The 90s have been having a bit of a resurgence of late.
Those of us lucky enough to have experienced the decade at the time may have spent the last 20 years trying to shake off the memories of its fashion and popular culture.
But love it or loathe it, cool kids these days can’t get enough of it.
It was a simpler time before the rise of social media, the Kardashians and global pandemics which ruined all our lives.
It was a glorious period characterised by the domination of the Friends cast, dial-up internet connections, Adidas tracksuits, choker chains and the Spice Girls.
And secretly, us children of the 90s are delighted it’s all back in vogue.
As we all ride the wave of 90s nostalgia, we’ve taken a look at some of the biggest and best homegrown TV shows from the decade.
So sit back, turn off your mobile phones, and settle in to binge watch one of these classics this weekend.
The Crow Road
The Crow Road was a four-part BBC Scotland mini-series based on the 1992 novel of the same name by novelist Iain Banks.
With a star-studded cast of the country’s best talent and a plot which stuck faithfully to the story in the renowned Scots writer’s book, the show was a huge hit with viewers in 1996 and went on to be nominated as Best Serial at the 1997 BAFTAS.
Joseph McFadden was the lead, student Prentice McHoan, following his stint in High Road and long before he gained a new army of fans by hot-footing his way on to the Strictly Come Dancing set in 2017. He was joined by Bill Paterson as his dad, Dougray Scott as his big brother and Peter Capaldi as his missing uncle Rory. The story is a rip-roaring, gripping family saga, focusing on McHoan and his attempt to find out what happened to his wayward uncle, who vanished years before. McFadden was praised at the time for his portrayal of the main character, who is determined to uncover the truth at the risk of alienating his increasingly eccentric relatives and via some long-buried secrets of the previous generation.
Takin’ Over the Asylum
Takin’ Over the Asylum was a six-part BBC Scotland TV drama about a psychiatric hospital radio station which was broadcast in September 1994.
The show was written by Donna Franseschild, directed by David Blair and provided breakthrough acting roles for future legends Ken Stott and David Tennant, who both won awards for their performances, as well as a cameo by black comedy maestro Spike Milligan. Boasting a top class soundtrack which featured many Beatles songs, the Fab Four’s tunes were also used for episode titles. Set in a fictional hospital called St Jude’s – another Beatles’ link – the premise of the programme is a focus on alcoholic double-glazing salesman Eddie McKenna, played by Stott, who moonlights as a DJ for a hospital radio show in an asylum. He develops close friendships with the patients – including Tennant’s manic depressive Campbell Bain and Francine, played by Katy Murphy.
The black comedy went on to win several awards, including a BAFTA for best drama serial in 1995, as well as praise from a host of mental-health groups.
Hamish Macbeth
Before Begby, Robert Carlyle was known in the 90s for this quirky British mystery comedy-drama. The BBC Scotland produced hit show aired from 1995 – 1997 and made a household name of the man playing Hamish Macbeth, the title character. Set in the small west coast of Scotland town of Lochdubh, Carlyle became much-loved in the role for Macbeth’s tendency to bend the rules when it suits him, or when it was needed by the eccentric locals living nearby.
The series was loosely based on a series of novels by M. C. Beaton and each episode in its three seasons saw Macbeth cleverly solving crimes using his local knowledge and intuition, despite his laid-back attitude and apparent lack of ambition.
The High Life
(Image: BBC)
The High Life was a one-season long situational comedy broadcast on the BBC in 1995. Written and created by Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming, the duo starred as flight attendants Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight, best known for their famous line: “Oh deary me”.
The series followed the cabin crew of fictional airline Air Scotia, who flew out of Prestwick Airport and consisted of a camp, alcohol-loving Sevbastian and his sex-obsessed colleague Steve. Also featured were chief stewardess Shona Spurtle and eccentric pilot Captain Hilary Duff, who frequently needed to be reminded where he was flying to and where the cockpit was.
Hilarious and pioneering, the programme was a mix of surreal, childish humour which was interspersed with theatrical song and dance numbers. It would have ran for more than just one series had it not been for Cumming’s rising Holywood film career.
City Lights
(Image: Daily Record)
Some may say we’ve saved the best until last, and they would be right. Running from 1984 until 1991, Glasgow-based comedy City Lights was an iconic TV show which was much-loved up and down the country. Starring the late and completely irreplaceable Gerard Kelly in his first major role as hapless bank clerk Willie Melvin, the show followed him and his dreams of becoming a successful writer by attempting to get his book, the autobiographical My Childhood Up A Close, published.
Unfortunately for Willie, he was surrounded by some eccentric friends such as Chancer ( the legendary Andy Gray) and dimwitted henchman Tam (Iain McColl) as well as the lovesick Irene (Elaine C Smith) and workmate Brian (Jonathan Watson). Other notable leads included Jan Wilson as his long suffering fiancé Janice and his smarmy nemesis McLelland (Dave Anderson) who played his boss at Strathclyde Savings Bank.
Just pure dead brilliant.
