If you want the long and short of what Monarch of the Glen was all about it was really the story of a man that was called back home to Scotland in order to take over his father’s estate and restore it to its former glory. However the task is daunting enough that he has to make a hard choice between returning to London where he’s been making his own way or stay on the estate and try to sort out its many debts and therefore keep it in the family and keep it up as much as possible. The show ran from 2000 to 2005 on the BBC and was quite popular to begin with, but when the main actor left the show in the fifth season things started to decline until finally in 2004 they hit an all-time low and started the eventual descent into cancellation. Since then the actors have had to move on, and it’s kind of interesting to realize where some of them ended up.
Here’s what happened to the cast in the years since the show went off the air.
Richard Briers
Richard began his career in the 50s and did just about anything and everything you can think of. He did voice acting, radio work, film, and TV, and was a beloved celebrity in England and even by many people in the US and in other countries. He was one of those individuals that managed to charm a lot of people into believing in him and rightfully so. At one point he claimed to have smoked half a million cigarettes before finally quitting. In truth he quit right after a chest X-ray in 2001 made it clear that if he didn’t he’d be sitting in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Sadly, Richard passed away in 2013 from cardiac arrest.
Dawn Steele
From serving as a waitress to acting Dawne has come a long way but it would almost seem as though she might be slowing down a bit as her last appearance in River City ended when she figured that the commute from her home to the site where they were shooting was simply becoming too great and decided to quit. She hasn’t quit as an actor since she does have another production in the works but it almost feels as though she’s desiring a change of pace.
Alastaire MacKenzie
Alastaire has more than just film and TV credits to his name as he’s decided to go into producing and directing as well. He’s also been involved with the theater and established himself as a skilled actor on stage. At this point he’s still very much into his acting career and has been starring on the show Unforgotten.
Hamish Clark
It’s usually pretty interesting to see where people started before they reached their acting careers and Hamish was at one time an insurance clerk before he managed to break into the industry and find his calling. Since the show he’s been maintaining that career and has stayed pretty busy. At this moment he’s starring in a show titled Holby City. It seems evident to say that pretty much everyone from the show has stayed in the UK or close by since the show ended.
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire is another old-timer, said with all respect, that has seen a great many years come and go in the industry. An award-winner, actress, and author in her own right she’s been around long enough to know how the game goes and how it’s changed so greatly in the span of a few decades. At this point in her career she is still quite active since she’s been involved in two different shows since 2017 and shows no sign of letting up. That’s rather inspiring to see anyone in their later years still pushing themselves to such a degree as it gives hope to a lot of those from the younger generation that their careers can go for as long as they have the desire.
Alexander Morton
It’s kind of hard to tell if Alexander is still active or not since the last production it seems that he was in was back in 2015. Yet for all that he has stayed busy throughout the years in stage, film, TV, and radio. It’s fascinating to see how many of the older actors have remained so active and have continued to push themselves as the years roll on. Some might say it’s an attempt to keep up with the younger generation while others could attribute it to the simple need to hustle for jobs as was necessary in the old days. But whatever justification one gives it such activity is still impressive.
Most of the actors from the show are still active and performing as they want, though it seems fair to say that many will miss the show since it was popular in its own time.
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