10 facts about TV series Taggart

Glasgow’s most famous detective Jim Taggart first appeared on our TV screens in 1983 with his famous catchphrase, ‘There’s been a murder!’ Since then the show captured the imagination of its audience for more than 30 years who were left bamboozled with each episode as they tried to work out whodunnit.

Set in the fictional John Street police station, the crime series revolved around a group of Maryhill CID detectives and propelled actor Mark McManus into the spotlight with his portrayal of tough old school cop Jim Taggart.

Mark sadly died in 1994 but other detectives continued to take the reign to crack the city’s crime cases including DCI Michael Jardine (James MacPherson), DI Jackie Reid (Blythe Duff), DC Stuart Fraser (Colin McCredie), DCI Matt Burke (Alex Norton) and DI Robbie Ross (John Michie).

Although it’s final episode aired in 2010, Taggart is still loved by audiences across the world having been exported to more than 80 counties.

Here we reveal 10 facts about Taggart.

1. When the show first aired on September 6, 1983 it was actually called Killer. It was presented as a three-part drama following one story to be screened over three weeks. The show was, however, so successful for ITV that they commissioned a full series under the name Taggart - and who can blame them?

2. Most Scottish actors worth their salt have appeared on the show. A plethora of big names first showcased their talent on Taggart including Trainspotting stars Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle, Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, City Lights and Brookside star Gerard Kelly, Emmerdale actress Natalie J Robb, Still Game funnyman Gavin Mitchell and Ugly Betty actress Ashley Jensen.

3. The real star of the show was the city of Glasgow and our paper which had a cameo. The opening titles captured the breathtaking skyline while the majority of the show was shot in the city. The Colville Building at Strathclyde University in North Portland Street even took on the role of a Strathclyde Police station for the detectives. The old Partick police station in Anderson Street was the original home for Taggart's fictional Maryhill force.  While the Evening Times' old offices at Albion Street were used in a number of early episodes and the paper featured on-screen several times including this scene with Colin McCredie. 

4. In 2018, the show’s creator Glenn Chandler spoke about plans for a prequel series set in the 1960s. He said: “There is talk of bringing Taggart back now I have to admit. Young Taggart, set in the 1960s, with Jim Taggart as a young detective. I have been giving advice on the idea in an advisory capacity.”

5. Blythe Duff’s character DI Jackie Reid was the longest running on the show. She actually appeared in the first episode Killer and featured throughout the late 80s. Her first line in the show was in an episode called Death Comes Softly in 1990 when she became a regular.

6. The distinctive theme song was actually called No Mean City. It was written by Mike Moran and sung by Maggie Bell of Stone the Crows fame.. She appeared in an episode of the programme called Evil Eye in 1990 playing a character called Effie. 

7. The fictional detective Jim Taggart was born in 1937, the son of a Corporation tram driver. Growing up, he lived in the second floor of a tenement in Springburn. The show's creator had a complete back story for him and he was even involved in crime in his younger days, shoplifting Jimmy Shand records to order from Woolworth's in Dennistoun. 

8. On the show, Jim Taggart was given an on-air funeral in the Black Orchid episode after the actor who played him Mark McManus died in 1994.

9. James MacPherson, who played DCI Michael Jardine, reportedly applied to become a policeman in real life. He, however, changed his career path to pursue acting.

10. The show attracted 14 million viewers in its heyday before dropping to 3.8 million in the last series.