Classic detective show Taggart turns 40 this month.
Initially a three parter called Killer, it went on to become a global hit and one of the world’s longest-running crime dramas before ending in 2010.
And the anniversary of the show – created by Glenn Chandler and starring Mark McManus, James MacPherson and Alex Norton in the lead role through the years – will be marked with a special reunion instalment on Thursday night.
David Mortimer, managing director of STV Studios, said: “Taggart offered invaluable experience to so many actors and crew across its 27 series and it continues to entertain fans right around the world.”
These are the stars from Courier Country who popped up in the programme.
1 – Robert Robertson
The St Andrews actor played the morbidly jolly Dr Stephen Andrews in the earliest version of the show.
Robertson was artistic director of Dundee Rep at the time and had been one of the driving forces in the company’s move to a purpose-built theatre at Tay Square in 1982.
And he was in the spotlight a year later.
Some 7.6 million viewers watched the jocose manner of Robertson’s pipe-smoking pathologist contrasting brilliantly with the gruff surliness of McManus’s Jim Taggart.
Robertson, who was still playing Dr Stephen Andrews, died of a heart attack in January 2001, aged 70, while reading a Robert Burns poem on stage during a performance at Perth Theatre.
He had a history of heart trouble and previously suffered a heart attack in 1993 at his home in the Blackness area of the city.
At the time he was the longest-serving member of the cast.
2 – Colin McCredie
The Perth actor’s first appearance came in the 1995 episode dealing with Jim Taggart’s death, Black Orchid.
He later said: “Sadly, I never got to do any scenes with Mark McManus — he became ill and died just as we were about to film together.
“But I have been lucky enough to work with some of my childhood idols, including Barbara Dickson, Julian Glover and John Duttine.”
St Johnstone fan McCredie, 51, played DC Stuart Fraser on the show for 15 years.
3 – Alan Cumming
Taggart provided a career springboard for Scottish acting talent including Perthshire-born Alan.
The 58-year-old grew up in Angus and more or less fell into acting by accident after his interest in performing was encouraged by his English teacher Ella Law at Carnoustie High School.
He joined the theatre club and music society in Carnoustie — and the rest is history.
He made his TV debut in Taggart in September 1986’s Death Call, when the wife of a wealthy Glaswegian landowner is found weighed down with luggage in a reservoir.
Before hosting The Traitors and starring in movies like Goldeneye and X-Men 2, he covered horoscopes for the Evening Telegraph.
During his time at DC Thomson he also appeared in photo stories for the Jackie annual.
4 – Dougray Scott
Mission: Impossible 2 star Dougray Scott suffered for his art when he kicked off his acting career in one of Taggart’s scarier episodes in 1992, in which deadly snakes were the murder weapon.
The Hollywood actor, 57, was brought up in Glenrothes and studied drama at Fife College of Technology before playing zookeeper Colin Murphy in the three-part Nest of Vipers.
He said: “Mark McManus (who was a former boxer) punched me for real, because he thought it would be great for the film.
“He caught me and floored me. I had a great time!”
5 – Robin Laing
The Dundee actor, 47, appeared in two episodes of Taggart – ten years apart.
In 1998’s Out of Bounds he played Mark Jackson, who discovers a skeleton in the grounds of a boarding school.
A decade later Laing – who has starred in River City, Guilt, The Gold and Outlander – popped up as Sergeant Sean Mackay in Island.
6 – Michael Nardone
The actor, from Ballingry, Fife, has also done the Taggart double.
The 56-year-old portrayed Gavin Logan in 2002’s Hard Man before playing Stevie Dixon in Running Out of Time three years later.
Michael – whose credits include Line of Duty and The Night Manager – became close pals with Dougray Scott after they met at Fife Youth Theatre.
7 – Barbara Dickson
The singing legend, from Dunfermline, featured in 1995’s Legends as Marie McDonald, a performer who helps Jardine (James MacPherson) investigate the death of a musician.
Barbara, 75, later appeared in TV’s Band of Gold and was awarded an OBE in 2002 for services to music and drama.
8 – Ron Donachie
The Dundonian, 67, has starred in eight Taggart episodes playing five different characters according to his IMDb profile.
His first appearance in the Glasgow drama came in 1987’s Funeral Rites as Pat Connolly, with his final role coming in 2006 as Harry Stein in Law.
In between there were parts as Peter Jenkins (Falling in Love, 2001), Hamish Baird (Dead Reckoning, 1998) and Marco Cellini (Death Benefits, 1993)
The former Madras College pupil famously starred as the Master at Arms in 1997 Hollywood blockbuster Titanic, putting Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack in handcuffs.
He also portrayed fan favourite Rodrik Cassel in TV sensation Game of Thrones.
All episodes of Taggart are available to watch on STV Player.
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