SCOTTISH Television's top-rated network drama, McCallum, is set to continue - despite the loss of actor John Hannah, writes Allan Laing, Entertainment Writer.
The East Kilbride-born star has pulled out of the crime series because he wants to concentrate on his blossoming movie career. Already this year, he has been seen in three feature films, including the hit romantic comedy Sliding Doors. With more big screen work in the pipeline, he says he cannot find the time to work on the next batch of McCallums.
However, ITV Network Centre, delighted with regular viewing figures of between nine and 10 million, has already given Scottish the go-ahead to make at least two more for the autumn schedule.
The problem for the station's newly-appointed controller of drama, Philip Hinchcliffe, is how to deal with Hannah's departure. Two options are under consideration.
The first is simply to replace one top actor with another one in the same role and hope that the audience will accept the change - a process which never seems to be a problem for Neighbours.
The alternative, which is also being actively considered, is to continue the series with the same title but without the eponymous character. This could turn out to be Scottish's favoured option since they have done it, very successfully, before.
When Mark McManus died, the then head of drama Robert Love decided to continue with Taggart as a title even though the character was not replaced. The series remains one of the highest-rated dramas on ITV.
Hannah, whose McCallum character was a tenacious London-based pathologist, is fast becoming one of the most sought after actors in Britain. His decision to quit the series came as no surprise.
He first came to national attention with his performance as the gay lover in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Later he went on to great critical acclaim when he played the villain in the hit BBC Scotland chiller, Truth Or Dare. Last year he courted controversy when he revealed, exclusively to The Herald, that he was involved in a feature film project about the Moors Murderers.
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