Monarch of the Glen 

Archie MacDonald, a young restaurateur is called back to his childhood home of Glenbogle where he is told he is the new Laird of Glenbogle.

Creator:

Michael Chaplin

Stars:

Alexander Morton, Susan Hampshire, Hamish Clark

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Alexander Morton	...	Golly Mackenzie / ... 64 episodes, 2000-2005
Susan Hampshire	...	Molly MacDonald 60 episodes, 2000-2005
Hamish Clark	...	Duncan McKay 53 episodes, 2000-2005
Dawn Steele	...	Lexie McTavish / ... 51 episodes, 2000-2004
Alastair Mackenzie	...	Archie MacDonald 43 episodes, 2000-2003
Lloyd Owen	...	Paul Bowman / ... 28 episodes, 2002-2005
Richard Briers	...	Hector MacDonald 27 episodes, 2000-2005

Storyline

SPOILER: Archie MacDonald, carving out a life for himself as a restaurateur in London, finds himself called back to his home in the Scottish Highlands to assume his role as The Laird of Glenbogle and get the 40,000 acre estate back on its feet. No matter the romantic interest and all the emotional undercurrents as the young Laird Archie wrestles the Glenbogle estate into the 21st century. Justine, Archie's girlfriend has competition from local school Headmistress Katrina and cook Lexie battle for the Laird's heart. Whilst Archie has to cope with his eccentric parents Molly and Hector and their friend and neighbor Kilwillie. 5 years later, Archie's half-brother Paul Bowman comes to Glenbogle, and becomes Laird of Glenbogle, whilst Archie and his new wife Lexie leave for New Zealand. He has many romantic interests including farmer Isobel Anderson, neighbor Lucy Ford, brewery chairwoman Amanda MacLeish and shepherdess Iona Maclean. Paul has to control the wacky duo of Uncle Donald, the ...

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Plot Keywords:

laird | friend | scottish highlands | employer employee relationship | tartan | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Baker claimed he had never seen Monarch of the Glen before being cast and didn't read other people's parts of the script, therefore he didn't quite know what was going on. He said "in that sense it's very like life".

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Goofs

The details of Hector's history as a laird are altered throughout the series. For example, in the first episode of the series he claims to be the 14th laird of Glenbogle but in the 6th season he is referred to as the 23rd.

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Quotes

Paul Bowman-MacDonald: [Paul sees Isobel running past the marquee] She told me she was busy!
Chester Grant: She is busy. Playing you like a big old fish. In a kilt! Take it from me, son, that girl's not good for you.
Paul Bowman-MacDonald: You know how it is, Chester. If a thing's worth having, it's worth chasing.
[Paul sets off to run after Isobel]

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Connections

Featured in Heaven and Earth with Gloria Hunniford: Episode dated 5 September 2004 (2004)

User Reviews

Appealing Escapism

Perhaps the required caveat for this program, for those who need it, is that it is not action, special effects, or, for the most part, reality-based. (Of course "reality" and "accuracy" are not the point of most television and cinema, so this isn't really saying much.)

That in mind, Monarch of the Glen has an original premise, lightly portraying the transition of a once aristocratic, landed-gentry family into modern times, replete with the struggle to keep a majestic, ancient and beautiful castle afloat and functioning in a modern, capitalist world.

The series opens with the intersecting of two generations--the current "laird" of the castle, patriarch Hector MacDonald, and his wife, Molly, who both embody the last generation to have enjoyed a life of noble leisure and privilege, and their son and laird-to-be, Archie. While technically also privileged, the young Archie will have to rely on imagination, skill and a lot of sweat equity to sustain what is essentially now a white elephant: the sprawling and extraordinarily picturesque estate of Glenbogle, whose far-reaching land still supports various tenants with lives and minds of their own.

As the series' seasons pass, the plot thickens, some characters go and some remain, and Glenbogle inches gracefully into the 21st Century, even as as the castle remains a bit frayed around the edges.

(The sixth season recently ended, with the seventh commencing sometime in Fall 2005.)

While this British "we must save the farm" angle is the background narrative, Monarch of the Glen's primary investment is in exploring the personal exploits of its charming and idiosyncratic characters: the MacDonald family and their various estate "employees" and caretakers, who are essentially extended family. Romance, intrigue, interpersonal conflict, self-revelation, and the bonds of family and friends are the essence of the show, played out in that inimitably understated, witty and appealing BBC way (which can be particularly alluring for viewers a little shell-shocked by regular, American TV).

I find the able cast mostly quite believable in their respective parts, not to mention appealing and likable--particularly the roles of Archie, Lexie, Golly, Molly and Paul. An hour in their company is like a wonderful, genteel (but far from stuffy), little reverie, which keeps you wondering what's up for them next.

For romantics and Brit-o-philes.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monarch of the Glen

Filming Locations:

Ardverikie House, Ardverikie estate, Newtonmore, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Ecosse Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (seasons 1-3) 60 min (seasons 4-7)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1