteveryone to really accept him.

“They actually have a lot of things in common –Paul never knew his father and Lexie’s father leftwhen she was really young. But there will be timeswhen they clash, especially when he is setting up theActivity Centre and wants to benefit youths fromother cities – she wants it to benefit the locals.”

There are problems, too, with Lexie’s nearest anddearest – Duncan and Golly.“She has always beenreally close to them and that helps her to knowwhat is important on the estate. But sometimes shegets caught between them all.

“Lexie feels she has to support Archie – andsometimes he makes decisions that may not be whatGolly 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 afrantic workload, which meant finishing work onMonarch one evening and driving to Glasgow tobegin work on a major new BBC family saga earlynext day.

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

“The hardest thing was that I wasn’t allowed anymake-up, even though I age from 17 to 47; I getbeaten up, so there are cuts and bruises; I wearcardigans; and I’m really padded out to look fatter.

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

Not that Lexie is likely to turn into a perfectlypolished glamour puss any day soon.“She’s relaxeda bit with her clothes,” laughs Dawn with relief.“When she first got engaged to Archie she felt shehad to wear suits to make the point aboutbecoming the Laird’s wife.

“But now she can allow herself not to be quite sosmart and posh. She’s more mature, more confidentand happy, and that allows her to let some of thequirkiness back in – and that’s great.”

Dawn’s high profile on the show has earned her arare accolade – readers of a Scottish newspapervoted her the country’s number one “MostWanted” single female and featured in the male listwas her new, young, co-star Martin Compston, in atnumber four.

“I don’t often feel very glamorous,” she grins.“Working on The Key I was given wrinkles roundmy eyes and some grey in my hair to look 47 – butI found it much harder playing 17.”


Interviews

There is an extra twinkle in Hamish Clark’s roguisheyes when he reveals just what Duncan will be upto in the new series of Monarch Of The Glen – thelad becomes a hit with the ladies.

“Duncan has never been short of girls over thefour series,” Hamish insists manfully.“In fact, in thefirst series, there were lots of little hippie chickswho liked the cut of Duncan’s jib. If you look backhe was averaging three a series, but they werealways blowing up in his face – he was either like arabbit caught in the headlights, or being jilted.”

But when Kilwillie’s niece, Hermione, descends onGlenbogle with her mother, the daunting LadyDorothy, things are about to change.“This time hehas a choice,” says a happy Hamish.“He is slightlymore his own man this time round – probablybecause he knows that she is even more desperatethan he is.

“Hermione unashamedly introduces him to the highlife and dangles car keys in front of him andDuncan, unashamedly, goes for it.”

Romance and riches are rare enough in Duncan’slife; when they come as a complete package he justcan’t resist. “The scenes with Hermione are reallygood fun to do; hilarious, good old heightenedreality stuff,” Hamish explains.“It’s good to have alaugh and a bit of flirtation.”

But other female relationships will also take theirtoll on Duncan’s life when Golly’s estrangeddaughter, Jess, returns to the estate after studyingLand Management at university.“With Jess there isrivalry, but lots of respect and an attraction andfondness – plus, Golly is like a father to both of us.

“That is pregnant with potential, whereas, withHermione, it’s high comedy. I am just really pleased


Interviews

Hamish Clark plays Duncan

with how they have written the part up over thepast couple of years. Now he spends a lot less timemending fences and has much more inter-actionwith the other characters – girls, mainly.”

This could be why Hamish feels he needs to keephis strength up.The hugely popular actor has beenout pounding the Scottish turf at everyopportunity.

“I’ve been running a lot at night in the hills behindNewtonmore,” he reveals.“It’s really great at night,after work, to just go and run it all off. It is so, sobeautiful that it doesn’t matter whether it’s rainingor not.

“But the weather has been tremendous this year.Yesterday I was out until midnight in the hills, up onthe ridges, after watching the sun setting in theglens. It was spectacular.”

