List of Take the High Road characters


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
  • Alan McIntyre
  • Kay Grant
  • Max Langemann
  • Dougal Lachlan
  • Grace Lachlan
  • Amy Lachlan
  • Isabel Blair
  • Jimmy Blair
  • Ken Calder
  • Maggie Ferguson
  • Lorna Seton
  • Fiona Cunningham

Other debut appearances in Series 1

  • "Mrs Archie" – episode 9
  • David Blair – episode 3
  • George Carradine – episode 22 only
  • Rev. Gordon Cockburn – episode 4
  • John Crawford – episode 9
  • Peter Cunningham – episode 17
  • Eric Duff – episode 3; last seen in episode 7
  • Ian Duff – episode 3; last seen in episode 7
  • Willi von Haupt – episode 8 only
  • Donald Lachlan – episode 3
  • Alice McEwan – episode 8
  • Leslie Maxwell – episode 6
  • Archie Menzies – episode 9
  • Andy Semple – episode 13; absconds in episode 14
  • Jane Steedman – episode 14
  • Bob Taylor – episode 5
  • 'Sorry' Watson – episode 25
  • Mr Wedderburn – episode 13 only
  • sheep rustlers – ''episodes 16 & 18 only''

Departing characters who make return appearances

  • Andy Semple

Final appearances

  • John Crawford
  • Eric Duff
  • Ian Duff
  • Amy Lachlan
  • Max Langemann
  • Leslie Maxwell

Series 2 (1980)

The second series had 26 episodes broadcast from 14 October 1980 to 7 January 1981.

Debut appearances in Series 2

Final appearances

  • "Mrs Archie"
  • Kay Grant
  • Alan McIntyre

Series 3 (1981)

The third series had 26 episodes broadcast from 7 April 1981 to 2 July 1981.

Debut appearances in Series 3

  • Lucy Armstrong
  • Helen Blair
  • Douglas Dunbar
  • Kirsty Forsyth
  • Alison Lambert
  • Hamish McNeil
  • Morag Stewart
  • Lady Strathmorris
  • Lord Andrew Strathmorris
  • Malky Wilson

Final appearances

  • Jane Steedman
  • Malky Wilson

Series 4 (1981–1982)

The fourth series had 44 episodes broadcast from 6 October 1981 to 18 March 1982.

Debut appearances in Series 4

  • Tom Clifton
  • Peter Craig
  • Robert Forsyth
  • Sojer Johnny

Series 5 (1982)

The fifth series had 36 episodes broadcast from 24 August 1982 to 23 December 1982.

Debut appearances in Series 5

  • Kate Blair
  • Sarah Cunningham
  • Bruno Rheinhardt
  • Alec Geddes
  • Graeme B. Hogg
  • Tom Kerr aka "Inverdarroch"
  • Mrs Mary Mack
  • Rev Iain McPherson
  • Mr Obidiah Arthur Murdoch
  • Sergeant Murray
  • Jackie Ogilvie
  • Eddie Ramsay
  • Jean Semple
  • Jamie Stewart
  • Mrs Woods

Departing characters who make return appearances

  • Maggie Ferguson – as Maggie Watson

Series 6 (1983–1984)

The sixth series had 88 episodes broadcast from 7 August 1983 to 20 March 1984.

Debut appearances in Series 6

  • Jock Campbell
  • Marion Cochrane
  • Dan Lamont
  • Irene Lamont -EN's granny
  • Sheila Lamont
  • Effie MacInnes
  • Carol McKay
  • John Morrison
  • Mr Thomson
  • Miss Richardson

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 broadcast from 4 September 1984 to 7 February 1985.

Debut appearances in Series 7

  • Davie Sneddon Episode 237
  • Sally Shaw
  • Willie Stewart
  • Lily Taylor 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 broadcast from 14 May 1985 to 3 October 1985.

