In Scotland in 1751, with the embers of the 1745 Jacobite rising still smouldering, young David Balfour (Ian Cullen) is kidnapped by Captain Hoseason (Ewan Roberts) – at the request of David’s wicked uncle, Ebenezer Balfour (Duncan Macrae) – and placed aboard the brig Covenant, destined for the Carolinas and a life of slavery.
He meets Jacobite rebel Alan Breck (Roddy McMillan) on the ship and together the pair escape from the ship, avoid the redcoats and return to Scotland to claim David’s rightful inheritance.
In later episodes, David attempts to gain justice for James of the Glens (Kenneth MacKintosh) but, after being reunited with Alan Breck, he is once again kidnapped and confined on the Bass Rock, an island in the Firth of Forth, until the trial is over and James is condemned to death.
David also meets and falls in love with Catriona MacGregor Drummond (Gay Hamilton), the daughter of James More Drummond (Leonard Maguire), who is also held in prison until Catriona engineers his escape.
David and Catriona travel to Holland, where David studies law at the University of Leyden until he learns of the death of his uncle Ebenezer, meaning he will now come into his full, substantial inheritance.
David and Catriona eventually marry and return to Scotland to raise a family.
This BBC series was a faithful – if plain – adaptation by Joy Harington of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novels Kidnapped and Catriona and well-acted throughout.
Ian Cullen died in November 2019, aged 80.
David Balfour
Ian Cullen Alan Breck
Roddy McMillan Catriona
Gay Hamilton James More Drummond
Leonard Maguire Barbara
Colette O’Neil Neil the Redhead
James Copeland Prestongrange
Moultrie Kelsall Simon Fraser
Jack Lambert James of the Glens
Kenneth MacKintosh Alison
Margo Croan Mr Rankeillor
Geoffrey Lumsden Ebenezer Balfour
Duncan Macrae Red Fox
John Dunbar Stewart
Calum Mill Shuan
Douglas Murchie Riach
Bryden Murdoch Captain Hoseason
Ewan Roberts
Episodes
The House of Shaws | The Brig Covenant | Disaster | Red Fox | The Flight in the Heather | Back to Shaws | Catriona | The Man with Red Hair | The Bass Rock | In the Hands of the Ladies | David and Catriona | The Return of Alan
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