Where is the cast of Taggart – Of day jobs, tragedy and heartbreak | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

The ITV series followed a group of detectives as they solved crimes in Glasgow. It became one of the UK’s longest-running programmes, having first aired in 1983 until 2010, spanning 27 seasons.

It came close to being cancelled in 2009, when it was still attracting 5.2 million viewers. After 110 episodes, a notice on Taggart’s website read: “This show is over.”

Express.co.uk takes a look back at the cast’s careers over the past four decades, from those who left their roles to tragedies and heartbreaks.

Marcos McManus

Mark McManus became a household name when he starred as the tough DCI Jim Taggart, appearing in the first show which premiered in 1983.

The screen star admitted he started acting, saying: “I didn’t have much talent as an actor, but I learned the techniques and applied myself.”

Known for his iconic line, “There’s been a murder,” the actor sadly died after a battle with pneumonia in 1994, aged 59.

Alastair Duncan

Alastair Duncan appeared on screen in 1983 as DS Peter Livingstone, Mark McManus’s right-hand man in the police drama.

The actor continued his career on the small screen after leaving Taggart for Hollywood.

He starred in TV shows like Mad Men and Buffy the Vampire Slayer before becoming a voice actor in video games.

After divorcing Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn in 2008, the father-of-two stepped away from the spotlight to become a property mogul. The Edinburgh-born actor previously told The Sun: “I sell houses in Hollywood.”

It has even been claimed that the actor-turned-entrepreneur lives next door to celebrities like Bruno Mars and Charlize Theron.

Iain Anders

Iain Anders joined the cast of Taggart in 1985 as Superintendent Jack McVitie and was given the cheeky nickname “The Biscuit”.

The actor appeared in 40 episodes of the series, but died in 1997, aged 64.

James MacPherson

James Macpherson became the detective’s main sidekick after Alastair Duncan left his role.

After Mark McManus’ death in 1994, James took over the lead role of DCI Michael Jardine. However, he left the show in 2002 due to a collapsed lung.

He formed an acting company with actress Emma Currie and appeared in several theatrical productions.

More recently, James was the voice of Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography.

Blythe Duff

Blythe Duff was one of the longest-serving cast members on the show, right after James MacPherson, who remained on the show for 31 years.

The actress played WPC Jackie Reid and looks back fondly on the series. She later told Scots Magazine: “I liked the character. She was straightforward, uncomplicated and a big part of my life. I had a fair amount of input on set and was fiercely protective of the character.”

Blythe was actually married to a police officer in real life before she started working in the West End.

She recently starred in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as Professor Minerva McGonagall.

Colin McCredie

Colin landed his lead role in Taggart when he joined DC Stuart Fraser in 1995.

He remained on the show until its end in 2010 and has since appeared on the soap opera River City.

Colin also appeared on CBeebies in the series Woolly and Tig alongside his daughter in 2014.

John Michie

John starred as Inspector Robbie Ross in 1998 and remained on the show until its end.

The actor is best known for swapping the Maryhill murders for the cobbles of Coronation Street and the hospital wards of Holby City.

John suffered a devastating family tragedy when his daughter Louella, 24, died in Bestival, Dorset, after taking recreational drugs.

Alex Norton

Alex is best remembered as the no-nonsense DCI Matt Burke on Taggart from 2002 until the end of the series.

The actor has had a successful career, starring in blockbuster films including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Les Miserables and Braveheart.

Alex has also made appearances on BBC’s Waterloo Road.