This is a list of characters who appeared in the Scottish soap opera Take the High Road, broadcast from 1980 to 2003.
Series 1 (1980) The first episode was broadcast by Scottish Television on 19 February 1980 and the series of 30 was broadcast two episodes per week till 28 May 1980.
First episode In credits order: Elizabeth Cunningham (Edith MacArthur) Alan McIntyre (Martin Cochrane) Kay Grant (Vivien Heilbron) Max Langemann (Frederick Jaeger) Dougal Lachlan (Alec Monteath) Grace Lachlan (Marjorie Thomson) Amy Lachlan (Julie Ann Fullarton) Isabel Blair (Eileen McCallum) Jimmy Blair (Jimmy Chisholm) Ken Calder (Bill Henderson) Maggie Ferguson (Irene Sunters) Lorna Seton (Joan Alcorn) Fiona Cunningham (Caroline Ashley)
Other debut appearances in Series 1 "Mrs Archie" (Anne Downie) – episode 9 David Blair (Derek Anders) – episode 3 George Carradine (Leon Sinden) – episode 22 only Rev. Gordon Cockburn (Roy Boutcher) – episode 4 John Crawford (Andrew Downie) – episode 9 Peter Cunningham (Donald Douglas) – episode 17 Eric Duff (Hugh Evans) – episode 3; last seen in episode 7 Ian Duff (Gregor Fisher) – episode 3; last seen in episode 7 Willi von Haupt (Ian Patrick) – episode 8 only Donald Lachlan (Master Alan Dunbar) – episode 3 Alice McEwan (Muriel Romanes) – episode 8 Leslie Maxwell (Andrew Robertson) – episode 6 Archie Menzies (Paul Kermack) – episode 9 Andy Semple (Alexander Morton) – episode 13; absconds in episode 14 Jane Steedman (Ingrid Hafner) – episode 14 Bob Taylor (Iain Agnew) – episode 5 'Sorry' Watson (Ron Paterson) – episode 25 Mr Wedderburn (Willie Joss) – episode 13 only sheep rustlers (Ricky Don and Bill MacFarlane) – episodes 16 & 18 only
Departing characters who make return appearances Andy Semple
Final appearances John Crawford Eric Duff Ian Duff Amy Lachlan (died in episode 2) Max Langemann Leslie Maxwell
Series 2 (1980) The second series had 26 episodes (nos. 31–56) broadcast from 14 October 1980 to 7 January 1981.
Debut appearances in Series 2 Brian Blair (Kenneth Watson) Dr Wallace (Michael Elder) Paul Cassell (Glyn Owen) Mrs Seton (Helen Norman)
Departing characters who make return appearances "Mrs Archie" (returns in 1990)
Final appearances Kay Grant Alan McIntyre
Series 3 (1981) The third series had 26 episodes (nos. 57–82) broadcast from 7 April 1981 to 2 July 1981.
Debut appearances in Series 3 Lucy Armstrong (Marjorie Dalziel) Helen Blair (Bridget Biagi) Douglas Dunbar (Clive Graham) Kirsty Forsyth (Anna Davidson) Alison Lambert (Carol Ann Crawford) Hamish McNeil (William Armour) Morag Stewart (Jeannie Fisher) Lady Strathmorris (Ellen McIntosh) Lord Andrew Strathmorris (Bernard Gallagher) Malky Wilson (Freddie Boardley)
Final appearances Jane Steedman Malky Wilson
Series 4 (1981–1982) The fourth series had 44 episodes (nos. 83–126) broadcast from 6 October 1981 to 18 March 1982.
Debut appearances in Series 4 Tom Clifton (Jonathan Battersby) Peter Craig (Jay Smith) Robert Forsyth (Ian Wallace) Sojer Johnny (Chic Murray) Michael Ritchie (Nicholas Sherry)
Series 5 (1982) The fifth series had 36 episodes (nos. 127–162) broadcast from 24 August 1982 to 23 December 1982.
Debut appearances in Series 5 Kate Blair (Lucy Durham-Matthews) Sarah Cunningham (Claire Nielson) Bruno Rheinhardt (Tony Caunter) Alec Geddes (James Cosmo) Graeme B. Hogg (Jim Byars) Tom Kerr aka "Inverdarroch" (John Stahl) Mrs Mary Mack (Gwyneth Guthrie) Rev Iain McPherson (John Young) Mr Obadiah Arthur Murdoch (Robert Trotter) Sergeant Murray (James McDonald) Jackie Ogilvie (Hazel McBride) Eddie Ramsay (Robin Cameron) Jean Semple (Jeni Giffen) Jamie Stewart (James Copeland) Mrs Woods (Primrose Milligan)
Departing characters who make return appearances Maggie Ferguson – as Maggie Watson
Departing characters
Series 6 (1983–1984) The sixth series had 88 episodes (nos. 163–234) broadcast from 7 August 1983 to 20 March 1984.
