Series 2 Information
SERIES 2
- A Perfectly Simple Explanation
- In Search Of A Rose
- Isobel Pulls It Off
- Radio Lochdubh
- No Man Is An Island
- The Lochdubh Deluxe
HAMISH MACBETH A General Introduction to Series 2
Robert Carlyle returns as the laid-back policeman of a remote Highland village in the second series of Hamish Macbeth, filmed entirely on the West Coast of Scotland. The first series was an instant hit in the UK, attracting audiences of over tell million and winning Carlyle the BAFTA Scotland award for Best Actor.
Hamish Macbeth's beat is the tiny coastal village of Lochdubh, where breaking the law is a way of life. With the help of his right-hand man, TV John, Hamish keeps the peace in Lochdubh's mean street in his own idiosyncratic way, with little regard for police regulations and with every intention of avoiding promotion.
Macbeth's quest for the quiet life was seriously disrupted at the end of the first series when he found himself unexpectedly caught in a love triangle. Local girl Isobel Sutherland (Shirley Henderson) declared tier secret love for frill at the height of a thrilling mountain adventure; but just as true love and happiness seemed within sight, his old flame Alex (Valerie Gogan) returned from London and proposed marriage. Millions of viewers were left wondering how he would respond.
Producer Deirdre Keir, was astonished by the reaction. "I was offered large amounts of money to reveal the outcome," she says. "When my children were offered bribes at school I put the scripts under lock and key to remove temptation." As a result, cast and crew were asked to sign a secrecy clause in their contracts. "All I can say," she adds, "is that both girls are back in the new series."
In the first series, Hamish also had to cope with the tragic loss of his closest companion, Wee Jock. The West Highland terrier was killed in a hit and run accident but was replaced by a puppy, Wee Jock II. He is now grown tip and is played in the series by Fraoch, the Gaelic word for Heather.
Hamish Macbeth brought Robert Carlyle to the attention of millions in a year in which he won acclaim for several startlingly different roles. He co-starred with Linus Roache in the controversial film Priest, and with Juliet Aubrey in Go Now in which he played a young amateur footballer stricken with multiple sclerosis. He has received rave reviews for his performance in Trainspotting, and has recently returned front Nicaragua where he was working once again with director Ken Loach (Riff Raff) as the bus-driving star of his new film.
In the new series of Hamish Macbeth, village affairs continue to demand inventive policing from Hamish, but his tolerance is stretched to the limit when he's denounced as the devil incarnate by a local religious fanatic. Whale-spotting trips for tourists lead to a murky underwater adventure; lottery fever reaches epidemic proportions among the villagers; an illegal radio station inspires existentialism in Lochdubh; space aliens are suspected of snatching a body from tile local burial ground; and when a personal tragedy takes Hamish to a remote island, his temporary replacement finds that everyone in Lochdubh is breaking the law.
Meanwhile, the regular inhabitants of Lochdubh have their own dilemmas. Down at the police station TV John is finding that three is a crowd. The marriage of hotel proprietors Barney and Agnes is rocked by the arrival of a handsome young stranger. Shopkeeper Rory Campbell and Esme, the village schoolteacher, decide go public with their affair. How will things develop under the gaze of the gossip-hungry villagers? And when Lachie Jnr is seduced into a new occupation, how does Lachie Senior come to terms with the end of "McCrae and Son"?
A Perfectly Simple Explanation
Writer: Daniel Boyle
Director: Nicholas Renton
Local religious leader Malachi MacBean is publicly denouncing Hamish Macbeth as a sinner. Hamish shrugs it off, but when Malachi claims lie was attacked by the Devil in the shape of Lochdubh's police constable, the village is forced to take his claim seriously. Even the Reverend Snow is concerned about the increasing fanaticism of the leader of The Church of the Stony Path. What is Malachi's long-suffering wife Bethsheba up to when she sneaks off at night; why is Zoot Macpherson, known advocate of free love, spending so much time in the village; and if the Devil didn't attack Malaclhi in his barn, who did? Hamish is convinced that there's a perfectly simple explanation.
In Search Of A Rose
Writer: Stuart Hepburn
Director: Mandie Fletcher
Hamish Macbeth is concerned about the disappearance of a local seafarer and finds that skulduggery is abroad on tile waters around Lochdubh. Barney Meldrum and Lachie Junior have come up with an irresistible new attraction for tourists, but when a whale-spotting trip aboard the Fat Chance goes horribly wrong , it's only the start of their problems. Barney’s jealousy knows no bounds when a handsome young stranger appears to be wooing Agnes, and when Lachie Junior dredgesup a pack of cattle-cake front the sea, Daddy's cows start behaving very strangely indeed. Hamish dons diving gear and explores tile sea-bed.
Isobel Pulls It Off
Writer: Dominic Minghella
Director: Mandie Fletcher
Still haunted by her love for Hamish and frustrated by tier career prospects as editor of the Lochdubh Listener, Isobel Sutherland changes her image and doggedly pursues a story which could put her in the big league. When the good-looking Gary Ross offers to help, she starts to enjoy his company - and the reaction tier new friendship provokes in Hamish Macbeth. While the rest of the village celebrates its win on the national lottery, Alex cannot fail to notice that Hamish is unduly concerned about Isobel. Is he right to warn her off Gary, or does he care more for her than he is prepared to admit?
Radio Lochdubh
Writer: Daniel Boyle
Director: Nicholas Renton
Radio Lochdubh, run by Lachie Junior and his friend Jubel with regular contributions from locals, is a big hit in the village. Alex's book programme is particularly popular but the fever of literary interest she inspires is bad for business in the Lochdubh Hotel. Ales is increasingly concerned about tier deteriorating relationship with Hamish bait site promises an elderly couple that, whatever happens, site will finish her radio readings of Far From The Madding Crowd. When radio detectors Sydney and Magda arrive in Lochdubh, Hamish faces a conflict of loyalties. Magda is overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding and TV John is troubled by psychic premonitions. Tragedy is in the air in Lochdubh.
No Man Is An Island
writer: Daniel Boyle
Director: Nicholas Renton
Grief and guilt take Hamish Macbeth to a remote island front which lie intends never to return. There is one other person oil the island - all elderly lady, trapped with her foot on a land-mine. If she moves site dies. If she stays she dies. Her destiny rests with Hamish Macbeth, but does lie have the will to survive and save her? Meanwhile, back in Lochdubh, the temporary replacement policeman is determined to rid its street of crime and corruption. PC Duggan finds that tile entire village is breaking the law, but fails to heed the warnings about the fate of "the man before the man before Macbeth".
The Lochdubh Deluxe
Writer: Daniel Boyle
Director: Nicliolas Renton
Local Funeral director Murray McMurray is dismayed by the grasping greed of his nephew and business partner Christie McMurray. An alternative heir to the business appears in the shape of Lachie Junior, who shows real flair in his new capacity as ail undertaken. But all is not well on the other side. The disappearance of Rory Campbell’s late Aunt Bella from the local burial ground causes panic among the villagers, who are not entirely convinced by Hamish Macbeth's explanation that space aliens are to blame. The truth, of course, is much more down to earth - but does Lachies newfound vocation mean the end for McCrae and Son?
Take us Home Jock