The island is in a celebratory mood in the first of the eight-part, third series. But upset looms when Robbie - Charley and Alfie's father - Gets in touch. Is Abby ready for him?
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Drama: Two Thousand Acres Of Sky 8.30pm BBC1
For the past two series we've watched and waited for Abby and Kenny to fall in love with each other. And they came close in the last episode (shown last February). But even the romantic setting of a deserted beach with the northern lights lighting up the night sky failed to get a spark of desire going between them. So, as the third series of the gentle drama opens, it's clear that their relationship is going to be strictly platonic from now on.
Michelle Collins and Paul Kaye return as Londoners Abby and Kenny alongside all the Ronansay regulars, including Elaine C Smith, Michael Carter, Monica Gibb, Sean Scanlan, Jenny Foulds and John Straiton. But while the sheltered harbour, quaint cottages and beautiful scenery of the remote Scottish island remain the same, time does not stand still. There are changes ahead for the tiny community, as well as some new characters for us to befriend.
In the first episode, the islanders are in celebratory mood when Carolyn (Karen Westwood) gives birth to her daughter - even though the lovely Alistair (John Straiton) is struggling with the reality of fatherhood. Gordon (Sean Scanlan) is out to impress Marjorie (Elaine C Smith), Malcolm (George Anton) is ebullient about his latest moneymaking idea, but Kenny's feeling restless. He decides he needs to move on and finds the perfect opportunity to sneak off back to London for a while.
Viewers have really warmed to this undemanding, easy-on-the-eye drama, which this time around has slightly more emphasis on the island's other inhabitants and issues about the community as a whole. Future storylines cover births, deaths, partings, reunions and, to add a vital touch of humour, the problems caused by a massive prize bull.
However, Abby does not get off scot-free. There's yet another twist to her history of romantic dilemmas, with the unwelcome arrival on the island of her children's father. (Jane Rackham)