Debut appearances in Series 6 Jock Campbell (Iain Stewart) Marion Cochrane (Lizzie Radford) Dan Lamont (Ray Jeffries) Irene Lamont (Trudy Bryce) Sheila Lamont (Lesley Fitz-Simons) Effie MacInnes (Mary Riggans) Carol McKay (Terri Lally) John Morrison (Adrian Reynolds) Mr Thomson (John Shedden) Miss Richardson (Sheila Grier)
Characters making return appearances Maggie Watson
Final appearances Douglas Dunbar John Morrison Jackie Ogilvie Miss Richardson Mr Thomson
Series 7 (1984–1985) The seventh series had 44 episodes (nos. 235–276) broadcast from 4 September 1984 to 7 February 1985.
Debut appearances in Series 7 Davie Sneddon (Derek Lord) Episode 237 Sally Shaw (Judith Sweeney) Willie Stewart (Walter Carr) Lily Taylor (Thelma Rogers) Episode 246
Return guest appearances Maggie Watson
Departing characters who make return appearances Jimmy Blair Sally Shaw
Series 8 (1985) The eighth series had 44 episodes (nos. 277–334) broadcast from 14 May 1985 to 3 October 1985.
Debut appearances in Series 8 Sandra Blair (Johanna Hargreaves) Florence Crossan (Gwyneth Guthrie) Ruari Galbraith (Charles Jamieson) Rev Parker (Paul Young) Mrs Russell (Fay Lenore)
Return appearances Lily Taylor
Departing characters who make return appearances in later years Sandra Blair Florence Crossan Lily Taylor
Final appearances Ken Calder
1986 Debut appearances Joyce Cameron (Georgine Anderson) Willie Gillespie (Joe Mullaney) Mr Hendry (Gerry Slevin) Jim Hunter (Alan Cumming) Fergus Jamieson (Frank Wylie) Jockie McDonald (Jackie Farrell) Heather McNeil (Bridget McCann) Constable Graham McPhee (Stuart Bishop) Mrs Jean McTaggart (Jean Faulds) Harry Shaw (Lawrie McNicol) Oggie Wilson (Sean Scanlon)
Characters making return appearances Jimmy Blair Sally Shaw
Departing characters who will make return appearances Jim Hunter Eddie Ramsay Harry Shaw Sally Shaw
Final appearances Jimmy Blair Joyce Cameron Elizabeth Cunningham Mr Hendry
1987 Debut appearances Susan Duncan (Jacqueline Gilbride) Lynne McNeil (Gillian McNeil) Mairi McNeil (Anne Myatt) Eric Ross-Gifford (Richard Greenwood) Joanna Ross-Gifford (Tamara Kennedy) Sir John Ross-Gifford (Michael Browning) Lady Margaret Ross-Gifford (Jan Waters) Hazel Young (Una Ailsa MacNab) Colin Young (George Howell) Nan Anderson (Marjorie Dalziel)
Return appearances Harry Shaw Sally Shaw
Character re-casting Willie Gillespie (Ewen Emery replaces Joe Mullaney) Donald Lachlan (Steven Brown takes over the role)
Final appearances Jamie Stewart (James Copeland) Mrs Russell Mrs Mctavish
1988
Debut appearances Gladys Aitken (Ginni Barlow) Mrs Galbraith (Diana Ollson) Claire Kerr (Julie Miller) Scott Logan (Micky MacPherson) Tam Logan (John Murtagh) Joe Reilly (Ian Bleasdale) Moira Reilly (Anne Kidd) Lady William (Madeline Christie) Michael Ross (Gordon MacArthur) Mark Ritchie (Peter Raffan) Vieven Howard (Kay Gallie) Jinty Craig (Jan McAllister)
Returning characters Peter Cunningham Jim Hunter Sorry Watson
Final appearances Joe Reilly Moira Reilly Jim Hunter Tam Logan Lady Margaret Ross Gifford Vieven Howard Constable Graham McPhee
1989
Debut appearances Emma Aitken (Amanda Whitehead) (ep 634) Colin Begg (Kern Falconer) Cllr Robert Watt (David McKail) Maisie Forbes (Janet Michael)
Character re-casting Alice Taylor (Barbara Rafferty replaces Muriel Romanes from episode 627)
Return appearances Susan Duncan David Blair Harry Shaw Eddie Ramsay Jock Campbell
Departing characters who will make return appearances Ruari Galbraith
Guest appearances Mrs McCann (Edith Ruddick) Jock Campbell
Final appearances Peter Cunningham (early 1989) Sorry Watson (early 1989) Peter Craig Scott Logan Lord Strathmorris Jock Campbell
1990 Final appearances Brian Blair Calsang Colin Begg Harry Shaw Scott Logan Hamish McNeil Rev Parker Mark Ritchie Sir John Ross Gifford Lorna Seton Alice Taylor Bob Taylor Cllr Robert Watt Lady William
March Onwards In March 1990, a major production change took place which resulted in a number of longer term cast members being replaced and six new male characters being introduced.