Always health-conscious, the 36-year-old really getsinto his stride when he heads north of the borderfor Monarch. “I always did hill walking because mymum and dad live in the Highlands and when wewere 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 decidedto not only start it, but to run in it as well. I did agood time and then, when I got back, I handed outthe prizes, which was excellent.”

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

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

But Hamish did take some time out from hisregime between series, to travel Down Under for apromotional tour of a website for Australians andNew Zealanders anxious to trace their Scottishroots and visit their ancestral homeland.

“Because of Monarch everyone knew me, it wasamazing. I’d never been to either country and whenI arrived in New Zealand we flew in through thecloud and before I’d even got my bags off thecarousel, people were shouting, ‘Duncan, Duncan’.

“One morning before breakfast I was swimming inthe hotel rooftop pool – I felt like James Bond,looking out over the yachts in the harbour.Then Iwas asked if I could come down because the PrimeMinister [Helen Clark] was at the hotel forbreakfast and wanted to meet me.

“She was a really nice woman and a fan of the show.”

But the modest actor is down to earth about hisfame, even though he has been asked for hisautograph all over the world – including the top ofTable Mountain.“I feel as though it’s not really me,it’s Duncan,” he explains.“It is him that the publicrespond to and him they’re cheering.

“I’m just his caretaker.”


Interviews

There are two women in the life of Golly,Glenbogle’s fiercely loyal ghillie, and for both ofthem he holds complex and deep-seated feelingswhich look set to cause him heartache and distress.

This sternly silent man has long held a specialaffection for Molly, the widow of his old boss.As Molly finds new companionship with Andrew,Golly suddenly realises that his relationship withher is about to change forever.And, to complicatematters further, the return of his estrangeddaughter, Jess, turns his already rapidly changingworld upside down.

“She’s his daughter and he loves her,” saysAlexander “Sandy” Morton.“Without knowing it,he will actually have planted the seeds of his ownlove for the land in her and now she has gone onestep further and has studied it at university.

“She now does what he does and I think he findsthat very challenging at first; he just isn’t used tohaving her around. She suddenly appears and takesover the house. It’s the first time that he has had todeal with any parenting problems at all and he is abit lost – it’s a shock to the system.

“So many things have changed in Golly’s life afterthe death of Hector and his feelings for Molly aredeveloping,” he continues.“I’m really hoping hemight get a bit of sympathy.”

Golly may be the strong, silent type, but hischaracter has always attracted a lot of femaleattention, something that makes Sandy smile.“Hedid smarten himself up in the last series, becausehe wanted to impress a lady friend. So, when he’snot working on the land, he does look quite goodin his designer jeans,” he concedes.


Interviews

Alexander Mortonplays Golly

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

“It’s just great to see it on screen. I’d treated italmost 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 Wembleyin 1967 and Scotland beat England 3-2, I waswearing that jacket inside out,” laughs Sandy.

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

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

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

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


Interviews

Feel the fear and do it anyway – that’s the motto ofacclaimed actor Lloyd Owen.The ruggedlyhandsome addition to the MacDonald family treecheerily admits he has no head for heights – whichis why he has taken up climbing.

“Paul is an outdoor action man; he sets up a newproject at Glenbogle – an outdoor activity centrewhere there is climbing, football, canoeing andeverything that might appeal to kids from the inner city.

“So, as I have to climb in this series, I’ve beentraining on an indoor climbing wall just up the roadfrom the set. I have never liked heights,” heconfesses.“But I always think you should challengeyour fears.

“It was quite frightening when you’re low down andI was really daunted.As you get higher, it does takeon a different perspective and, even though youknow you’re safely on the end of a rope, it is scary.

“But I have to admit it has become a bit of an obsessionand it gives me something to do on my days off.”

