'Take The High Road', remembered today as a bland Scottish soap opera, sailed onto STV in 1980, following the cancellation of the now forgotten 'Garnock Way' and was set in the fictional Scottish village of Glendarroch ( of which the location shooting took place in Luss ). It seems more or less to have fallen off the face of the earth. Even some of its stars have less than happy memories of appearing in it. What seems to be overlooked is how massive the show was in its time, being a hugely successful show for ratings. Allegedly, even the Queen Mother was a fan.
Now, whilst it is certainly not a wonderful show, far from it, it made for light, easy viewing. In 1993, 'Take The High Road' went down the 'Emmerdale Farm' route and shortened its title simply to 'High Road'.
In the cast for a long time were future 'River City' star Eileen McCallum as shopkeeper Isabel Blair and Derek Lord as Colin Sneddon, Bill Henderson as car mechanic Ken Calder, however later episodes introduced other characters such as busybody Mary Mack ( Gwyneth Guthrie ), Peter Odell ( the late Ross Davidson, who had earlier appeared as Andy O'Brien in the early episodes of 'Eastenders' ), who had an affair with Sarah McDonald ( the gorgeous Shonagh Price ) and murdered her husband Gary ( Joseph McFadden ). The show had a large and loyal following until its cancellation in 2003.
'Take The High Road', like I said, may not have been great but at least unlike modern soaps didn't resort to breaking cultural taboos in order to catch the viewers attention. Future 'Rab C. Nesbitt' star Gregor Fisher appeared in two episodes.
Now, whilst it is certainly not a wonderful show, far from it, it made for light, easy viewing. In 1993, 'Take The High Road' went down the 'Emmerdale Farm' route and shortened its title simply to 'High Road'.
In the cast for a long time were future 'River City' star Eileen McCallum as shopkeeper Isabel Blair and Derek Lord as Colin Sneddon, Bill Henderson as car mechanic Ken Calder, however later episodes introduced other characters such as busybody Mary Mack ( Gwyneth Guthrie ), Peter Odell ( the late Ross Davidson, who had earlier appeared as Andy O'Brien in the early episodes of 'Eastenders' ), who had an affair with Sarah McDonald ( the gorgeous Shonagh Price ) and murdered her husband Gary ( Joseph McFadden ). The show had a large and loyal following until its cancellation in 2003.
'Take The High Road', like I said, may not have been great but at least unlike modern soaps didn't resort to breaking cultural taboos in order to catch the viewers attention. Future 'Rab C. Nesbitt' star Gregor Fisher appeared in two episodes.