https://brian-jameson.com/home daily 1.0 2023-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/55484fe4-feb8-49cc-a1c9-705e9742b40b/JJ_mock-up_3D.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/0244f1ac-20a4-4bab-9733-63d02ae852b4/amazon+uk-Ireland.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/b0103a46-ab10-4b3f-a136-f89b6759d62d/amazon+usa.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/64179742-ea82-42ca-997f-b9ada773a58f/Brian_Jameson_1.jpeg https://brian-jameson.com/read-me daily 0.75 2023-05-07 https://brian-jameson.com/john-jameson daily 0.75 2023-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/9d821656-d0e7-421a-ac61-15e7d44fcaa9/JJ_Rear_Cover.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/0244f1ac-20a4-4bab-9733-63d02ae852b4/amazon+uk-Ireland.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/b0103a46-ab10-4b3f-a136-f89b6759d62d/amazon+usa.png https://brian-jameson.com/jjs-world daily 0.75 2023-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578228948-EJ001V2QTSJTUH5JGQQ9/1.John_Jameson.jpg JJ's World John Jameson’s portrait by Henry Raeburn (National Gallery of Ireland) From deep within, I think I can detect a chesty chuckle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578229061-32CNLETXOAIRSS8TXFZH/2._Alloa_.jpeg JJ's World The Prospect of the House & of the Town of Alloa. Engraving by John Slezer (National Library of Scotland) Buried and Born in Alloa, Scotland. Alloa – derivative from the Gaelic, meaning, ‘The way to the sea.’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683592523009-UCC7ETDCVWB4Z60IHXG2/John-Jameson-Seal-2.png JJ's World John Jameson’s seal of 1792, reproduced by Quentin Peacock Seafaring was in JJ’s blood; the sea had led the family ‘Without Fear’ to Alloa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683592930283-0Z5QLO4FUEHKU4Q2JC6P/4._Cemetery-2.jpg JJ's World John Jameson’s Tomb by Ciaran Murphy Today, John Jameson’s residence in Alloa remains within the whiff of the sea, half a mile inland at the Kirkyard of the old parish church of St Mungo’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683592930291-7AA6AZ6VRK26P5L32JPQ/5._JOHN_ERSKINE_6th_Earl-2.jpg JJ's World John Erskine Earl of Mar by Ciaran Murphy ‘Bobbing John’ JJ’s Jacobite churchyard neighbour. An architect, an urban planner, a musician, a politician, and a soldier, the 6th Earl of Mar was one of those toffs who was irritatingly good at everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578230860-EJMMWBJZB75T1GLIW7T3/6._Bonny_Prince_Charlie.jpg JJ's World Charles Edward Stewart by Alan Ramsay (Alamy) The Bonnie Prince - Fresh and rosy as a baby’s bottom. JJ would become a sentimental Jacobite by default. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683592931083-8NYG8AXS02E5ESV57R3Y/7._KATHARINE_Bruce-2.jpg JJ's World Katharine Bruce by Ciaran Murphy “What’s wrang wi’ mah mooth, man?” Katharine Bruce, an Outspoken Jacobite who took a shine to the young JJ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578231684-V99VFMEAAAXGBCVG4GJI/8._Edinburgh_Sky_Scrapers.jpg JJ's World Parliament Close, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 18th century (Alamy) Edinburgh, with its stacked-up sandstone skyscrapers. JJ enjoyed the smelly old city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578275586-HBYC9OQHOJVK76VH2JJ4/9._Margaret_Jameson.jpg JJ's World Margaret Jameson by Henry Raeburn (National Gallery of Ireland) ‘Look Aboot Ye’ goes the Clackmannanshire motto and obeying the command from Robert the Bruce, JJ did just that. Margaret Haig was a tobacconist’s daughter, known affectionately by her family as ‘Peggie’. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578275669-IRWT5Q82V7RW68NP5FEO/10._Wedding_Night.jpg JJ's World The Wedding Night by Ciaran Murphy JJ was gently snoozing in his chair. Peggie nudged him awake. “Ach! C’moan ye sleepy auld fool!” Peggie took JJ’s hand and led him off into their future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685014671700-EU0FP5O4GTHB2KJ407VJ/10b._Whisky_drinking.jpg JJ's World Peggie’s Stein uncles were distillers. Robert Burns drank her Uncle Jim’s whisky and appreciated its rascally ways. Rabbie witnessed how ‘Dear Kilbaigie’ evaporated misery and bought jollity. For the poor, it gave relief; for the wounded, it zapped infection; for the sick, it widened the arteries; for governments, it was liquid opium for the masses and raised an increasingly indispensable source of revenue. Peggie’s uncles were on to a winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578276643-IYHJU0GZBB7KXRGWFQV3/11._Canonmills_copy.jpg JJ's World Canonmills Loch and House, Edinburgh. (Alamy) Peggie chose to stay at her brother James Haig’s house at Canonmills. For the Jameson young, a visit to an uncle or relation so often had the added excitement of seeing a new distillery and its workings. Carefully, William and James Jameson made their way to the river and the distillery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578276631-N2UZ323E6A75LKQGVD5B/12._Thames___Tower_of_London_copy.jpg JJ's World The Thames and the Tower of London by Samuel Scott (Alamy) There was a war going on, undeclared. In February 1786, John Jameson had a unique opportunity to visit the front line in London along the river Thames. Unchallenged, Stein and Haig sloops and brigantines sailed up the river to land their cargos of rectified gin or raw spirit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578277859-S5EL6WN929Z03JB6QTMN/13.Map_of_J.J_s_Journey_Helen_Cann_.jpg JJ's World Map of JJ’s journey from Alloa to Dublin by Helen Cann. 1795 was timely for JJ’s first visit to Ireland. Seven years had passed since the catastrophic collapse of Scotland’s distilling, and the family had now recovered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578277934-HAHA3NNGDV4YFOFKDDMU/14._Custom_House.jpg JJ's World The Custom House, in Dublin, Ireland (Alamy) Stretched out along the quays lay the Copular crowned Custom House. This was a city built for commerce and aching for its coffers to be filled. John Jameson had arrived in Dublin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578278889-Y0FJLVQEQ0O9IZEWG9NU/15._A_View_of_the_city_of_Dublin_from_Magazine_Hill.jpg JJ's World A View of the City of Dublin from the Magazine Hill in the Phoenix Park (Alamy) From the beginning, Jameson whiskey in Ireland was a Jameson affair, with father and sons combining their different strengths in building the foundations of a whiskey brand that was to develop, survive, and flourish for over two centuries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578278912-JM196TXE3JETQ7VPZFJZ/16._Bow_Street_.jpg JJ's World Bow Street Distillery, Dublin (Alamy) The two distilleries of Bow Street and Marrowbone Lane prospered and expanded. They were towns within the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578279610-HRZT0PC68S3D92BQFNB5/17.Marconi.jpg JJ's World Portrait of Guglielmo Marconi. (Alamy) John Jameson’s association with his great-grandson in the wireless scientific revolution was unexpected. So, too, was Marconi’s link to Arthur Browne, whose philandering precipitated one of the world’s greatest inventions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578279793-YLEOAS2N5ETXEOBU2KEX/18._Have_you_met_JJ.jpg JJ's World 1941 U.S. Magazine John Jameson Whiskey Advert (Alamy) Slowly JJ took form from his origins in Alloa, his Sheriff Clerk role, and his unmistakable signature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1683578280534-HU9DE0CTPADDZ1RW17VU/19.Whiskey_Mat.jpg JJ's World John Jameson and Son Irish Whiskey Dublin (Alamy) ‘Established 1780’ adorns the bottles of an extremely good whiskey. It has been there for 130 years. It has claimed squatters’ rights. https://brian-jameson.com/about-me daily 0.75 2023-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/a08a4966-89e5-4934-a0f6-2b4464cf9d48/Brian_Jameson_3B.jpg https://brian-jameson.