Children of the North
A BBC2 thriller drama series based on M.S. Power's trilogy.
Children of the North is a British television thriller drama that aired on BBC2 in four episodes from 30 October to 20 November 1991. Written by John Hale, it adapts M.S. Power’s novel trilogy, which includes *The Killing of Yesterday's Children*, *Lonely the Man Without Heroes*, and *A Darkness in the Eye*. David Drury directed all episodes, and Chris Parr served as executive producer.
The story follows Colonel Mailer, an MI5 agent played by Patrick Malahide, whose chauffeur dies in an IRA assassination attempt on him. Michael Gough portrays Arthur Apple, a bookie who launders money for the IRA. According to a *Sydney Morning Herald* review, Malahide’s character is “nearing retirement from a shattering life in military intelligence.” The original BBC plotline describes two MI6 officers shot dead in an unmarked car, triggering assassination attempts, money laundering, and peace talks, as hitman Martin Deeley (Adrian Dunbar) is pursued by the IRA, the RUC, and the army.
Co-stars include Tony Doyle as RUC Special Branch officer John Axton, John Kavanagh as IRA “godfather” Seamus Reilly, and Adrian Dunbar as assassin Martin Deeley. Recurring cast members are 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, and Tony Byrne as Dowling. Behind-the-scenes production photos were later posted on Pinterest by the landowner where part of the series was filmed.
- type
- Television series
- genre
- Thriller drama
- broadcast_channel
- BBC2
- first_broadcast
- 30 October 1991
- last_broadcast
- 20 November 1991
- episodes
- 4
- writer
- John Hale
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Thriller
- Director
- David Drury
- Writer
- John Hale
- Based On
- Children of the North by M.S. Power
- Starring
- Patrick Malahide / Michael Gough / Tony Doyle / John Kavanagh / Adrian Dunbar / Paul Brooke / Jonathan Hyde / Ian McElhinney / Sean Caffrey
- Composer
- Geoffrey Burgon
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Num Series
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 4
- Producer
- Chris Parr
- Editor
- Ian Farr
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
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. 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.
Reader's Guide
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.' 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. The series is notable for its adaptation of M.S. Power's novel trilogy and its focus on the complexities of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Did You Know?
- The series was based on a novel trilogy by author M.S. Power.
- Patrick Malahide played Colonel Mailer, an MI5 agent whose chauffeur is killed in an IRA assassination attempt.
- Michael Gough played Arthur Apple, a bookie who launders money for the IRA.
- Behind-the-scenes production photos were uploaded on Pinterest by the owner of the land where part of the series was filmed.
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