The Tales of Para Handy

The Tales of Para Handy is a Scottish television series set in the western isles of Scotland in the 1930s, based on the Para Handy books by Neil Munro.^[2] It starred Gregor Fisher as Captain Peter "Para Handy" MacFarlane, Sean Scanlan as first mate Dougie Cameron, Rikki Fulton as engineer Dan Macphail and Andrew Fairlie as Sunny Jim.^[3] These four made up the crew of the puffer Vital Spark which was employed by the Campbell Shipping Company, headquartered in Glasgow and run by Andrew Campbell (Paul Young), Para Handy's brother-in-law and owner of the Vital Spark.^[4]

The Tales of Para Handy
Title screen capture
Created by	Neil Munro[1]
Starring	Gregor Fisher Rikki Fulton Carolyn Pickles Sean Scanlan Andrew Fairlie Paul Young
Music by	Phil Cunningham
Country of origin	Scotland
Original language	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	9
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	31 July 1994 (1994-07-31) – 21 August 1995 (1995-08-21)

The series followed the Vital Spark's adventures around the coastal waters of west Scotland and the various schemes that Para Handy would get himself and his crew involved in.^[5] These involved transporting a bull aboard the Vital Spark, trying to marry Sunny Jim off, avoiding the sale of the Vital Spark by Campbell and being held hostage at gunpoint by religious extremist Donald MacDonald (Iain McColl).^[6]

Most of the guest stars in the series were well known faces in Scottish comedy and had starred in the sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt, which also stars Gregor Fisher in the title role. An episode of the second series, 'Para Handy's Piper', guest starred future Tenth Doctor David Tennant in one of his early acting roles.^[7]

The music for the series, including the theme, was written and composed by Scottish folk musician Phil Cunningham.^[8] The theme tune is a composition entitled "Manus Lunny's Terracotta Plower Pop".^[9]

It ran from 1994 to 1995 on BBC One for a total of nine episodes.^[10]

The ship featured in the series is being restored at Crinan Boatyard on the Argyll coast and has reverted to her original name, 'Auld Reekie'.^[11]

Cast

• Gregor Fisher as Captain Peter "Para Handy" MacFarlane
• Rikki Fulton as Dan Macphail
• Carolyn Pickles as Lady Catherine Ramsay
• Sean Scanlan as Dougie Cameron
• Andrew Fairlie as Davy "Sunny Jim" Green
• Paul Young as Andrew Campbell
• Sally Howitt as Miss Kelly
• Gilbert Martin as Captain Angus
• Joanne Bett as Susan
• Tony Curran as Donald
• Ron Bain as Dougald
• Alyxis Daly as Margaret
• David Tennant as John MacBryde (1 episode, Series 2 episode 2)
• Alex McAvoy as Ichabod McGrain (Guest Appearance in Series 1 episode 6)
• Grant Smeaton as MacTaggart
• Michele Waering as Mrs Jean Strachan
• Ricky Ferguson as John
• Graham MacGregor as Shopkeeper
• Bob Docherty as Farmer MacPherson
• George Doherty as Telegram man
• Marrilyn Gray as Charity Organiser
• Keith Bayliss as Sailor
• David Ross Kinnaird as Councillor
• Jonathan Watson as Coastguard Officer in Series 1 Episode 3
• Joseph Craig as John MacCallum of the Peggy Anne Series 1 episode 3
• Clive Russell as McVicar the Carrier in Series 1 Episode 4
• Gordon Kennedy as Constable Macleod Series 1 episode 4
• Jane McCarry as Flora Series 1 episode 4
• Andrew Dallmeyer as Macdonald of Portacraig General Store Series 1 episode 4
• Anne Kristen as Mrs Muriel Maclean
• Ashley Jensen as Catriona MacLean
• Ian McCulloch as Laird Fergusson Series 1 Episode 2
• Gavin Mitchell as Captain of the Golden Star (Spartan) Series 1 Episode 2
• Brian Pettifer as Newspaper Editor Series 1 episode 5
• David O'Hara as Robert Grant the Reporter Series 1 Episode 5
• Iain McColl as Macdonald the Preacher Series 1 Episode 5
• Freddie Boardley as French Captain Montand Series 1 episode 5
• Barbara Rafferty as Madam Iris the Fortune Teller Series 2 Episode 1
• Alec Heggie as MacRae Series 2 episode 1
• Sandy Welch as Auctioneer Series 2 Episode 1
• Stewart Preston as Hugh Rafferty Series 1 episode 6
• Martyn James as Jim Donachie of Dervieg Distillery Series 1 episode 6
• Alexander Morton as John Cruickshank Series 1 episode 6
• Iain Cuthbertson as Angus Monroe
• Andrew Robertson as Hughie MacDiarmid
• Karen Westwood as Maire Monroe
• Robert McIntosh as Sergeant Hamilton
• Michael Carter as Rankin the Piper of the Marques of Bute
• Ronald Simon as Constable
• Lou Hirsch as John Cody
• Dave Anderson as Henry Fleming
• John Stahl as Robertson the Doctor
• Kevan Mackenzie as Coastguard Officer Series 2 episode 3
• Malcolm Shields as Captain MacRae of the Mary Glen (Vic 32)
• Pamela Kelly as School Teacher
• Amy Brady as girl with dog
• Mark Cox as the man saw the whale in Series 1 episode 6

Episodes

Series 1 (1994)

No.	Title	Original release date
1	"Para Handy, Master Mariner"	31 July 1994 (1994-07-31)
The crew of the Vital Spark are entrusted with transporting some queer cargo including a double bed and a prize Highland Bull -and trouble is never too far away.
2	"Para Handy, Poacher"	7 August 1994 (1994-08-07)
A spot of poaching lands Para Handy and his unfortunate crew in jail but also reunites Para with his childhood friend, Lady Catherine Ramsey.
3	"Salvage!"	14 August 1994 (1994-08-14)
In the aftermath of a storm Para Handy and his hapless crew rescue a drifting boat intending to claim salvage. But the abandoned vessel contains a very nasty surprise.
4	"A Night Alarm"	21 August 1994 (1994-08-21)
A spot of engine trouble sees the luckless crew marooned in a small island village, where Para tangles with the drunken town bully and indulges in a spot of matchmaking.
5	"The End of the World"	28 August 1994 (1994-08-28)
After reading his tea leaves, Dougie predicts doom and disaster for those on board the Vital Spark. Para dismisses his predictions until one by one the omens start coming true.
6	"Treasure Trove"	4 September 1994 (1994-09-04)
Threatened by the march of modern technology it takes all of Para’s cunning, plus the help of a large beached whale, to keep him and his disaster prone crew in steady employment.

Series 2 (1995)

No.	Title	Original release date
7	"The Fortune Teller"	31 July 1995 (1995-07-31)
Lured by a gypsy's prophecy of Spanish gold from a wrecked galleon, the crew embarks on a hunt for the treasure – with literally explosive consequences.
8	"Para Handy's Piper"	7 August 1995 (1995-08-07)
When the crew are entrusted with delivering a piper to a wedding, they pick up an imposter who wants to elope with the bride and the course of true love doesn't run smoothly.
9	"The Malingerer"	21 August 1995 (1995-08-21)
After bragging his boat can out-run any other, Para Handy is tricked into a race at sea with a rival shipping company. Once again he proves it's savvy, not speed, that counts.

Home video

The first six episodes were officially released on UK VHS immediately following their original broadcast. The UK also saw release of the entire series on a 3-DVD set in October 2017.

See also

• Para Handy - Master Mariner 1959–1960 series
• The Vital Spark 1960s series