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-05-31 https://brian-jameson.com/treading-the-boards daily 0.75 2023-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189187461-4S70DQR7FAMB3A1PZQ09/1._Learning_to_smoke_at_RADA.jpeg Treading the boards - Learning to smoke with a stick-on moustache at RADA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189187097-NE892BTUTL1WOYV0YIM1/2._18th_cent_National_Theatre.jpeg Treading the boards - Falling in love with the 18th century at the National Theatre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189188454-3H5HOR94H85XSJ7N28C6/3._Camping_it_up_.jpeg Treading the boards - Camping it up in After Haggerty https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685532389462-XKO8KK7HV2B5NPFHV6BM/3b._Boys_will_be_boys_.jpg Treading the boards - Boys will be boys in ‘Forget-Me-Not Lane’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189188996-4UKFLWI43BDS9RAD1HMQ/4._A_touch_of_Noel.jpeg Treading the boards - A touch of Noel as Simon Bliss in Hay Fever at the Theatre Royal Windsor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189189760-UD1CTNVQY78ZF730DNJ5/5._Eppy_with_Cinthia_jpeg.jpg Treading the boards - Eppy with Cynthia in the film Birth of the Beatles  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189189920-A06PDBCSW5BJPTC1QR0E/6.Health_check_only_fools_and_horses.jpg Treading the boards - Health check on Only Fools and Horses https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189191090-BXGMVUZKQTKIVXJQOMWV/7._Motivating_at_Harrogate.jpeg Treading the boards - Motivating in the dressing room at Harrogate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189193922-95UV4134M70I88XX9C9A/8._jumper_on_Play_School.jpeg Treading the boards - Wearing a jumper on Play School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189194667-23ZLQFUC1ZBIS7YIHUEQ/9._Playbus.jpeg Treading the boards - Driving off as the Bus Driver on Playbus to direct  https://brian-jameson.com/tv-creations daily 0.75 2023-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189430165-IGU8XXVVT9A3SRQSA92N/1.Location_Location.jpeg TV creations - Location Location (Balamory) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189430801-TTCDY0SXFYFB9S7A8S59/2._An_Exquisite_Cast.jpeg TV creations - An Exquisite Cast (Balamory) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189431066-87OFEK8EB7IO9QJ2M1YL/3._Dealing_with_the_talent.jpg TV creations - Dealing with the Talent (Balamory) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189433867-N5ZR8XVS0GOHX6JE2R4I/4._A_Legend_in_its_time.jpeg TV creations - A Legend in its Time (Balamory) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189433972-6G6QTTLNSTTMASZUORHX/5._Welcome_to_the_City_Me_Too.jpeg TV creations - A city on the move with trams, trains, a ship and a pink taxi (Me Too!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189437963-6Z3LVXESEORRPW286WV1/6._Magazine_Me_Too.jpeg TV creations - Magazine Spin-off (Me Too!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189438351-7LKMXEGJ3CTZNHMDXNE5/7._Cast_Me_Too.jpeg TV creations - The Cast (Me Too!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189439395-HDW44AGIKUAGFE1LU69J/8._A_girl_and_her_toy_spiderWooly___Tig.jpg TV creations - A Girl and her Toy Spider (Woolly & Tig) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189439595-N3GSRZVSJIUAJ4ML880A/9.woolly_animates_into_lifeWooly___Tig.jpg TV creations - In times of need, Woolly animates into life (Woolly & Tig) Woolly & Tig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189440334-KSDFLJPNKLPXGU10SHUB/10._A_worldwide_Favourite_Wooly___TigJPG.jpeg TV creations - A Worldwide Favourite (Woolly & Tig) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189440979-YCGBF6WL9UVRGPYWQJJV/11._Wooly___Floot.jpg TV creations - Woolly’s chum Floot (Woolly & Tig & Floot) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189441431-2HJTNHS4LR62JPRNPMVI/12._Hippo_House%2BCharacters.jpg TV creations - Waiting in the Wings (Hippo’s House) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685189441895-LGL9BIH2KMQPQ3PUF7OE/13._Higgledy_Dee-1.jpg TV creations - Created for Children by Children (Higgledy Dee) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1685532555035-ZSIEC19WZIB6QRIHC1TR/14._TATTIEMOON.jpg TV creations - 'Tattiemoon': a company where whims can become reality. Created with Helen Doherty https://brian-jameson.com/full-cv daily 0.75 2023-05-31 https://brian-jameson.com/news daily 0.75 2023-05-27 https://brian-jameson.com/news/get-out-there-n9t2h-32yca monthly 0.5 2022-06-07 https://brian-jameson.com/news/why-deserts-matter-too-maymt-mgpek monthly 0.5 2022-06-07 https://brian-jameson.com/news/new-hope-in-old-appalachia-lly88-lxkth monthly 0.5 2022-06-07 https://brian-jameson.com/home-1 daily 0.75 2025-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624b3c6d69f8ea5ba4177856/1649097844715-K1TWKRNWG9BQ9YWP50K0/20140302_Trade%2B151_0503.