Scotch on the Rocks

Not a review, but a comment and plea. As a rather fairly student hitch-hiking in the 70s I was lucky enough to be picked up by a BBC producer/director (not sure which) as I made my way back towards Skye having re-sat maths at Strathclyde uni. He offered me the chance to be an extra for the day. I had a great day at (I think) Eilean Donan castle, as a soldier of the Scottish army. Lunch was included as well as a great cheque for about £23 when beer was around 50p a pint! Being filmed along side the likes of Maurice Roeves and Wilfred Hyde White(?). I have never seen my self on screen in the series, I had heard that some cans had been destroyed by accident. But if they are all squirrelled away in a BBC basement I would love a DVD or just a chance to view it in their video library. It would be great to convince my offspring that my story is not the ramblings of a confused old guy!

I write this from memory so forgive me for any inaccuracies. This was an adaptation from the book by Osmond & Hurd (Douglas, the Conservative politician)and was set in a Scotland campaigning for independence, but by some factions using terrorist methods, as opposed to constitutional means. It was shown by the BBC only once to my knowledge as it was blamed for the rise of would be Scottish terrorist organisations, not to mention the impact of events in Ireland at the same time. It would be great to see it again, given recent constitutional events, but I suppose that all the copies have been destroyed.

Would it be asking too much for the BBC to release it on DVD?

I remember watching this - I was only 11 at the time but it gripped me and I recall the denouement like it was yesterday.

It is suggested that the BBC refused to show it again due to its controversial nature. There is, after all, a real SNP (and was then - you wonder how the BBC got away with it) and they would not be too happy about being portrayed as a Scottish Sinn Fein. But apparently the tapes still exist in the bowels of BBC Scotland.

But it was definitely an exciting series for its time. I remember being gripped by all five episodes. Would it stand up today? I am guessing that it might be seen as over-long and a bit cheap and cheesy, as so many programmes of the period now appear to be, but who knows.

If only the BBC could open its archives and let us see.