Lloyd rejoins the series when Paul – Hector’ssecret son – decides to come back and give life atGlenbogle a try.“I’ve built up my own little lifestory for him,” he reveals.“I think his motherwould have told him that his father died and thenbrought him up on her own. But she maybe had afew boyfriends who came and went – so there wasnever any reliable father figure.

“Then he decided to join the Army and hasdeveloped into this rather lonesome figure whoreally needs a family.”

Coming into a well-established series is nothingnew for Lloyd, who made quite an impact onfemale viewers when he joined Hearts & Bones.“That was the same – a new character coming intoan established story and smashing the dynamic ofthe group.


Interviews

Lloyd Owen plays Paul

“Here, Paul changes that dynamic. He wants tointroduce things that don’t always go down toowell with everyone else.There are frictions withArchie, which are very similar to the trouble Archiehad with their father.

“There is a tension there, yet they are more alikethan they allow themselves to realise. Paul is quiteforthright and determined and comes intoGlenbogle wanting to change things – just as Archiedid when he first came up from London.

“Paul’s idea is to bring kids in from the inner citiesto get a taste of something totally different to theirnormal lives. He is an outsider there and yet he hasalso fallen in love with the place.”

The magic has certainly cast its spell on Lloyd, whohas thrown himself heart and soul into life in theHighlands.“I grew up in north London, but myfamily are from Snowdonia in north Wales,” heexplains.“So I have some knowledge of this kind of countryside.

“When I was with the Cheek By Jowl theatrecompany some years ago, we did 35 countries inthree years. But I still think Scotland is exceptionalbecause the change in geography is extraordinary.Scotland has got everything.”

The locals have taken this enthusiastic incomer totheir hearts – and their hearths, giving Lloyd a realtaste of Scottish hospitality.“I’ve just been to myfirst proper ceilidh recently – for a retiring sheepfarmer who was moving to a croft on Skye.Thewhole village threw a big party for him.

“They were doing wonderful dances, including onecalled “Strip The Willow”, that I had no idea of atall,” he admits with a grin.“But I was being helpfullypushed around by people.That is what is sowonderful about this job – you can get involved inthe community you’re working in and see a side oflife that the tourists don’t see.”

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

“I think it’s because there are so many choices tobe made about how you spend your time. Up hereit can be quite challenging.You think, ‘Well, what amI going to do on my day off, I should plan a trip’.

“Having said that, it has made me do things I wouldnever have thought of anywhere else. I’ve beenspending a lot of time walking, hiking, doing theclimbing wall.Where I’m staying there is a guy whoused to play the bagpipes in the Strathclyde PoliceBand, so I have asked him to teach me.

“With all the training I’ve been doing I’ve got the lungs for it, but I can hardly get a note out atthe moment.”

Lloyd readily admits that his television career, whichalso includes appearances in Coupling, The Vice andThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, helps to subsidisethe real love of his life – the theatre.

“Recently I did Edward II with Joseph Fiennes at The Crucible in Sheffield and last year The YorkRealist, which won the Critics’ Circle best playaward,” he says.“But the role I really want to tackle is Macbeth.”

Meanwhile, he is more than happy in Monarch, butwith one reservation.“They haven’t given Paul anyromance so far,” bemoans Lloyd.“It would be niceto think there was someone in the future, but I’mstill in the dark about who it might be.”


Interviews

Handsome, charming and affluent,Andrew Boothcould sweep any woman off her feet – but will hissoftly-softly approach work on Glenbogle’swinsome widow?

As his feelings for her grow, this suave suitor alsohas to cope with the realisation that he might havea rival for Molly’s affections. But faint heart neverwon fair lady.

“There is a continuing tango of Andrew gettingcloser to Molly over the episodes,” explains PaulFreeman.“But there are also hints of jealousy fromGolly and a bit of a struggle between the two of us.”

Paul’s spell on Monarch has given him the chance torediscover a hobby that has helped him cope withthe pressures of filming.“It’s hill walking,” he grins.“I hill walk like a lunatic.As soon as I’m off the setI’ve got my boots on and I’m gone.

