Children of the North

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
GenreThriller
Based onChildren of the North by M.S. Power
Written byJohn Hale
Directed byDavid Drury
StarringPatrick Malahide
Michael Gough
Tony Doyle
John Kavanagh
Adrian Dunbar
Paul Brooke
Jonathan Hyde
Ian McElhinney
Sean Caffrey
ComposerGeoffrey Burgon
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerChris Parr
Production locationsBelfast, Northern Ireland
CinematographyAlec Curtis
EditorIan Farr
Running time55 minutes
Production companyBBC Northern Ireland
Release
Original networkBBC2
Original release30 October (1991-10-30) –
20 November 1991 (1991-11-20)

The series starred Patrick Malahide as Colonel Mailer, an MI5 agent whose chauffeur is killed during an IRA assassination attempt on Mailer himself, 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.

Production

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 alongside 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

Recurring

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Airdate
1"The Killing of Yesterday's Children"David DruryJohn Hale30 October 1991 (1991-10-30)
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 DruryJohn Hale6 November 1991 (1991-11-06)
Deeley is hunted by the Army, RUC and IRA together in full cry. 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 DruryJohn Hale13 November 1991 (1991-11-13)
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 DruryJohn Hale20 November 1991 (1991-11-20)
Reilly's peace moves get a response from the government, but are threatened by a rogue unit within his own ranks.[8]

References
  1. "Search Results – BBC Genome". BBC.
  2. "Something Neat XXV: "Children of the North" Publicity Still". 9 January 2015.
  3. "Children of the north – Troubles Archive". troublesarchive.com.
  4. "BBC Drama 'Children of the North' filmed at our place". Pinterest.
  5. "Children of the North: The Killing of Yesterday's Children". 30 October 1991. p. 78 – via BBC Genome.
  6. "Children of the North: Lonely the Man Without Heroes". 6 November 1991. p. 88 – via BBC Genome.
  7. "Children of the North: City of Maloch". 13 November 1991. p. 80 – via BBC Genome.
  8. "Children of the North: A Darkness in the Eye". 20 November 1991. p. 86 – via BBC Genome.
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