Debut appearances in Series 8

  • Sandra Blair
  • Florence Crossan
  • Ruari Galbraith
  • Rev Parker
  • Mrs Russell

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
  • Willie Gillespie
  • Mr Hendry
  • Jim Hunter
  • Fergus Jamieson
  • Jockie McDonald
  • Heather McNeil
  • Constable Graham McPhee
  • Mrs Jean McTaggart
  • Harry Shaw
  • Oggie Wilson

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
  • Lynne McNeil
  • Mairi McNeil
  • Eric Ross-Gifford
  • Joanna Ross-Gifford
  • Sir John Ross-Gifford
  • Lady Margaret Ross-Gifford
  • Hazel Young
  • Colin Young
  • Nan Anderson

Return appearances

  • Harry Shaw
  • Sally Shaw

Character re-casting

  • Willie Gillespie
  • Donald Lachlan

Final appearances

  • Jamie Stewart
  • Mrs Russell
  • Mrs Mctavish

1988

Debut appearances

  • Gladys Aitken
  • Mrs Galbraith
  • Claire Kerr
  • Scott Logan
  • Tam Logan
  • Joe Reilly
  • Moira Reilly
  • Lady William
  • Michael Ross
  • Mark Ritchie
  • Vieven Howard

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

Character re-casting

  • Alice Taylor

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
  • Jock Campbell

Final appearances

  • Peter Cunningham
  • Sorry Watson
  • Peter Craig
  • Scott Logan
  • Lord Strathmorris
  • Jock Campbell

1990

Characters making return guest appearances

  • Sandra Blair
  • Andy Semple
  • Maggie Watson
  • Lily Wentworth

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
  • Alun Morgan
  • Greg Ryder
  • Alastair Turner
  • Kenny Tosh
  • Tee Jay Wilson
  • Shona
  • Jessie McKay
  • Gary McDonald
  • Sadie McDonald
  • Trish McDonald

Departing characters who will return later

  • Nan Anderson
  • Davie Sneddon
  • Maisie Forbes
  • Sandra Blair
  • Susan Duncan
  • Eddie Ramsay
  • Mr Murdoch
  • Tom Kerr aka "Inverdarroch"
  • Claire Kerr

Guest appearances

  • Malky Thomson
  • Mrs McCann
  • Maggie Watson

Final appearances

  • Archie Menzies
  • Lily Wentworth
  • Maisie Forbes
  • Sandra Blair
  • Sergeant Murray
  • Maggie Watson

1991

Debut appearances

  • Sam Hagen
  • Mr Crawford
  • PC Douglas Kirk
  • Margo McGeogh
  • Gordon Sinclair
  • Matt Sinclair
  • Peggy Sinclair
  • Andrew Wilson
  • Cathy Wilson
  • Stephen Ogilvie

Characters making return guest appearances

  • Florence Crossan
  • Andy Semple
  • Ruari Galbraith

Final appearances

  • Mrs Galbraith
  • Ruari Galbraith
  • Florence Crossan
  • Paul Martin
  • Mr McPherson
  • Kenny Tosh

1992

Debut appearances

  • Joe Breslin
  • DI Busby
  • Leonard Carter
  • John Clark
  • Jennifer Goudie
  • Cecelia Hunter
  • Celia Maxwell
  • Catriona McNeil
  • Sandy McNeil
  • Menna Morgan
  • Nick Stapleton
  • Duncan Strachan
  • Mark Torrance
  • Dr Benjamin Jenkins
  • Leonard Carter

Characters making return appearances

  • Tom Kerr

Departing characters who will make return appearances

  • DI Busby
  • Jennifer Goudie
  • Mr Murdoch
  • Mrs Woods

Final appearances

  • Nan Anderson
  • John Clark
  • Donald Lachlan - Ep 935
  • Dougal Lachlan - Ep 935
  • Gladys Lachlan - Ep 935
  • Gordon Sinclair
  • Mark Torrance

1993

Departing characters who will make return appearances

  • Joanna Ross-Gifford Ep 1035

Debut appearances

  • Judith Crombie - Ep 1078
  • Angus McTavish - John Grieve
  • Bill Miller - Bill Leadbitter - Ep 1049
  • Janet Miller - Maggie Mac Ritchie
  • Iain Strathmorris - 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
  • 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
  • Sam Hagen - ep1106

Characters making their last regular appearances

  • Grace Lachlan - Ep1106
  • Jean McTaggart - Ep1106

High Road

From July 1994 with the series being renamed "High Road" a major change in production took place.

