# The Borderers

The Borderers is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1968 and 1970.

## Setting

A historical drama series, The Borderers was set during the 16th century and chronicled the lives of the Ker family, who lived in the Scottish Middle March on the frontier between England and Scotland. Some episodes of the show depict the wider politics, mostly as it affects their relative Sir Walter Ker, warden of the Middle March
The series was described by The Guardian in 2007 as "brave and original...a kind of north-eastern western". It shows an ordinary family trying to live as part of a society of Border Reivers, a world where raid and feud were unavoidable parts of daily life. The wars between England and Scotland had destroyed the normal processes of law enforcement. The setting is a particularly tense time, with Elizabeth of England and Mary, Queen of Scots, in competition. Also the struggle between Protestants and Catholics in both kingdoms. Amidst all this, the Kers of Slitrig are trying to live an ordinary life.
The leading cast members were Iain Cuthbertson, Edith MacArthur and Michael Gambon.
Season One was produced by Peter Graham Scott, who had worked on The Avengers, Mogul, The Troubleshooters and would later go on to make The Onedin Line.
Season Two was produced by Anthony Coburn who had previously worked on Doctor Who.
In 2007, two episodes of The Borderers were part of the BBC Archive Trial.

## Cast

The regular cast were Michael Gambon as Gavin Ker (male head of the family), Edith McArthur as Margaret Ker and Iain Cuthbertson as Sir Walter Ker of Cessford. Nell Brennan as Agnes Ker (Series 1) and Eileen Nicholas as Agnes Ker (Series 2). Margaret Greig as Grizel Ker, Joseph Brady as Rab (Series 1) and James Garbutt as Rab (Series 2). Ross Campbell as Jamie Ker and Russell Waters as Pringle (Cessford's clerk). Sir Walter Ker is a real historical figure, though little is known of him and most of what is shown in the series is invented.

## Episode guide

Of the show's 26 episodes, only 15 survive today, mainly from series 1, with 7 existing in their original colour format, the other 8 existing as black and white telerecordings.

### Series 1

| Ep. No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Airdate | Archive status |
| 1 | "Vengeance" | Bill Craig | Peter Graham Scott | 31 December 1968 | Exists in colour |
| The elder of the Ker family, Gavin, has a shattering experience in front of him when he seeks a wider world. ||||||
| 2 | "Truce" | Bill Craig | Peter Graham Scott | 7 January 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| When Gavin leads his men across the border to seek Agnes, he is accused of murdering an Englishman. ||||||
| 3 | "Witch Hunt" | Vincent Tilsley | Peter Graham Scott | 14 January 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| Gavin's younger sister Grizel is put on trial for being a witch. (This episode was given a Radio Times cover.) ||||||
| 4 | "Treason" | Jack Ronder | Peter Graham Scott | 21 January 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| A friend visits Gavin who tries to persuade him to travel to Europe. But when pilgrims arrive, he is caught up in religious turmoil of the era. ||||||
| 5 | "Fugitive" | Allan Prior | Peter Graham Scott | 28 January 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| An English fugitive saves Gavin's life, but is soon compromised when he gives him shelter. ||||||
| 6 | "Stranger" | Bill Craig | Peter Graham Scott | 4 February 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| Gavin has a rival, when a David Scott claims to be the real Laird of Slitrig. ||||||
| 7 | "Hero" | Jack Ronder | Peter Graham Scott | 11 February 1969 | Missing |
| Cessford lies wounded at Slitrig after an assassination attempt by John Hume. ||||||
| 8 | "Bloodfeud" | George F Kerr | Peter Graham Scott | 18 February 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| The Kers' arguments with the Armstrongs lead Jamie to be accused of murdering one of them. ||||||
| 9 | "Giant" | Eve Martell | Peter Graham Scott | 25 February 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| Gavin must sneak into England to rescue a Scottish spy. ||||||
| 10 | "Wedlock" | Sean Hignett | Peter Graham Scott | 4 March 1969 | Missing |
| The Scotts of Branxholm raise Gavin's wrath when they boast openly of stealing the warden's cattle. ||||||
| 11 | "Outlaw" | Bruce Stewart | Peter Graham Scott | 11 March 1969 | 16mm black-and-white film print exists |
| When the Telfers, friends of the Kers, are evicted for debt, they desperately seek religious justification for the only option open to them: stealing. ||||||
| 12 | "Justice" | John Lucarotti | Peter Graham Scott | 18 March 1969 | Missing |
| A young Italian physician, Mario Vecchi, seeks refuge with the Kers, when he fails to save a patient's life, and the Armstrongs seek vengeance. ||||||
| 13 | "Dispossessed" | Julian Nees | Peter Graham Scott | 25 March 1969 | Exists in colour |
| An English princess is taken hostage, while on the way to marry a Scot she detests. Guest starring John Thaw and Vivien Heilbron. ||||||

