Where Hamish MacBeth cast are now as show returns to BBC – Harry Potter role to stripper fame and surprising new career | The Sun
WITH its stunning Scottish scenery and lovable characters like TV John and Wee Jock the dog, Hamish MacBeth became an instant classic in the 90s.
And now fans of the iconic series can relive their favourite bits, as this month all three series dropped on the BBC iPlayer.
The comedy-drama followed lead character PC Hamish Macbeth – played by Robert Carlyle – who strived for a quiet life.
However, with all the drama going on in the not-so-sleepy Highland village of Lochdubh, the total opposite was the case.
In the 28 years since the show – based on mystery novels by M. C. Beaton – first aired, the fortunes of its cast have certainly been varied.
Here we take a look at what became of the Hamish Macbeth clan.
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Robert Carlyle
11Robert Carlyle, now 62, had already landed a slew of minor roles before he played the titular character – long-suffering Hamish, who was usually accompanied by his faithful West Highland Terrier Wee Jock.
In 1996 Robert played psychotic Begbie in Irvine Welsh's gritty drug-riddled film Trainspotting, a role he returned to for the 2017 sequel and will also reprise for a new spin-off.
In 1997 he landed the main role as give-it-a-go stripper Gaz in The Full Monty, for which he won a Bafta, and earlier this year he reprised that role, too.
The film roles kept coming, with Robert playing Bond villain Victor 'Renard' Zokas in The World Is Not Enough in 1999.
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He's also enjoyed success on the small screen – just last week it was announced the actor's Sky series COBRA: Rebellion is returning for a third series.
Robert, who was appointed an OBE in 1999 and now lives in Canada, has been married to make-up artist Anastasia Shirley since 1997 and they share three children.
He once said he felt "haunted" by Adolf Hitler after staying in a hotel room in the Czech Republic once occupied by the Nazi leader while portraying him in the 2003 series Hitler: The Rise of Evil.
Shirley Henderson
Scottish actress Shirley, now 57, first appeared on screen in 1987 in the ITV children's television drama Shadow Of The Stone, then landed a few cameo roles in the likes of Casualty and The Bill.
She then went on to win a starring role in Hamish as local newspaper journalist and Hamish's love interest, Isobel Sutherland.
She too went on to bigger things, also landing her big film break in Trainspotting as Spud's girlfriend Gail, and its subsequent 2017 sequel.
One of her most memorable roles is in all three Bridget Jones films as the main character's best friend Jude.
However, she may be most recognisable as toilet-dwelling ghost Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.
In 2016 she played Frances Drummond in Happy Valley, and was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in Southcliffe.
Shirley keeps her private life out of the public eye, but is believed to be single.
Ralph Riach
Hamish's best friend John James McIver – aka 'TV John' as he was the first person in the village to own a television set – was played by the late Ralph Riach.
It was one of Riach's most well-known roles, although he also starred in everything from Mel Gibson's Braveheart to Peak Practice, Monarch of the Glen, Taggart and Doctors.
Sadly Riach – who didn't start his acting career until he was 50, having previously worked as an architectural draughtsman, in New Scotland Yard, and as a furniture upholsterer – died in March 2022 aged 86.
In a touching tribute, co-star Robert Carlyle hailed him as "one of the kindest" men he'd worked with, saying: "I loved my time with him on Hamish Macbeth and feel blessed that I had that opportunity."
Brian Pettifer
South African born Brian, now 70, played the role of Rory Duncan Campbell, the owner of the local grocery shop.
He was brought up in Glasgow and after starring in Hamish, landed roles in Monarch of the Glen, Still Game, Taggart, Doctors, Holby City, Outlander and Black Mirror.
For many fans he is perhaps best known for playing Andra Binnie in BBC comedy Rab C Nesbitt.
However, speaking to The Daily Record, Brian revealed he far from enjoyed filming the comedy sitcom – and never watched it, saying: "Once a job’s finished, it’s finished and that’s it.
"I don’t know why people would want to watch themselves. It seems an incredible vanity.
“Comedies don’t tend to be fun. They tend to be hard work and unpleasant. Dramas tend to be a lot more fun than comedy."
Valerie Gogan
Valerie Gogan made her film debut long before her role in Hamish, starring in Dangerous Liaisons as Julie opposite John Malkovich in 1988.
She played Alex Maclean – a writer who has an on/off relationship with Hamish, and ultimately met a tragic ending when she fell down a cliff and discovering he was in love with Isobel.
Valerie later starred in Scottish film One More Kiss in 1999, and also took on roles in shows Waking The Dead, Holby City, Merseybeat and Silent Witness.
She previously admitted directors have "described me as sexy, and they've sometimes booked me in femme fatale roles, but away from the cameras, I'm really a complete scruff".
Barbara Rafferty
Barbara Rafferty, now 73, played Agnes Meldrum who ran the local pub with her husband Barney, played by Stuart McGugan.
The actress is perhaps best known for playing Ella Cotter in the Scottish comedy Rab C Nesbitt between 1990 and 1999, and again from 2008 to 2011.
Barbara has also had TV roles in Doctors, Garrow's Law, Still Game and River City, as well as film roles in The Last King Of Scotland and Wicker Man.
She sadly lost her husband – fellow actor Sean Scanlan, who starred in River City and 200 Acres of Sky – in 2017 to throat cancer.
In 2020 Barbara starred in a powerful short film made during lockdown charting the harrowing real-life experiences of care home workers, families and residents.
Stuart McGugan
Stirling-born actor Stuart first found fame as a presenter on BBC's Play School in 1975, and as Gunner “Atlas” Mackintosh in sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
After playing drummer Bomba MacAteer in 1987 TV series Tutti Frutti, he played pub owner Barney Meldrum in Hamish MacBeth.
Stuart split from his first wife Annie Long in 1982 – a year after he met the "love of his life" Cordelia Monsey. The couple married in 2018 but share a 34-year-old son Mitch, who's a drummer.
In 2019 Stuart, who appeared in an episode of the original Dad’s Army in 1974, slammed a UKTV channel Gold remake of the sitcom.
In an interview he said: “Dad’s Army is a TV classic. Over 50 years since it was first made, it is still shown and still gets an audience.
“To make a new Dad’s Army and pump nothing new into it, which will be the case, is cultural vandalism."
Anne Lacey
Actress Anne Lacey is known mainly for her roles in Hamish Macbeth – as teacher Esme Murray – as well as Strictly Sinatra, Harry Potter and This Year's Love.
In 2020 she starred alongside Colin Firth and Julie Walters as Mrs Pitcher, the cook in the film version of the children's classic The Secret Garden, and she also had a role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Anne appeared in BBC drama Shetland, a murder mystery series about a local police team investigating crimes within the close knit island community.
Duncan Duff
Duncan Duff learned his craft at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and got his big break on Hamish, playing Dougal Brown, the pipe-smoking village doctor.
He has also appeared in Taggart, Doctor Who, Casualty, The Bill, The Crown and 2010 film Wild Target.
He now also does voiceovers and works as a keynote speaker and conference presenter.
Duncan is married to actress Rosalie Robinson and they share two children.
David Ashton
Since playing Alex's father Major Roderick 'Roddy' Maclean, David Ashton, now 81, has had a successful and varied career in film, television, theatre and radio.
David left school at 16 and worked in a bank for five years before discovering a love for drama.
He has had featured roles in New Tricks, Waking the Dead, All Creatures Great and Small, The Bill, Doctor Who, Coronation Street and Juliet Bravo.
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He also had film roles in The Last King of Scotland and Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies.
He now writes books, films and plays, and has lectured at the Central School for Speech and Drama, where he trained.
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