This drama was transitted on BBC Two in 2003. At the present time there are no plans to repeat it. If you have any further questions about the series please contact the BBC Scotland Enquiry Unit by email enquiries.scot@bbc.co.uk.

The Key is a three-part drama written by the Bafta Award-winning team of writer, Donna Franceschild and director, David Blair.

The drama recounts the story of the last century through the eyes of one family, encompassing three generations of a passionate Clydeside clan, headed by Mary Corrigan, played by Dawn Steele. Each episode of the drama draws upon many of the key moments of British political history during the 20th century, ranging from Bloody Friday in 1919, when thousands of workers gathered in Glasgow to demand a 40-hour week and were set upon by mounted police, to the brutal chaos of the miners' strike demonstration at Orgreave in 1984.


It is 1933 and Mary still grieves for the love of her life, Duncan. At Leckie's factory, where she is now a union activist, Mary fights against the workers' pay cuts; at home, she struggles to support her dependent mother and sister in a one-room tenement. Years later, in 1979, Mary's favourite granddaughter, Jessie, looks like she will fulfil her dream of becoming a writer. However, in the middle of preparations for her wedding to childhood sweetheart Danny, a series of events change the course of Jessie's life and leave Danny stranded at the altar. By 1997 - some 18 years later- Danny finds himself back in the bosom of her family. He has become friends with Jessie's grandmother, who is a resident at Riverview old people's home where he works. When Danny recognises that the quality of life for the elderly residents is threatened by Riverview's new owners - Sogard Healthcare - he joins forces with Jessie's union official mother, Helen, to fight for justice. A popular campaign is launched in the Scottish Press, opposing Sogard's plans and the distrusted Private Finance Initiative. Soon, it becomes clear that Helen's daughter, Maggie, was instrumental in pushing through the controversial initiative when she was deputy leader of the council. Battle lines in the family are drawn, and the row looks likely to rip apart mother and daughter, and irreparably damage Maggie's Parliamentary ambitions.

Weblinks
Find out more about the period of history and topics featured in The Key:

Scotland on Film - www.bbc.co.uk/scotlandonfilm
Read the forum for true accounts of life in Scotland over the last century.

Memories of Scottish Life : www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/scotlandonfilm/a_to_z

Red Clydeside - www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory

The role of Scottish Women - www.bbc.co.uk/history/modern/features_modern_women.shtml