Taggart turns 40! The cast of the Scottish detective series look almost unrecognisable as they reunite to celebrate the show’s milestone anniversary
It’s 40 years since the Scottish detective drama first aired and the cast of Taggart reunited to mark the anniversary on Tuesday.
The show’s stars gathered in Glasgow as actors Blythe Duff, James MacPherson, Colin McCredie and John Michie joined together, looking barely recognisable all these years later.
The characters were joined by creator and writer Glenn Chandler and ex-Head of STV Drama, Robert Love, while Alex Norton joined by Zoom for a lively panel discussion hosted by STV presenter Laura Boyd.
The show first aired on Scottish television in September 1983 and went on to become a worldwide hit with repeats still showing in 140 countries around the globe.
Set in Glasgow, it made sense for the team to reunite back to the Scottish city where they attended the CCA on Sauchiehall Street to share their memories and stories from their time working on the iconic crime series.
Wow! The cast of Scottish television series Taggart look almost unrecognisable as they reunited to celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary on Tuesday (Colin McCredie, James MacPherson, Blythe Duff, John Michie pictured L-R)
Throwback: The cast DS Jackie Reid (Blythe Duff), DI Robbie Ross (John Michie), DCI Matt Burke (Alex Norton) and DC Stuart Fraser (Colin McCredie) pictured back in 2006
Fan favourite: The show first aired on Scottish television in September 1983 and went on to become a worldwide hit with repeats still showing in 140 countries around the globe
A fan favourite the show lasted 27 years and the producers made a total of 27 series and 110 episodes.
Actress Blythe Duff, now 60-years-old, looked unrecognisable as she ditched her brunette locks for a white boy cut style hair do.
Meanwhile Colin McCredie, 51, and John Michie, 66, looked visibly older as the two sported their grey beards.
Taggart became an iconic show full of whodunnits and gripping murders after its pilot episode in September 1983 which starred Mark McManus as the no-nonsense DCI Jim Taggart who led a squad of detectives in Maryhill, Glasgow.
It ran until November 2010 with James MacPherson and then Alex Norton taking over the lead role after McManus died of pneumonia in 1994.
Blythe Duff played DS Jackie Reid, Colin McCredie played DC Fraser, John Michie played DI Robbie Ross, James MacPherson played DCI Michael Jardine and Alex Norton was DCI Matt Burke.
Talking about the legacy of the show 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.
‘We’re so proud of the show and are thrilled to be celebrating its 40th anniversary with so many of the cast, crew, writers and the creator – all of whom have shared wonderful tales and memories of the production.’
Older now: Actress Blythe Duff, now 60-years-old, looked unrecognisable as she ditched her brunette locks for a white boy cut style hair do
Whole team: The characters were joined by creator and writer Glenn Chandler (right) and ex-Head of STV Drama, Robert Love, (left) while Alex Norton joined by Zoom for a lively panel discussion on STV
Glasgow proud: Set in the Scottish city it made sense for the team to reunite there as they attended the CCA on Sauchiehall Street to share their memories and stories from their time working on the iconic crime series
Massive hit: A fan favourite the show lasted 27 years and the producers made a total of 27 series and 110 episodes (pictured in 2005)
Back in the day: Blythe looked completely different to her days playing DS Jackie Reid (pictured in 2007)
Actor John Michie, who has since starred in Coronation Street and Holby City, recently told the Herald: ”One thing people forget is the audience was pretty much in England. There’s something about the city of Glasgow that people find fascinating; the stories of gangs and so on, and the myth of Glasgow being this violent city, which we know isn’t true.
‘I grew up in Edinburgh and as a teenager I found it a lot more violent. I used to come over to go the Barrowlands and what I found was that if you weren’t looking to get battered, you’d get it in Edinburgh but you wouldn’t in Glasgow even if you were looking for a fight.’
Asked about the possibility of another revival, Blythe added: ‘The format will always work – we proved that. But I don’t know – I’d have to see. It’s so different now – policing is so different it would be hard to keep it with the energy that the old ones had.
‘I also think there are an awful lot of good cop shows at the moment and you tamper with it at your peril. Taggart has left a lasting legacy in our memory, and maybe that’s what it needs to be.’
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