The Secret 

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.

Stars:

Joanna Rowden, Adam Ironside, Milton Johns

Cast

Series cast summary:
Joanna Rowden	...	Nancy Musgrave 2 episodes, 2000
Adam Ironside	...	Young Freddie 2 episodes, 2000
Milton Johns	...	Taylor 2 episodes, 2000
Malcolm Terris	...	Sir Christopher Bell 2 episodes, 2000
Daniel Ainsleigh	...	John Musgrave 2 episodes, 2000
Rachelle Arthey	...	Mary Chambers 2 episodes, 2000
Colin Buchanan	...	Freddie Musgrave 2 episodes, 2000
Elizabeth Carling	...	Connie Wheatley 2 episodes, 2000
Tom Cotcher	...	Dr. Clissold 2 episodes, 2000
Rod Culbertson	...	Inspector Mitcham 2 episodes, 2000
William Finnigan	...	Billy Venables 2 episodes, 2000
Tracy Gillman	...	Mrs. Cummings 2 episodes, 2000
Vicky Hall	...	Janey Slope 2 episodes, 2000
Stephen Hawksby	...	Exciseman 2 episodes, 2000
Lynn Hender	...	Biddy Wheatley 2 episodes, 2000
Clare Higgins	...	Maggie Hewitt 2 episodes, 2000
Terence Hillyer	...	Larry Freeman 2 episodes, 2000
Anthony Howard	...	Joe Pratt 2 episodes, 2000
Nicholas Lumley	...	Frank Wheatley 2 episodes, 2000
Martin McGlade	...	Mick Harper 2 episodes, 2000
Stephen Moyer	...	Marcel Birkstead 2 episodes, 2000
Andy Mulligan	...	Robert Musgrave 2 episodes, 2000
Ken Richardson	...	Callow 2 episodes, 2000
Joy Sanders	...	Isabelle Gallagher 2 episodes, 2000
Marlene Sidaway	...	Jinny Musgrave 2 episodes, 2000
Michael Simkins	...	Roderick Gallagher 2 episodes, 2000
June Whitfield	...	Mrs. Birkstead 2 episodes, 2000
Paula Wright	...	May Harper 2 episodes, 2000
Hannah Yelland	...	Belle Hewitt 2 episodes, 2000

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

1880s | 19th century | year 1885 | united kingdom | united kingdom of great britain and ireland | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

Catherine Cookson's The Secret

Company Credits

Production Co:

Festival Film & Television, Festival Films, Tyne Tees Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min (3 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

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?