Children of the North

Children of the North is a British television thriller drama series, written by John Hale, that first broadcast on BBC2 on 30 October 1991.^[1] The series, comprising four episodes, was based on the novel trilogy The Killing of Yesterday's Children, Lonely the Man Without Heroes and A Darkness in the Eye by author M.S. Power. All four episodes were directed by David Drury, with Chris Parr acting as executive producer.

Children of the North
Patrick Malahide and Michael Gough as Colonel Mailer and Arthur Apple
Genre	Thriller
Based on	Children of the North by M.S. Power
Written by	John Hale
Directed by	David Drury
Starring	Patrick Malahide Michael Gough Tony Doyle John Kavanagh Adrian Dunbar Paul Brooke Jonathan Hyde Ian McElhinney Sean Caffrey
Composer	Geoffrey Burgon
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	4
Production
Producer	Chris Parr
Production locations	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Cinematography	Alec Curtis
Editor	Ian Farr
Running time	55 minutes
Production company	BBC Northern Ireland
Original release
Network	BBC2
Release	30 October (1991-10-30) – 20 November 1991 (1991-11-20)

The series starred Patrick Malahide as Colonel Mailer, an MI5 agent whose chauffeur is killed during an IRA assassination attempt on Mailer and Michael Gough as Arthur Apple, a bookie who launders money for the IRA.^[2] The series has never been re-broadcast or released on DVD.^{[citation needed]}

Production

According to a Sydney Morning Herald review, Malahide's character is "nearing retirement from a shattering life in military intelligence". Tony Doyle, Adrian Dunbar, and John Kavanagh co-starred with Malahide and Gough. The original BBC plotline for the series read, "When two MI6 officers are shot dead in an unmarked car, assassination attempts, money laundering operations and peace talks follow as hitman Martin Deeley (Adrian Dunbar) is simultaneously chased by members of the IRA, the RUC, and the army".^[3]

Behind-the-scenes production photos were later uploaded on social media website Pinterest by the owner of the land where part of the series was filmed.^[4]

Cast

• Patrick Malahide as Colonel Mailer; a military intelligence operative
• Michael Gough as Arthur Apple; a bookie who launders money for the IRA
• Tony Doyle as John Axton; an RUC Special Branch officer
• John Kavanagh as Seamus Reilly; an IRA 'godfather'
• Adrian Dunbar as Martin Deeley; an assassin

Recurring

• Paul Brooke as Ballister
• Jonathan Hyde as Colonel Shrapnel
• Ian McElhinney as O'Hare
• Sean Caffrey as IRA Chief of Staff
• John Hewitt as Moran
• Frankie McCafferty as Fergal
• Brian McGrath as McIlliver
• Tony Byrne as Dowling

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Airdate
1	"The Killing of Yesterday's Children"	David Drury	John Hale	30 October 1991 (1991-10-30)
Two MI6 officers are shot in a car near the border. Colonel Mailer, in harness with RUC Special Branch officer John Axton, hunts the marksman. IRA godfather Seamus Reilly pulls young Martin Deeley out of active service and recruits the old, eccentric Arthur Apple.[5]
2	"Lonely the Man Without Heroes"	David Drury	John Hale	6 November 1991 (1991-11-06)
Deeley is hunted by the Army, RUC and IRA. Apple's plan to shield him is ingenious – but will it work? Mailer comes into his office to a big surprise.[6]
3	"City of Maloch"	David Drury	John Hale	13 November 1991 (1991-11-13)
Axton and Reilly collaborate to stop Shrapnel's assassination squad. Colonel Mailer is called back from retirement to the Province – at the IRA's request.[7]
4	"A Darkness with the Eye"	David Drury	John Hale	20 November 1991 (1991-11-20)
Reilly's peace moves get a response from the government but are threatened by a rogue unit within his ranks.[8]