Lee Turner (Martyn Hesford), a troubled 17-year-old from Manchester, lives with his mother, Val (Marjorie Yates) – whose husband, Ken, had deserted her four years ago – but he resents his mother’s lorry driver boyfriend, Alan (Stephen Yardley) and there are constant clashes between them, which sometimes lead to physical violence.
Lee is sent to live with his uncle Morgan (Blake’s Seven star Gareth Thomas) – Val’s elder brother – on his remote farm in Blainau in the Black Mountains of Wales to escape the trouble back home.
The farm is slowly running down as Morgan has neither the capital nor the knowledge to modernise it, and the tenancy is soon to expire.
The initial mutual hostility between the two men eventually gives way to grudging respect on both sides, but external forces have other plans for both of them.
Lee befriends local boy Matthew Gibbs (John Skitt) who lives at Plas Newydd and who shares Lee’s interest in tropical fish.
Lee eventually falls desperately in love with Louise (Tracey Childs), Matthew’s spoilt 19-year-old sister, who is staying at Plas Newydd.
By the close of the series, Morgan leaves Blainau to live in a small house in a new housing estate in Talgarth, and while the town environment is totally alien to him, he tries hard to conceal his feelings, and Lee is unaware of his unhappiness.
In Manchester, Val and Alan have separated, and Val asks Lee to return home – but he wants to make a life for himself on his own terms.
The series ends with Morgan returning to the farm, burning all his belongings and then shooting first his trusty dog, Cap, and then himself with a shotgun in the barn.
Morgan’s Boy is essentially a two-hander, but with superb performances from all the cast.
Morgan Thomas
Gareth Thomas Lee Turner
Martyn Hesford Eileen Gregory
Maxine Audley Harry Gregory
Alan Rowe Pugh Davies
Jack Walters Matthew Gibbs
John Skitt Val Turner
Marjorie Yates Colin
Gary Oldman Louise Gibbs
Tracey Childs Gareth Price
Charles Dale Sarah Griffiths
Pippa Hinchley Tom Griffiths
James Warrior Alan
Stephen Yardley Tom Duncan
David Quilter Graham
Robbin John
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The initial mutual hostility between the two men eventually gives way to grudging respect on both sides, but external forces have other plans for both of them.