Debut appearances Paul Martin (Peter Bruce) Alun Morgan (Mike Hayward) Greg Ryder (Alan Hunter) Alastair Turner (Stuart David) Kenny Tosh (Alistair Galbraith) Tee Jay Wilson (Andrew Gillan) Shona (Eilidh Fraser/Alicia Devine) Jessie McKay (Wilma Duncan) Gary McDonald (Joseph McFadden) Sadie McDonald (Doreen Cameron) Trish McDonald (Natalie J. Robb) Malky Thomson (Freddie Boardley)
Departing characters who will return later Nan Anderson (returns ep748) Davie Sneddon (returns ep757) Maisie Forbes (returns ep763) Sandra Blair (returns ep763) Susan Duncan (returns ep7) Eddie Ramsay (returns ep785) Mr Murdoch (returns ep788) Tom Kerr aka "Inverdarroch" (returned in 1992) Claire Kerr (returns in 2001)
Characters making return guest appearances Sandra Blair Andy Semple Lily Wentworth Maggie Watson (ep787)
Guest appearances Mrs McCann (Edith Ruddick)
Final appearances Archie Menzies (Actor died) Mrs Archie Lily Wentworth Maisie Forbes Sandra Blair Maggie Watson
1991
Debut appearances Sam Hagen (Briony McRoberts) (827/830) Mr Crawford (James Bryce) PC Douglas Kirk (Graeme Robertson) Margo McGeogh (Mandy Matthews) Gordon Sinclair (Paul Hickey) Matt Sinclair (Jake D'Arcy) Peggy Sinclair (Donalda Samuel) Andrew Wilson (Bill Murdoch) Cathy Wilson (Jo Cameron Brown) Stephen Ogilvie (Roger McGeachin) Pete (Iain Glass)
Guest appearances Agnes Cameron (Alyxis Daly)
Characters making return guest appearances Florence Crossan (Gwyneth Guthrie) Andy Semple Ruari Galbraith
Final appearances Mrs Galbraith Ruari Galbraith Sergeant Murray Florence Crossan Paul Martin Jinty Craig Mr McPherson Kenny Tosh Pete
1992
Debut appearances Joe Breslin (Kenneth Glenaan) DI Busby (Laurie Ventry) Leonard Carter (Robert Robertson) John Clark (Alan McHugh) Jennifer Goudie (Victoria Burton) Cecelia Hunter (Eiledh Fraser) Celia Maxwell (Annette Staines) Catriona McNeil (Lynsey Jane Thompson) Sandy McNeil (Rainer Ross) Menna Morgan (Manon Jones) Nick Stapleton (Stephen Hogan) Duncan Strachan (Ron Donachie) Mark Torrance (Gary Bakewell) Dr Benjamin Jenkins (Troy Fairclough) Leonard Carter (Robert Robertson)
Characters making return appearances Tom Kerr
Departing characters who will make return appearances DI Busby Jennifer Goudie Mr Murdoch Mrs Woods
Characters making return guest appearances Andy Semple
Final appearances Donald Lachlan - Ep 935 Dougal Lachlan - Ep 935 Gladys Lachlan - Ep 935 Nan Anderson John Clark Gordon Sinclair Mark Torrance
1993 Departing characters who will make return appearances Joanna Ross-Gifford Ep 1035
Debut appearances Judith Crombie (Anne Marie Timoney) - Ep 1078 Angus McTavish - John Grieve Bill Miller - Bill Leadbitter - Ep 1049 Janet Miller - Maggie Mac Ritchie Iain Strathmorris (James Coombes) - Ep 1072 Mrs Watson - Elspeth Chartlton - Ep 1072
Characters making return appearances Jennifer Goudie DI Busby Joanna Ross-Gifford -Ep 1068 Andy Semple
Final appearances Leonard Carter Celia Maxwell Jennifer Goudie - Ep 1045 Jessie McKay - Ep 1058 Fiona Ryder - Ep 1039 Greg Ryder - Ep 1040
1994 Characters making return appearances Irene Lamont
Final appearances Sadie McDonald Angus McTavish Emma Aitken - Ep1106 Fergus Jamieson - Ep1106 (actor died) Lynne McNeil - Ep1106 Nick Stapleton - Ep1106 Duncan Strachan - Ep1106 Andy Semple - Ep1106 Iain Strathmorris - Ep1106 Irene Lamont DI Busby - Ep1122
Departing characters who will make return appearances Tom Kerr - ep1106 (returns in 1996) Sam Hagen - ep1106 (returns in Ep 1122)
Characters making their last regular appearances Grace Lachlan - Ep1106 Jean McTaggart - Ep1106