The Secret (2000) (TV)

Director:

Alan Grint

Writers:

T.R. Bowen (writer)
Catherine Cookson (novel)

Release Date:

21 January 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Period thriller serial. In the late 1880's reformed smuggler Freddie Musgrave has worked hard to turn a legitimate trade, but then a face from his past turns up threatening to ruin things for him. |

Plot Keywords:

Costume Drama | Based On Novel

Cast

Colin Buchanan	...	Freddie Musgrave
Clare Higgins	...	Maggie Hewitt
Hannah Yelland	...	Belle Hewitt
Stephen Moyer	...	Marcel Birkstead
June Whitfield	...	Mrs. Birkstead
Marlene Sidaway	...	Jinny Musgrave
Joanna Rowden	...	Nancy Musgrave
Adam Ironside	...	Young Freddie
Milton Johns	...	Taylor
Malcolm Terris	...	Sir Christopher Bell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Ainsleigh	...	John Musgrave
Elizabeth Carling	...	Connie Wheatley
William Finnigan	...	Billy Venables
Stephen Hawksby	...	Exercisman
Lynn Hender	...	Biddy Wheatley
Terence Hillyer	...	Larry Freeman
Nicholas Lumley	...	Frank Wheatley
Martin McGlade	...	Mick Harper
Andy Mulligan	...	Robert Musgrave
David Raynor	...	Andy Stevens
Ken Richardson	...	Callow
Joy Sanders	...	Isabelle Gallagher
Leonard Silver
Michael Simkins	...	Roderick Gallagher
Paula Wright	...	May Harper

Also Known As:

Catherine Cookson's The Secret (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

180 min (3 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Company:

Festival Films

All Secrets Have To See The Light

In 1980s Tyneside accountant Freddie Musgave (Colin Buchanan) has exceeded his dreams he is in a successful partnership with the clever and wily Maggie Hewitt (Clare Higgins) and women love him but it all threatens to be ruined by the arrival of old face Mr Freeman (Terence Hillyer). As a child Freddie used to smuggle drugs to Rod Gallagher's house The Towers across the river. until one night. Gallagher's first wife lies in labour screaming before Freddie that he is not the father of her child incensed Gallagher orders the child is drowned and sends Freddie away. Two years later Freddie returns the towers to deliver more drugs to Gallagher and a large quantity of diamonds but during the transaction the police show up and Freddie is hidden in the secret attic where he finds the child belle who he witnessed be born. Without thinking he runs away with her closely followed by Rod Gallagher but during the course of the evening Gallagher is killed and his diamonds and money are robbed from him. Now Freeman wants the diamonds and is convinced Freddie has them, but Freddie has more important things on his mind his fellow ward Belle (Hannah Yelland) the child he saved has fallen in love with handsome and wealthy Marcel Birkstead (Stephen Moyer) but things don't sit right and Maggie is forced to tell her two wards that the Belle and Marcel may share the same the father pressed by Belle to find out the truth Freddie visits the former maid of Gallagher's house Connie Wheatley (Elizabeth Carling) and learns Belles mother had an affair resulting in Belle. Delighted, Marcel and Belle marry despite Freddies bad feeling but soon Belle is worried, her new husbands behaviour is erratic and alarmingly worrying and he is away from home on business frequently . Meanwhile Freddie is arrested for the murder of Rod Gallagher prompting a dying Maggie to tell the truth of what happened that night forcing the authorities to release her ward. Following the loss of Maggie, Belle begins to feel totally isolated at The Towers even more so when she is assaulted by her husband and she begs Freddie to rescue her but Freddie has just found out Marcel's secret. A secret that means that both he and Belle are in danger. Can he get to her in time?