“It’s a great antidote to the whole business ofworking as an actor where you’re surrounded bypeople.To be able to get away so completely, withnot a road or a house in sight, is just wonderful. Ihad done it before, but I’d rather lost touch with it.

“I live in London, so trying to do it near therealways 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 isjust extraordinary.”

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

“It is based on a true Dutch story about a couplewho enter into a suicide pact because the wife is ill,” he explains.“But after she kills herself,the husband doesn’t – he goes off with a youngblonde instead.”

He may have a reputation for playing chilling screenbaddies, but Paul insists he enjoys nothing moredangerous than cooking and gardening.“I bought ahouse in France last year, near Avignon, and I’mlooking forward to spending some time in thegarden there, among the vineyards.

“Not that it will be very relaxing,” he adds with alaugh.“Last time we turned up there a family ofwild boar had been trampling through it, so therewas hardly anything left of what we planted in the spring.”


Interviews

Paul Freeman plays Andrew

Richenda Carey plays Lady Dorothy

Cheerful and charming, Richenda Carey is relishingher role as the woman who is about to unleash thefury of Monarch fans everywhere.“I confidentlyexpect hate mail; I shan’t have been doing my jobproperly if I don’t get any,” she declares.“I think thereis something rather delicious about horrid people.”

This versatile actress takes on the haute couturemantle of Lady Dorothy, Kilwillie’s sister and ascheming, sour-faced snob.With her spoilt daughterHermione, she will make her peevish presence feltthroughout the estate, leaving a trail of havoc in her wake.

“She comes in like a dose of salts and a splash ofvinegar,” grins Richenda.“She is terribly irritating aswell as being this monstrous person and she’s verysnobby about Scotland, which immediately makesher the bad guy.

“She will be appallingly patronising to the peoplethe viewers love – like Duncan and Lexie. It will belike kicking a dog on screen.”

Richenda’s obvious happiness at playing thisharridan comes from her firm belief that baddies

are best.“Look at JR in Dallas, or Alan Rickman inRobin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,” she points out.“Butthey are characters we love to hate.

“Obviously, I have to play it from her point of viewand I imagine she has been rather disappointed inlife. She’s very, very urban – London urban – andshe 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 Ihave a certain sympathy with that. My nearest anddearest would say that I very occasionally may bethe 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 VictoriaWood on television and has spent a lot of time onradio drama. But this is only her second workingtrip 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 thecountryside, climbing the hills.

“I was born near Bristol and have spent a lot ofchildhood in the country, but have been living inLondon because of work for the past 30 years –gosh, that sounds a long time. But I love thecountry and I’ve brought my hiking boots up here.It’s such a bonus to the job.”

Hermione Gullifordplays Hermione

Female fans will be furious: cute and cuddly Duncanis about to be seduced by the girlfriend from hell –and he’s going willingly.

“There will be letters,” warns Hermione Gullifordwith a laugh at her namesake’s expense.“She’s notat all interested in other people. Even when shefirst meets Duncan, it doesn’t occur to her to askhim any questions.

“She is Lady Dorothy’s daughter and a real chip offthe old block. If she can’t get her own way she


New faces in the Glen


does terribly manipulative things, or throws moneyat the problem. She thinks the world should revolvearound her and everyone should come running. If Imet anyone like her, I think I’d probably run a mile.”

Yet Hermione, the Somerset-born actress, does feelthe need to defend Hermione, the spoilt, little richgirl. “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’sgrown up with. Until now, her love life has beenhopeless. She falls in love very easily and thenthrows herself at these men who clearly can’t bedoing with her. So they make up all these dreadfulexcuses – like terminal illnesses.

“But, playing her, I have to find things that I likeabout her, otherwise she would just become acaricature. I do feel she genuinely falls for Duncan.There is a moment she realises that he is a properhuman being, someone genuine – not like the City types she’s used to. Her motives are from agood place.”

