Summary
Children of the North is a British television thriller drama series, written by John Hale, that first broadcast on BBC2 on 30 October 1991.[1] The series, comprising four episodes, was based on the novel trilogy The Killing of Yesterday's Children, Lonely the Man Without Heroes and A Darkness in the Eye by author M.S. Power. All four episodes were directed by David Drury, with Chris Parr acting as executive producer.
| Children of the North | |
|---|---|
 Patrick Malahide and Michael Gough as Colonel Mailer and Arthur Apple | |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Based on | Children of the North by M.S. Power |
| Written by | John Hale |
| Directed by | David Drury |
| Starring | Patrick Malahide Michael Gough Tony Doyle John Kavanagh Adrian Dunbar Paul Brooke Jonathan Hyde Ian McElhinney Sean Caffrey |
| Composer | Geoffrey Burgon |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer | Chris Parr |
| Production locations | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Cinematography | Alec Curtis |
| Editor | Ian Farr |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Production company | BBC Northern Ireland |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC2 |
| Release | 30 October – 20 November 1991 |
The series starred Patrick Malahide as Colonel Mailer, an MI5 agent whose chauffeur is killed during an IRA assassination attempt on Mailer and Michael Gough as Arthur Apple, a bookie who launders money for the IRA.[2] The series has never been re-broadcast or released on DVD.[citation needed]
Production edit
According to a Sydney Morning Herald review, Malahide's character is "nearing retirement from a shattering life in military intelligence". Tony Doyle, Adrian Dunbar, and John Kavanagh co-starred with Malahide and Gough. The original BBC plotline for the series read, "When two MI6 officers are shot dead in an unmarked car, assassination attempts, money laundering operations and peace talks follow as hitman Martin Deeley (Adrian Dunbar) is simultaneously chased by members of the IRA, the RUC, and the army".[3]
Behind-the-scenes production photos were later uploaded on social media website Pinterest by the owner of the land where part of the series was filmed.[4]
Cast edit
- Patrick Malahide as Colonel Mailer; a military intelligence operative
- Michael Gough as Arthur Apple; a bookie who launders money for the IRA
- Tony Doyle as John Axton; an RUC Special Branch officer
- John Kavanagh as Seamus Reilly; an IRA 'godfather'
- Adrian Dunbar as Martin Deeley; an assassin
Recurring edit
- Paul Brooke as Ballister
- Jonathan Hyde as Colonel Shrapnel
- Ian McElhinney as O'Hare
- Sean Caffrey as IRA Chief of Staff
- John Hewitt as Moran
- Frankie McCafferty as Fergal
- Brian McGrath as McIlliver
- Tony Byrne as Dowling
Episodes edit
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Killing of Yesterday's Children" | David Drury | John Hale | 30 October 1991 | |
| Two MI6 officers are shot in a car near the border. Colonel Mailer, in harness with RUC Special Branch officer John Axton, hunts the marksman. IRA godfather Seamus Reilly pulls young Martin Deeley out of active service and recruits the old, eccentric Arthur Apple.[5] | |||||
| 2 | "Lonely the Man Without Heroes" | David Drury | John Hale | 6 November 1991 | |
| Deeley is hunted by the Army, RUC and IRA. Apple's plan to shield him is ingenious – but will it work? Mailer comes into his office to a big surprise.[6] | |||||
| 3 | "City of Maloch" | David Drury | John Hale | 13 November 1991 | |
| Axton and Reilly collaborate to stop Shrapnel's assassination squad. Colonel Mailer is called back from retirement to the Province – at the IRA's request.[7] | |||||
| 4 | "A Darkness with the Eye" | David Drury | John Hale | 20 November 1991 | |
| Reilly's peace moves get a response from the government but are threatened by a rogue unit within his ranks.[8] | |||||
References edit
- ^ "Search Results – BBC Genome". BBC.
- ^ "Something Neat XXV: "Children of the North" Publicity Still". 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Children of the north – Troubles Archive". troublesarchive.com.
- ^ "BBC Drama 'Children of the North' filmed at our place". Pinterest.
- ^ "Children of the North: The Killing of Yesterday's Children". 30 October 1991. p. 78 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Children of the North: Lonely the Man Without Heroes". 6 November 1991. p. 88 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Children of the North: City of Maloch". 13 November 1991. p. 80 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Children of the North: A Darkness in the Eye". 20 November 1991. p. 86 – via BBC Genome.
External links edit
- Children of the North at IMDb
