While most of us know Robert Carlyle from either Trainspotting (1996), The Full Monty (1997), or perhaps, the ABC TV show Once Upon a Time (2011-2018), his first breakout on screen was a little Scottish TV show called Hamish Macbeth that aired on BBC from 1995-1997. It took me years to jump on board with it, but after doing so, it jumped to be in my top 10 personal favorite TV shows of all time.
Robert Carlyle did guest star appearances on TV shows in the early/ mid 90’s, such as Cracker, and he would go on to have 3 other TV shows after Hamish (as of 2024) as a main character: Stargate Universe (2009-2011), Once upon a Time, and Cobra (2020- present). (I myself have seen only Once Upon a Time.)
Hamish Macbeth is based on books by M.C. Beaton, and while it may upset some people that it doesn’t follow the books (I have not read them) separately as it’s own medium, it’s great. Hamish Macbeth, Police constable is a laid back guy who loves westerns, his dog, Wee Jock (a West Highland Terrier), and hanging out with the local townsfolk. The show isn’t so much about being a police officer but just rather keeping peace or investigating odd happenings in the town of Lochdubh (that’s Lock-doo).
Lochdubh is a little bit eccentric but that is the full charm! There’s Hamish’s right hand man and best friend, “TV” John McIver (Ralph Riach) who has the gift of sight. TV John was the first man in town to own a TV, hence the nickname!
Making mischief is father and son duo Lachlan McCrae and Lachaln McCrae Jr (Billy Riddoch and Stuart Davids), under the eyes of pub owners Barney and wife Agnes (Barbara Rafferty and Stuart McGugan). Alexandra Maclean (Valarie Grogan) is the “town princess” who is a romance author and daughter of the town’s manor owner Major Roderick Maclean (David Ashton). While Alex may or may not have Hamish’s heart, she’s not the only one with a crush on him, as Isabel Sutherland (Shirley Henderson), who writes for the newspaper, also has a quiet crush. Rounding out the townsfolk are school teacher Esme Murray (Anne Lacey), grocery owner Rory Campbell (Brian Pettifer) and the doctor (who smokes dope!) Dougal Brown (Duncan Duff).
What I adore about this TV show is NO ACTOR- waters down their Scottish accent! What’s even cooler is that at the 2019 Belfast film festival Carlyle, during a Q&A, admitted that he had some creative control on the series and every actor from his Raindog Theatre company guest starred on the show, meaning he got to act/ work with his friends. This includes his final girlfriend before his wife, Caroline Paterson (who guest starred in season 3).
My favorite episodes are: West Coast Story (season 1) which uses music and borrows plot from West Side Story (1961), A Bit of an Epic– set on a trekking of the Highlands (season 1 finale) and No Man is an Island (season 2), in which Hamish helps a woman, Belle, who stepped on a landmine (Once Upon a Time fans have such a fondness for this episode!).
Take a look at a scene from West Coast Story in which Robert Carlyle sings Cool- certainly he is! Rumor has it this video was sent to him on Twitter circa 2012 and he replied “Shivers”.
The only thing is the show is 20 episodes and way too quick of a watch! I never watched a strictly Scottish TV show before, so the humor just blew me away. I would hear jokes or outright funny language that in American TV we censor and can’t say. I loved the bluntness and straight forwardness of it all, I was smiling the from ear to ear! My Mom loved it too- I think her slight Scottish side is where she gets her coolness from.
Overall, I am just so glad I discovered this TV show, and as a Robert Carlyle fan- It’s a MUST WATCH. He isn’t restrained or having to fake it with phony material here like he was on Once Upon a Time, and certainly you can tell, he is having so much fun in every episode. My regret is I didn’t jump on sooner, as it took me until 2022; That’s a bit embarrassing for a show that was on air when I was born! I kept hearing about it during the airing of Once on social media and just ignored it. (Maybe I should jump on and watch Cobra now! He’s in it after all!). Lately, Carlyle has been revisiting his early roles from his career with sequels and revivals like Trainspotting 2 and The Fully Monty TV show (This was awesome!). I think Hamish Macbeth should be the next role he should re-visit! I would be 100% on board with it!
This entry is for the It’s in the name of the Title Blogathon hosted by Realweegiemidget and Taking up Room