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624b3c6d69f8ea5ba4177856/1649097844724-KK28US3I057A9JIJWG2H/Aro%252BHa_0073.jpg https://brian-jameson.com/the-balamory-story daily 0.75 2026-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885313776-A30UHPZGPKQOYGKD1YL6/1._Top_of_the_spire.jpeg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 1: One Story Follows Another Beyond our ancient garden wall, the cathedral soared, its 404-foot spire reaching skyward. Gazing upwards, we were sometimes entertained by circus acts performed by steeplejacks. Their tiny figures wriggled and swung as they replaced the top of the spire stone by stone. (SuperStock / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885316168-Q093UPUPU8OQJHV7UAKO/2._Isle_of_Harris.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 2: Island Magic We propelled ourselves onto the white shell-sand beaches. Walls of Atlantic breakers thundered in, whilst our imagination at play ran wild. The Isle of Harris would be woven into tales set on the mythical island of Balamory - the sea, the ferry, the post office shop, the wildlife, the Aurora Borealis, and touches of real magic. (Tim Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885322986-8Q6N1NNHGG9KLVOMO4VM/3._Salisbury_Tomb.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 3: Weaving a Story The tombs that lined the cathedral's aisles held a particular horror for me. The marble effigy of the tomb’s deceased reinforced the image of the corpse beneath. I was often convinced I could smell their rotting flesh. In hindsight, it was probably just the Verger’s thermos of mutton stew. Whatever condition the corpses were in, I was certain they arose at night to haunt the cathedral nave. (Richard Newton / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885324951-8Q2JAFDU6S8KFZE7UA53/4._School_in_Dorset.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 4: School in Dorset The school was housed in an eighteenth-century mansion, set within a dramatically wooded Dorset valley. Our chapel was a medieval abbey church, and we dined, Hogwarts style, beneath the ornate hammer-beam roof of an abbot's hall. (Graham Hunt / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885328334-WMBHD63CLCO6MJJY5NOS/5._RADA.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 5: Stage Door The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art was a top-of-the-range drama school with an impressive track record. The wannabes flocked to its auditions. I followed the trend, and RADA was bold enough to offer me a place on their acting course. I arrived at RADA with long hair, wearing a large jumper, wondering whether someone had made a mistake. (Jeffrey Blackler / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885329230-2QFHM80TS1XQC0PF3VB6/6._National_Theatre.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 6: The Actor’s Story For the next twenty years, I would become a jobbing actor. Theatre work dominated. With repeated performances, it offered the chance to learn and improve from one performance to the next. On opening night, there were moments of extreme terror, but like a drug, the fix was the performance itself. Walking out onto the stage, protected by a blanket of light, was a near-death experience. (Photo by Wesley/Keystone/Hulton Archive via Getty Images) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885331439-L37Z0R1745GNFHZXS4R9/7._Play_School_jumper.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 7: A Play School Presenter On Play School, I felt at home. Preschool Television was at the bottom of the BBC's snobbery pile. Current affairs and drama were at the top. I relished being a skank at the bottom. I was breaking through the fourth wall, talking irreverently to the camera, unlike those reading from a teleprompter and nodding like a dog on a dashboard. (Author’s Collection) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885334326-NFXFEVPRPAYG8TD343X7/8.TV_Centre.jpeg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 8: Bolts from the Blue At the Television Centre, Cynthia took me up to the posh, waiter-served restaurant. Here, all the big nobs lunched. At the next table, Bill Cotton sat down amiably with