Classic Television - Dr Finlay's Casebook

UK medical drama - BBC - 1962 - 1971

Set in and around the settlement of Tannochbrae (real-life Callander) and starting in 1928, Dr Finlay's casebook relates the ups and downs in the life of a young, ambitious Dr Alan Finlay and his crusty ex-surgeon partner, Dr Angus Cameron (who was only 65 when the series ended, despite seeming much older). In the best tradition of medical dramas, the whippersnapper with the new fangled ideas does not always see eye to eye with the stick-in-the-mud old hand; but all the same Tannochbrae is well served by its two dedicated GP's, who mutually benefit from their working arrangement. Watching over proceedings at their base, Arden House, is their trusty housekeeper, Janet, and also seen from time to time are odious Dr Snoddy and gossipy midwife Midwife Niven.

The series, which ran for 9 years, despite keen competition from the like of Dr Kildare and Ben Casey. was based on the stories published as The Adventures of a Black Bag by doctor-novelist A.J.Cronin (dramatised for Radio 4 in 2001 with John Gordon-Sinclair in the lead). The series was revived by ITV in 1993.

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