Maggie (British TV series)

Maggie
GenreDrama
Written byJoan Lingard (adaptation)
Directed byRenny Rye
Michael Kerrigan
StarringKirsty Miller
Opening theme"Maggie" written and performed by BA Robertson
Country of originUnited Kingdom (Scotland)
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producerAnna Home
ProducerKenny McBain
Running time30 minutes
Production companyBBC Scotland
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release17 February 1981 (1981-02-17) –
3 May 1982 (1982-05-03)

Maggie is a British television drama series produced by BBC Scotland which aired on BBC Two between 1981 and 1982. It was based on a quartet of books written by Joan Lingard during the 1970s – The Clearance, The Resettling, The Pilgrimage and The Reunion.[1][2]

Synopsis

Set in the city of Glasgow, the series is centred on 17-year-old Maggie McKinley (played by Kirsty Miller) from a council flat in a high-rise tower block whose family has been uprooted for generations, beginning with the Highland Clearances. Maggie experiences the tribulations of adolescence as she aspires to further her education at university, a career and an independent life, while also struggling to better her family's economic situation. Maggie's parents (Michael Sheard and Mary Riggans) expect her to take a secure working-class job, get married and "settle down".

Maggie sorts through her feelings for both local boy Mike (Joe Mullaney), and James (Ian Michie), a comfortably middle-class Edinburgh student. Much of the series also centres on Maggie's relationship with her feisty octogenarian grandmother (Jean Faulds) who lives in rural Inverness-shire, and who frequently acts as an important confidante to her granddaughter. The two series followed Maggie's progress, ending as she faces a crossroads in her life – whether to go to university or work for the family business. The theme song "Maggie" was written and performed by pop singer BA Robertson.[1]

Cast

  • Kirsty Miller as Maggie McKinley
  • Michael Sheard as Mr. Andrew McKinley
  • Mary Riggans as Mrs. Nan McKinley
  • Anne Berry as Jean McKinley
  • Paul Ferry as Sandy McKinley
  • Ian Michie as James Fraser
  • Ron Paterson as Uncle Tam Campbell
  • Ann Scott-Jones as Aunt Jessie Campbell
  • Joe Mullaney as Mike Bruce
  • Jane Garven as Catriona Fraser
  • Dee Hepburn as Isobel
  • Alison Groves as Janet Scott
  • Benny Young as Colin Scott
  • Margo Croan as Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser
  • David Ashton as Mr. Peter Fraser
  • Patrick Doyle as Alexander Smith
  • Robin Cameron as Neil Grant
  • Maureen Beattie as Cathy Bruce
  • Jean Faulds as Granny Margaret McKinley
  • James Copeland as Grandfather Fraser

Episodes

Series 1: 1981

Original air date Episode number
17 February 1981[3] 1
19 February 1981 2
24 February 1981 3
26 February 1981 4
3 March 1981 5
5 March 1981 6
10 March 1981 7
12 March 1981 8
17 March 1981 9

Series 2: 1982

Original air date Episode number
8 March 1982[4] 10
15 March 1982 11
22 March 1982 12
29 March 1982 13
5 April 1982 14
12 April 1982 15
19 April 1982 16
26 April 1982 17
3 May 1982 18

References

  1. ^ a b "Novel Development". Radio Times (Scottish edition). London: Immediate Media Company. 12 February 1981. pp. 16–19.
  2. ^ Lingard, Joan (6 January 1981). "Maggie". Books for Keeps. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Newseries Maggie: BBC Two". BBC: Programme Index. 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Newseries Maggie: BBC Two". BBC: Programme Index. 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.