(Image: Black Camel Pictures/BBCAlba/John Maher)
Published: December 9, 2024 — The BBC has announced the full cast line-up, alongside a first-look at the brand-new series, of An t-Eilean (The Island), the UK’s first-ever high-end Gaelic drama series. A tense, twisting story of lies, loss and long-buried secrets, the murder mystery is set against the elemental backdrop of the Western Isles of Scotland. An t-Eilean (The Island), which combines Gaelic dialogue with English, will air in early 2025 on BBC ALBA, BBC iPlayer and BBC Four.
Sorcha Groundsell (His Dark Materials, Shetland, The Innocents) leads the cast as Kat Crichton, a young Family Liaison Officer, assigned to investigate the brutal murder of the wife of a local tycoon at a remote island mansion. She stars alongside Sagar Radia (Industry) who plays her boss, DCI Ahmed Halim. The murder investigation unravels on the island of Lewis and Harris, from where Kat mysteriously fled ten years previously.
The series cast has been cleverly assembled to combine a mixture of seasoned and home-grown acting talent. Iain Macrae (Bannan) stars as Sir Douglas, the head of the wealthy – but deeply dysfunctional – Maclean family. Having been wounded in the attack that killed his wife, Lady Mary, played by Elspeth Turner, mystery surrounds whether the self-made millionaire is somehow implicated. Amidst the most stunning Scottish backdrop, this four-part series takes viewers on a murder mystery journey of suspense to find out who the killer really is, with surprising twists and turns along the way.
Joining the cast as the four grown Maclean children are Sinéad MacInnes (Outlander) as Eilidh, Andrew Macinnes as Calum, Meredith Brook as Sìne (Bannan) and Sam James Smith as Ruaraidh.
Other cast members include Daibhidh Walker; Sharyn Ferguson, Carina MacLeod, Tormod Macleòid, MJ Deans, Iain ‘Spanish’ Mackay and Julia Taudevin.
Sorcha Groundsell says: “This feels like a watershed moment for Gaelic. Across the world, we are seeing indigenous languages step confidently out from the shadows to enjoy the recognition they deserve. I see our show as part of that wider movement; a celebration of all that makes us unique.”
She adds: “Working on An t-Eilean has been a privilege and a joy. I’m so proud to have been part of a production that is pioneering these new horizons for Gaelic and showcasing the beauty, creativity and depth our language brings to the world.”
Sagar Radia adds: “Being part of An t-Eilean has been an exciting experience for me. The show really allowed us to showcase the beauty of Gaelic culture and language in a way that feels authentic – it’s about bringing the islands’ rich history to life for viewers, and I’m so proud to be part of that.”
An t-Eilean (The Island) is funded by MG ALBA, All3Media International and Screen Scotland.
An t-Eilean (The Island) – 4 x 50 minutes – is a Black Camel Pictures production for BBC ALBA, and BBC iPlayer, in association with All3Media International. Written by Nicholas Osborne and Patsi Mackenzie, and directed by Tom Sullivan (Arracht), the series is Executive Produced by Arabella Page Croft and Nicole Fitzpatrick, and series produced by Kieran Parker and Bjorn Hanson from BAFTA award-winning Black Camel Pictures. Music is by award-winning composer Biggi Hilmars. The Commissioning Editor for BBC ALBA is Bill MacLeod. The series is being distributed globally by All3Media International, and development of the project was supported by MG ALBA and Screen Scotland.
Further broadcast details will be confirmed in due course.
Source
BBC iPlayer