It was “like mother, like daughter” for real-lifeHermione, whose own mum was a drama teacher.“I told her at a young age that I wanted to be anactor and she wasn’t too surprised,” she grins.“I also found out later that my great-grandfatherhad been a keen amateur actor, so it must be in the blood.”

So far, most of Hermione’s career has been on thestage where her Olivia in Twelfth Night wasnominated for the Ian Charleson Award. She alsoplayed Portia in the RSC’s world-touringproduction of The Merchant Of Venice.

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

Rae Hendrie plays Jessica

It is a happy return to the world of Glenbogle for Rae Hendrie – but will her character, Jessica,feel quite as delighted at the reception she getswhen she bowls back into the life of Golly, herestranged father?

“She does do quite a lot of walking off, a bit offlouncing,” laughs Rae, who initially won the part ofJess while she was still at drama school.“I got mydegree results while we were filming,” she recalls.



“I was so excited about the job, I’d forgotten theywere coming out.”

Since then, Selkirk-born Rae has appeared inRockface and Taggart, despite having recently movedto London.“It’s exciting being in London, but I missmy mum and dad,” she admits.“I live in the EastEnd, which is a little bit rough and ready, but it’sgreat to be in the thick of things.

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

Rae was a latecomer to acting, having gone toEdinburgh University to study psychology andlinguistics.“I got involved in a production of BugsyMalone and was enjoying doing that a lot morethan 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 theyrealised it was what I wanted to do, they were fineand really supported me.They were just worriedbecause they had it in their head that I was going tobe a psychologist and then, suddenly, I wanted to bean actor. But every job is unreliable these days, soyou might as well do what you really want to do.”

Rae knows how tough it can be to keep an actingcareer going, but this former cello player has morethan one string to her bow.“I started off singingwhen I was younger – classical singing andperforming in Burns competitions.That led to medoing parts in school shows, playing in orchestras,doing ballet and contemporary dance – everythingbut acting.

“Now, when I’m not acting, I’ve been working withkids with behavioural problems in a school inCamden and totally loved that.

“It’s been brilliant, so exciting and satisfying – nevera dull moment.When I got this part back inMonarch they didn’t believe me, obviously. But Ithink they will definitely be watching; I’ve got mylittle fan base now.”

Martin Compston plays Ewan

Young actor Martin Compston comes to MonarchOf The Glen trailing clouds of glory from his multi-award-winning screen debut in Ken Loach’s film,Sweet Sixteen. Hailed as a new James Dean, or PaulNewman, this likely lad could be forgiven for beingtoo big for his boots.

Instead, Greenock-born Martin is determined tolearn his new craft, ignore the hype and build acareer that doesn’t depend on the latest tabloidheadline.That’s why he turned his back on tempting“get rich quick” offers from the States and plumpedinstead for the role of street-wise Ewan, a loveablerogue from the wrong side of the tracks.

“After Sweet Sixteen I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want torush into anything’. I had the feeling that for a lot ofpeople, all that attention would go to their headand they would try and do too much, too soon,” he says candidly.

“I needed to step back and chill out and wait forthe right things to come along and then just do



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

“The reviews I got for Sweet Sixteen wereunbelievable, but I’ve got a long, long way to go ifI’m going to make it to Hollywood.Anyone whohas made it there has got my total respect becauseit must be so hard to get there. I’ve got years yetand I need to learn. Monarch is brilliant for thatbecause it has a really talented cast and I’ll be onset all the time.”

Plucked from school to star in Loach’s acclaimedfilm, Martin had his sights set on a career as aprofessional footballer – a dream he has had to give up.“I was absolutely gutted,” says the formerMorton FC player.“I’m 19 now and that was a good10 years of my life where all I had done was playfootball and train every day, really hard.

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



Monarch Of The Glen - · PDF fileLloyd Owen plays Paul ... spread her wings and fly in the...

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