Blythe Duff's Taggart treasure chest

Taggart actress Blythe Duff is donating all her scripts from the iconic crime show to the archives of Glasgow Caledonian University.

Scripts from 95 episodes will be made available to the public along with a collection of memorabilia from the much-loved Scottish series, which ran for 27 years.

The actress, who played Jackie Reid, made her first on-screen appearance in the episode Death Comes Softly in 1990 and was part of the final cast in the last episode screened by STV, called Ends of Justice in 2010.

The scripts are part of a treasure trove of material amassed by Blythe, which includes books, press cuttings, still photographs, awards, and rare Taggart memorabilia.

Blythe said: “The archive is open to everyone. The public can come in and spend an afternoon browsing through the scripts.

“There is a real warmth towards Taggart among the public and a fondness for Mark McManus, in particular.

“There are landmark episodes in there, such as the 50th and 100th Taggart, but also ones that had to be rewritten after Mark passed away.

“Everyone has a Taggart story, whether it's their auntie's house being used to film in or their street being featured in an episode, and it's not just in Glasgow, we filmed all over Scotland.

“It would be great, in the future, if the public could add their own papers and photographs to the archive, to collate more evidence of the show.”

Blythe was joined by Taggart co-star John Michie at the handover of the collection.

She added: “I remember my first day on the Taggart set very well. It was in a church in Govan with the chorus from Scottish Opera.

"James MacPherson, who played Mike Jardine, talked me through it.

"I had worked in theatre for years and no idea about the basics, like hitting a mark.

“The old studios used to be up in Port Dundas, which is close to GCU, so it seems fitting that the archive will be here."

Carole McCallum, GCU’s archivist, said: “The collection tells the story of Taggart but it also tells the story of Blythe Duff, of a female breaking into a male-dominated industry.

“Taggart and Glasgow go hand in hand.

Having the archive here brings the scripts to life and returns the show to the people."