David Frost, who was smoking a cigar. Cynthia poured me a very pleasant, full glass of pebbly white wine. She explained that going into production meant becoming a television director. I was knocked sideways. I had no ambitions to be on the other side of the camera. Becoming a television director seemed far too grown-up and complicated. (Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885337496-EJN4ZUKLGYIU49LIQ26C/9.Urban_Foxes.jpeg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 9: Starting Out Again The Television Centre offices were now swapped for a living room table in Streatham. At Floella Benjamin Productions, it was all small and homely. Outside the kitchen window, a family of foxes had taken up residence. Over morning coffee, the fox cubs could be seen cavorting. It was all very fitting for Channel 4’s commission of Treehouse. (Stephen Midgley / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885339653-4J6OKIU7BPNN5KZK2WDP/10._Playbus_Studio.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 10: Pushing the Boundaries Friday’s Tent Stop was set within a circus ring, from which, to a roll of drums, the dramatised stories would smash through an aerial hoop. Soft, spongy seating was shaped to curve around the edge of the circus ring. Together with other spongy shapes, the ring could be rearranged to create instant sets for the stories. An arch became a castle, a curve a boat, an oblong a door or a swimming pool. Our young audience was fresh and willing to imagine as the cast assembled the shapes to tell their story. (Author’s Collection) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885341609-1M9FBYYU9ZRPHIK12U13/11._Travellers_Newry.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 11: Irish Travellers With Michael Collins and the Traveller children in Newry, we created a show to perform at Newry Town Hall. The tale was derivative of Rosie’s story in Queen of the Fair. Outside, on the night of the performance, the Orange Order paraded around the Town Hall, beating the life out of their Lambeg drum. Inside, Fergal had gathered his musician pals. Massed bodhráns rhythmically accompanied pipes, fiddles, and whistles as the children sang the Rosie song. That night in Newry, the seeds were sown for the Balamory opening music. (Author’s Collection) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885347443-STV9M5NF16OKAUOJZ8DV/12._Baloon_Fiesta.jpeg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 12: Balamory Building Blocks Besides directing, my niche on Bitsa evolved into creating stories and scripts with Caitlin and Simon. The scripts would spring directly from the people, the place, and the landscape. Bitsa would become another Balamory building block. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta served a Jules Verne-inspired tale. Simon and Cailin enveloped a balloon basket with a magnificent bird structure. Their balloon led the evening’s mass ascent. The wind took us over Bristol Airport, where the control tower told us all to ‘Shove off!’ Suddenly, they spotted the bird balloon. Overexcited, the control tower then demanded a closer look. Holiday jets were kept at bay as the bird balloon skimmed along the runway. (Anna Jastrzebska / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885347443-BFO5YTXAFBDHLQ3MVTRU/13._Donna_Krachan.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 13: Comedy Casting Wham Bam Strawberry Jam led the events that culminated in the creation of Balamory. The connection wasn’t just the bodhráns beating away at the Crosskeys Inn, but also the poet and comedian Donna Krachan from Dundee. I came across Donna at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s Famous Grouse House. She was performing in a late-night cabaret, Riding the Backlash! Donna was advertised as the ‘Deliciously Dagger-Tongued Donna Krachan’. (Author’s Collection) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885356945-QG35TG7C2AEY8TB4OC8X/14._Kirkudbright.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 14: The Idea Ninety miles south of Glasgow, at the mouth of the River Dee, Kirkcudbright is a photogenic market town that inspired a movement among artists known as the Kirkcudbright School. A harbour, a castle and bright, characterful houses are set against a tumbling hillside of trees. With a mix of rural and urban, Kirkcudbright had all the appealing ingredients for a child to discover the world around them. (Keith Kirk / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885359506-Y4MBCWHM72IK8EF3AB4B/15._Tobermory.