From April 2020, the entire series was made available to stream to UK viewers on the STV Player app.

In 1979, the ITV network decided its daytime schedule would be improved by the inclusion of a soap opera set in Scotland.

[2] As a direct cross-over was not possible a similar character with the same origin story was created and played by the same actor in Take the High Road.

[2] The main writer was series creator Don Houghton with many early scripts written by actor Michael Elder, who played Dr Wallace in the show.

Themes broadly reflected a nostalgic view of Scottish highland culture through relationships between crofters and villagers, the gentry and an estate manager (or 'factor').

The series begins with their struggle to resist plans to convert Glendarroch into a leisure resort for wealthy tourists.

In 2005, this scenario was echoed when Donald Trump bought and decimated an Aberdeenshire estate to build a controversial golf resort.

[5] In March 1990, the series was revamped to appeal to a younger audience which jarred with the sense of authenticity of a Scottish village.

[8] This resulted in public protest, as many believed that without the support of English ITV companies, the Scottish series had no future.

[9] The issue was raised in parliament under early day motions, and the Daily Record held a protest.

[10] By the end of June, Scottish Television resolved to continue producing the series regardless and it was reclassified as a product other ITV networks could purchase as a cheaper rate.

[11] When English viewers campaigned to their local broadcasters to keep the series nearly all ITV companies agreed, except Carlton, Central, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire, who ceased transmitting it from 7 September 1993.

Like the Silly Wizard version, the music for the closing credits also featured a drum roll introduction.

This version was electric guitar led (played by session guitarist Duncan Finlay) and featured percussion during the "middle" section.

[27] Take the High Road was broadcast in a number of countries around the world, including Canada, the United States and New Zealand.

In the autumn of 2010, STV added nearly every episode to its YouTube channel, making the series accessible to viewers across the world.

[30] Novelisations of broadcast episodes were published from 1982, with a production special in 1990: Take the High Road became available for the first time ever when distribution company Go Entertain commenced releasing the series in 2012 on DVD.

[citation needed] The theme tune was written by composer Arthur Blake, who was STV's Musical Director at the time, and there were four versions of it over the 23-year run.

Like the Silly Wizard version, the music for the closing credits also featured a drum roll introduction.

This version was electric guitar led (played by session guitarist Duncan Finlay) and featured percussion during the "middle" section.