### Series 2

| Ep. No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Airdate | Archive status |
| 1 | "The Siege of Cocklaws" | Jan Read | Anthony Coburn | 6 January 1970 | Exists in colour |
| The English attack a castle owned by the Laird of Cocklaws, Gavin defends him, whilst knowing his motives are a sham. Guest starring William Hurndell and Hilda Braid. ||||||
| 2 | "Survival Day" | George F Kerr | Anthony Coburn | 13 January 1970 | Exists in colour |
| The Kers believe a cattle buyer is in league with Cessford to rob them of their living. ||||||
| 3 | "Snatch" | Jan Read | Anthony Coburn | 20 January 1970 | Exists in colour |
| Agnes Ker is snatched by a gypsy, Hector Faa. Gavin must fight Hector and Agnes to get her back. ||||||
| 4 | "What a Vengeance Upon England" | Anthony Steven | Anthony Coburn | 27 January 1970 | Missing |
| Cessford tries to marry off his troublesome ward to an English warden. The romance turns lethal and is complicated by an Arab stallion. ||||||
| 5 | "Among The Eagles" | Bill Craig | Anthony Coburn | 3 February 1970 | Missing |
| Cessford is involved in a charge of treason when he attempts to uncover a traitor at the court of Queen Mary. (This episode was given a Radio Times cover.) ||||||
| 6 | "Plot Counterplot" | Anthony Coburn | Anthony Coburn | 10 February 1970 | Missing |
| Cessford travels to Edinburgh seeking promotion, only to end up with dismissal and disgrace. ||||||
| 7 | "The Quacksalver" | Roy Russell | Anthony Coburn | 17 February 1970 | Missing |
| The Quacksalvers trick their way into Slitrig, and Gavin has to decide whether they should be pitied or are rogues. ||||||
| 8 | "To The Gallows Tree" | Martin Worth | Anthony Coburn | 24 February 1970 | Missing |
| Gavin defends his bonded tenant against torture and a monstrous charge. ||||||
| 9 | "A Woman or an Epitaph" | Bruce Stewart | Anthony Coburn | 25 February 1969 | Missing |
| A woman called "The Wee Daftie" changes men's opinions on the role of women in society. ||||||
| 10 | "Hostage" | Tom Wright | Anthony Coburn | 10 March 1970 | Missing |
| A boy is to be hanged within three days if stolen beasts are not returned. ||||||
| 11 | "Where The White Lilies Grow" | Martin Worth | Anthony Coburn | 17 March 1970 | Exists in colour |
| Cessford's son brings a new bride and murder with him to Cessford Castle. ||||||
| 12 | "The Terror of the March" | Martin Worth | Anthony Coburn | 24 March 1970 | Missing |
| Cessford has a hugely powerful cannon, which to the surprise of everyone, finds itself at the bottom of Slitrig Loch. ||||||
| 13 | "The Sea-Cole Man" | Morris Farhi | Anthony Coburn | 31 March 1970 | Exists in colour |
| To settle the feud between the Kers and the Johnstones, a wrestling match is arranged. ||||||