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 15: A Soap Opera Passing the distillery from the Ledaig car park, I saw the town stretch out for all to see. Beneath hills of tumbling trees, a harbour and the sea, it was a doppelganger of Kirkcudbright, but better. Curving along the waterfront, a theatrical backdrop was painted with houses of different colours. It was an eye-catcher with instant appeal to a child. (Phil Seale/Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885363810-LX1EIUYHBV69YDOTJ321/16._Balamory_Nursery.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 16: Jeopardy Balmullach was a rough-and-tumble neighbourhood, famed for Glasgow’s Red Road flats. It was light-years away from Tobermory. Barmulloch College of Further Education was due for demolition. Beneath the wide 1960s windows, differently coloured panels were arranged to depict the characters’ logos: Spencer's musical ladder, Penny Pocket’s see-saw numbers, Edie’s bus, and Josie Jump’s springy swirl. Along the front ran a low white paling fence with a gate. Beside the gate stood a large oval sign bearing “Balamory Nursery” above the Island’s logo. The picture was complete. (Photo by Crawford Milne) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885364948-H3VF04BN3ESWYSVMQHFH/17._Studio_C_Heating_up.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 17: A Race to the Finish Within the mortuary’s confines in Studio C, the sets were rotated to fit the weekly schedule. Where once corpses were kept cool, the new challenge was to prevent the Balamory actors from self-combusting. (Photo by Crawford Milne) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885369379-3O1AFZGJ51JB3Y9ZSK0R/18._Iceland_team.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 18: The Crest of a Wave Winning a BAFTA remained elusive. In 2004, only one episode was eligible for a BAFTA: The Snowflake Fairy. In the story, Miss Hoolie and Edie McCredie visit Iceland. They pitch camp on a black volcanic shore, and the Aurora Borealis unfolds and shimmers mysteriously before them. Archie interpreted this electrical phenomenon as the Snowflake Fairy dancing in the sky. His imaginative interpretation would eventually win others over. At the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Park Lane, the Balamory cast gathered. It was their night. The Snowflake Fairy had touched the jury's hearts, and Balamory won its first BAFTA. (Photo by Des O’Hare) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885371117-53SNDUENRN58UORPM0WE/19._Granny_Murray_Me_Too.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 19: Be Careful What You Wish For Me Too was Balamory’s urban sibling, exploring the world around us from a city’s perspective. The casting lottery was won when Jane McCarry agreed to play the pivotal role of Granny Murray. She portrayed her as a vivacious, natural, warm, and irresistible character. Santa had granted us our wishes. 150 twenty-minute episodes to produce over the year. We had multi-skilled teams, three filming units, three edit suites, and two dubbing theatres. Scripting, songs, directing, producing, we only needed to stir, and our childhood dreams would come to life. But be careful what you wish for. (Photo by Des O’Hare) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6456b6ee9831c12490a37c77/1776885372958-U43BQUCTRIG2Q1F8RWZA/20._Mary.jpg The Balamory Story in Chapters - Chapter 20: The Long Goodbye So that was the story of Balamory. The threads stretch back through a lifetime of tales. The end credits roll for the thousands who made it all possible. The bodhráns thrum, the haunting melody plays, pulling us through the waves to sail again. This time we are on the old MV Loch Seaforth. The stained-glass doors of the dining saloon swing open to reveal a James Cameron Titanic moment. Through the galley doors comes Mary Riggans as Suzie Sweet. Waving her Balamory multi coloured feather duster, she cheekily reminds us how perfectly silly the whole thing was. (Author’s Collection)