The Mallens

The Mallens is a Granada Television adaptation of Catherine Cookson novels, broadcast in thirteen episodes between 10 June 1979 and 2 September 1979. It draws on four books: *The Mallen Streak*, *The Mallen Girls*, *The Mallen Secret*, and *The Mallen Curse*.

The story begins with Thomas Mallen, a ruthless 19th-century Northumberland squire at High Banks Hall. He carries a genetic white streak in his hair, known as poliosis, and has fathered many illegitimate children, all of whom inherit this trait and go on to lead disastrous lives. One such child is Donald Radlet. Thomas, now penniless, mortgages his estate to stay afloat. He tries to arrange a marriage between his only legitimate son, Richard, and Fanny Armstrong, an unattractive heiress, hoping her dowry will save the family home. The plan collapses when a servant accidentally reveals Richard’s mercenary motives, and Richard, enraged, shoots and kills a visiting bailiff. This leads to Thomas’s bankruptcy and loss of everything. He moves into a small cottage with his late wife’s nieces, Barbara and Constance, and their governess, Anna Brigmore, who begins an affair with the ruined squire. Later, Donald and his half-brother, Matthew Radlet, visit the cottage to see their father. Their mother, whom Thomas raped, is now married to Matthew’s father, a stern farmer. Donald and Matthew both show romantic interest in Barbara and Constance. Donald courts Barbara while secretly trying to win Constance away from Matthew, who loves her. Their parents oppose any marriage, as Matthew is consumptive and the farm cannot support more family. Donald eventually succeeds with Constance, leaving Matthew and Barbara abandoned.

In *The Mallen Girls*, Matthew and Constance meet in secret and sleep together. Constance wants to marry, but Matthew refuses, citing his brother and his illness. He tells her to accept Donald if he proposes, but she refuses. Miss Brigmore, suspecting Constance is pregnant, persuades her to marry Donald. Constance does so and later gives birth to a son, Michael. Meanwhile, Thomas Mallen, still with Brigmore, turns to drink and other women. One night, he mistakes his niece Barbara for someone else and rapes her. Realizing what he has done, he later dies in a fire. Barbara becomes pregnant with her uncle’s child and dies in childbirth, leaving a daughter, also named Barbara.