Characters making return appearances

  • Mr Murdoch -
  • Mrs Woods -

Debut appearances

  • Tiffany Bowles
  • Callum Gilchrist
  • Sarah Gilchrist
  • Phineas North

1995

Debut appearances

  • Chic Cherry
  • Jaffa Cherry
  • Dominic Dunbar
  • Peter Odell
  • Ewan Patterson
  • Cheryl Thom

Return guest appearances

  • Grace Lachlan - Episode 1150
  • Jean McTaggart - Episode 1150

Departing characters who will make return appearances

  • Alun Morgan - Episode 1190
  • Michael Ross - Episode 1195
  • Susan Ross - Episode 1195

Final appearances

  • Stephen Ogilvie
  • Grace Lachlan - Episode 1150
  • Jean McTaggart - Episode 1150
  • Judith Crombie -
  • Mr Murdoch - Episode 1175
  • Tee Jay Wilson - Episode 1181
  • Mrs Woods

1996

Debut appearances

  • Kelly Marie Cherry
  • Senga Cherry
  • Stella Greg
  • Victor Kemp
  • Sally McGann
  • Paul Lafferty

Guest appearances's

  • Moria Gilby
  • Ronald Gilby

Returning characters

  • Tom Kerr
  • Alun Morgan
  • Michael Ross
  • Susan Ross
  • Phineas North
  • Cheryl Thom

Final appearances

  • Alun Morgan - ep1223
  • Susan Ross - ep1223
  • Dr Wallace - ep1230
  • Michael Ross - ep1247
  • Ewan Patterson - ep1247
  • PC Douglas Kirk - ep1247

1997

Debut appearances

  • Dylan Geddes
  • Martin Geddes
  • Kitty McIvor
  • Lachie McIvor
  • PC Tony Piacentini
  • Dr Andy Sharp

Final appearances

  • Tiffany Bowles
  • Dylan Geddes
  • Martin Geddes
  • Gary McDonald
  • Menna Morgan
  • Peter O'Dell
  • Carol Wilson
  • Cheryl Thom

1998

Debut appearances

  • Jude Burnett
  • Maureen Gilchrist
  • Tina Harrigan

Character re-casting

  • Sandy McNeil

Returning characters

  • Sandy McNeil

Final appearances

  • Stella Greg

1999

Debut appearances

  • Ewan Logan
  • Dan Sutherland

Returning characters

  • Tina Harrigan

Final appearances

  • Jude Burnett
  • Tina Harrigan
  • Trish McDonald
  • Sandy McNeil

2000

Debut appearances

Departing characters who will return

  • Joanna Ross-Gifford
  • Kitty McIvor

Final appearances

  • Sam Hagen
  • Dr Andy Sharp

2001

Debut appearances
  • George McCracken

Departing characters

  • Eric Ross-Gifford

Return guest appearances

  • Claire Kerr
  • George Carradine

2002

Debut appearances

  • Dr Douglas Clark
  • Mr Spinetti

Departing characters

  • Eddie Ramsay

Characters who depart until final episode

  • Isabel Blair

2003

Debut appearances

  • Niall Cassidy – Barry Lord

Returning characters

  • Joanna Ross-Gifford

Characters who return for the final episode

  • Isabel Blair
  • Kitty McIvor
  • Lynne McNeil

Cast list from the final episode

  • Isabel Blair
  • Sheila Ramsay
  • Effie McDonald
  • Jockie McDonald
  • Mairi McIvor
  • Lachie MacIvor
  • Morag Kerr
  • Tom Kerr
  • Mrs Mack
  • Victor Kemp
  • Nigel Jenkins
  • Davie Sneddon
  • Niall Cassidy
  • Alec MacGlashan
  • Sally McGann
  • Sarah McDonald
  • Baby Sadie McDonald
  • PC Tony Piacentini
  • Chic Cherry
  • Paul Lafferty
  • Ewan Logan
  • Mr Spinetti
  • Kitty McIvor
  • Lynne McNeil
  • Surveyor
  • Dr Douglas Clark