Taggart: 25 Years of Murder

The groundbreaking show quickly earned itself a reputation for its refusal to pull any punches, with painstakingly researched storylines, perfectly judged performances and a chillingly thorough makeup department. With Taggart soon boasting his very own catchphrase - "There's been a murderrr" - the crew behind the camera had to keep on their toes to make sure viewers were kept fully immersed in the action, and that the on-screen portrayal of the dark side of Glaswegian life was suitably macabre. They succeeded - fans were shocked by the crimes they saw, but thrilled by the realism of the programme.

The late 80s was a time for new faces at Maryhill Police Station, with Mike Jardine (James MacPherson) and Jackie Reid (Blythe Duff) signing up to help Taggart get to the heart of the city's criminal underbelly. The show hasn't only helped to launch the careers of its leading stars; it's also proved to be a hotbed for emerging acting talent. Taggart alumni include Robert Carlyle, John Hannah, Dougray Scott and Ashley Jensen, who all cut their teeth on the show before going on to become some of British TV's biggest stars. Even former crew members have got in on the action – Jenni Falconer and Gail Porter both got their TV break as runners on the set.

With Mark McManus' death in 1994 Taggart lost its eponymous hero, but following the wishes of the leading man (not to mention the devoted fans across the globe), the cast and crew decided to carry on. It's no wonder – the show once pulled in a staggering 18.3 million viewers, with even the Queen Mother admitting to being a devotee. Such was the show's popularity, and McManus' stature in Glasgow, his funeral saw 2,000 people gather to mourn the loss of the man who'd portrayed British TV's greatest sleuth. Mike Jardine stepped up to fill the biggest shoes in Maryhill, and got his very own sidekick after years of trailing the tough-talking Taggart – DC Stuart Fraser, played by Colin McCredie. DI Robbie Ross followed soon after, transforming the show into more of an ensemble piece than ever before but keeping the spirit of the original episodes alive.

Glasgow lost another law-enforcer when Mike Jardine was killed off in 2002, but it wasn't long before DCI Matt Burke (Alex Norton) stepped in to fill the void, ushering in the line-up that has taken the series up to the present day. Eagle-eyed fans of the show may have been more than a little surprised at the new man who'd been entrusted with keeping the city safe: Norton had appeared in the show in 1986's 'Knife Edge' episode as a murder suspect. Burke's transfer to Maryhill from Special Branch has seen the show continue to earn acclaim and critical plaudits, a testament to the writers, actors, and crew who've managed to keep viewers guessing, and tuning in, in their millions, even with the plethora of cop shows and crime dramas that are now being broadcast. Despite the show's very definite Scottish identity, it's been a global success and the famous 'No Mean City' theme tune has been heard everywhere from Bangladesh and Brunei to Cambodia and Nepal. The crew were even honoured by the Lord Provost of Glasgow in 2004 for their work in bringing the city to the attention of the world. Here's to another 25 years of murderrrs!