The Book Group.

Channel 4 love a minority. Whether you're gay, or a Muslim, or a gypsy, they pride themselves on giving us all ample airtime. But somehow, their entire Scottish output seems to be a lone episode of Location, Location, Location set in Giffnock, and a curious and quiet comedy from 2002 called The Book Group

A promo shot of the main cast of the show's first series.

The Book Group follows the grand old tradition of setting a show in one location, and then employing virtually no actors from that place to star in it. We have Dirka, from Sweden. And English Barney. And Fist (yes, Fist) from Holland. And most importantly, the frosty heart of the show, Clare from Cincinnati. 

Clare was new to Glasgow, expected so much from the city, and was consistently disappointed by what she received. She set up a book group to meet like-minded people, but accidentally stumbled upon 3 WAGs, a pretentious student with a cocaine addiction and a gay ned. None of whom were particularly interested in reading the book. In this sense, Clare was an amazing plot device. We got to look, and laugh at ourselves through Clare's eyes, as she struggled to get to grips with Glaswegian culture, and understand Rab's often incomprehensible English.

Clare and Kenny. Eventually.

It's funny though, because the insults that Clare levelled at Glasgow were things I had often thought, and sometimes said myself. But hearing them from a foreigner was jarring, and I immediately felt defensive of our fine city. Clare's suggestion that we were lacking culture was ridiculous! We absolutely do have culture, ya dobber. The Europeans said so in 1990.

The story had a happy ending, as Clare found love with hunky Kenny, proving that even the frostiest of foreigners can find their groove in the city when they accept it for what it is. She fell in love with the city too. Schmaltzy or what?

Sometimes shows make it big, and sometimes shows don't. Luckily, The Book Group is available to watch, in full, here, thanks to 4OD.


BROADCAST:- 2002-2003
STARRING:- Anne Dudek, Michelle Gomez, Derek Riddell.
WEEGIE RATING:- That's no right!

TAGGART

When I was 19 years old, I made the ill-advised decision to move to the city of Hull. Famous for cream phone boxes and having a massive drag community (seriously, I still have the feather boa to prove it), I lasted three whole weeks. When I think back to this time of my life, my overriding memory is of the amount of people, who on finding out I was from Glasgow, asked me to say "THERE'S BEEN A MURDER" in my accent.

Original Inspector Taggart Mark McManus in 1983, outside the city's Mitchell Library.

That phrase has been synonymous with Glasgow ever since it was first heard in crime drama Taggart almost 30 years ago. Initially the show followed veteran DCI Jim Taggart, played by Mark McManus, attempting to solve numerous and puzzling murders around the city. When the show was first broadcast in 1983, Glasgow was under the constrained grip of Thatcher's government. The city was post-industrial, holding connotations of a dangerous, dirty place, ravaged with knife-wielding gangs, to which tourists didn't visit. In many ways, this created the perfect setting for a crime drama.

In 1994 the show suffered the ultimate television tribulation; lead actor Mark McManus died whilst filming. What could have been the grizzly demise of the entire show, actually proved to be the kiss of life, and the maverick cop format which had been growing stale was replaced. As the city of Glasgow modernised throughout the 1990's, the show moved with it, introducing younger characters and more dramatic storylines. In its current format, Taggart showcases Glasgow to be the vibrant, multi-cultural place it is today. Numerous cast members have came, and went. But the only constant has been the city of Glasgow

The shows current murder-solving team - Blythe Duff, Alex Norton, John Michie.

Sadly Taggart's coat seems to be on a shaky hook, with national broadcaster ITV stating it would no longer be showing the drama to viewers in England & Wales. ITV blame falling ratings south of the border, but many see this axing as a retaliation to STV's decision not to broadcast a number of high-profile ITV shows in Scotland. Almost 30 years, and over 100 episodes later, the show has become ingrained in the Scottish psyche; as much a part of Glaswegian culture as Billy Connolly or the Duke of Wellington statue, complete with traffic cone.

RUN:- 1983-present
STARRING:- Blythe Duff, Mark McManus, Colin McCredie
WEEGIE RATING:- *****

television.GLASGOW.

Awrite lads! Or if you're not from Glasgow, hello, good day, welcome.

My name is Sean, and I love television. To me, there is almost no better way to while away an afternoon, than with a series of Gavin & Stacey, or The Office, or 30 Rock. Often I find myself looking abroad for new television - to America obviously, but also to Scandinavia and Australia. Despite this, I firmly believe British television is the best in the world. However, with much television output coming directly from London, I felt my knowledge of the television industry in my own hometown, Glasgow, was limited. Or so I thought...

Rab C. Nesbitt - surely Scotland's most iconic television character.

Glasgow is known for many things - amazing shops, a vibrant nightlife, being the knife-crime capital of Europe. However something that often gets overlooked, myself included, is the massive impact some of the television shows, set here, have had. From drama, comedy, variety and music, Glaswegian TV shows have television has been shaped by the people of the city, and has, in turn, shaped the people of the city in some cases. This blog will examine some of the best, and least known shows originating in the city.