BBC's Granite Harbour is returning for season three with new cast members including Alastair Mackenzie, John Gordon Sinclair, Ellie Haddington and Ryan Fletcher. They join returning actors Dawn Steele as DCI Cora Macmillan, Romario Simpson as DC Davis Lindo, and Hannah Donaldson as DS Lara 'Bart' Bartlett.
Alastair Mackenzie plays Richard Loughty, a charming and well-respected landowner who appears charitable to the local traveller community living on his estate. However, cracks in his veneer emerge as suspicious events unfold on his property.
Reunion with Dawn Steele
This role reunites Mackenzie on-screen with his Monarch of the Glen co-star Dawn Steele for the first time. Mackenzie said: "We are very good pals and it was an utter joy to be on set with her again, although we did not have many scenes together. It was very nostalgic too."
He added: "Monarch was a very happy time and so well-loved by so many people and Dawn was so fabulous as Lexie. She’s a national treasure really. It was lovely but we always giggle a lot, so we had tried hard to be very professional! I think it worked."
Mackenzie's career
Mackenzie rose to fame on the BBC comedy drama Monarch of the Glen, which launched in 2000 and ran for five years. He played Archie MacDonald, laird of a decaying family estate in the Cairngorms. His earlier roles include Dr. 'Shug' Nevin in Psychos, and later credits include Jeremy Welsh in Borgen, Lord Rothcroft in Dracula, William Brereton in Wolf Hall, Craig Petrie in The Loch, Jamie in Cold Feet, Guy Riverty in Deep Water, John Bentley in Unforgotten, Simon Lanesborough in Professor T, Richard Aylard in The Crown, and Perrin Fertha in Andor.
He has also worked in theatre and film, and as a director and producer. His brother is director David Mackenzie, with whom he co-founded Sigma Films.
Personal life
Mackenzie is married to actor Susan Vidler, known for roles including DSU Alison Powell in Line of Duty, Isobel Tulloch in Shetland, Aunt Sharon in Doctor Who, Donna Brunos in The Jump, and Allison in Trainspotting. The couple have two children and both hail from Scotland.
Mackenzie said: "I love being in Scotland. That’s where my heart is. I was able to fit this [Granite Harbour] in around filming a series of Blood of my Blood nearby and they both meant that I was in Scotland for quite a while last year."
He added: "The Scottish film and TV industry is thriving and I’m proud to have played a small part in that. Scotland is home to not only the most amazing locations but also the most amazing technicians and actors. It’s actually pretty hard to get things made in Scotland at the moment because there’s so much going on and everyone is booked up. What a good problem to have. I hope to be working back there just as soon as I can."
On his role in Granite Harbour, he said: "I enjoy playing characters with some mystery and perhaps even some darkness to them. Humans are complex and it’s all too easy to judge a book by its cover. Also, this was one of those jobs where I knew it would be fun and I relished the chance to be back in the Motherland."
Granite Harbour series 3 launches on BBC Scotland on Thursday, July 23 at 9pm, followed by BBC One on Friday, July 24 at 8pm. All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from July 23.
