The Campbells is a period drama television drama series produced by Scottish Television, an affiliate of British television network ITV, and Canadian television network CTV which ran from 1986 to 1990. The series starred Malcolm Stoddard as James Campbell, a Scottish doctor living in 1830s Upper Canada with his three children, seventeen-year-old Neil (John Wildman), fourteen-year old Emma (Amber-Lea Weston) and eleven-year-old John (Eric Richards). Cedric Smith played their neighbor, Captain Sims.
In Canada, it aired on CTV on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and in the United States on CBN on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. The series also aired in the United Kingdom on ITV starting on 27 April 1986.
Contents
Premise
The series begins in 1832 in Scotland, during the Highland Clearances, when many families were evicted from their homes. This led to a surge in immigration to Canada. Dr. James Campbell, a widower with three children, treated the broken leg of the son of a wealthy landowner but, after a servant woman applied unsterile folk remedies to the leg, the boy died of infection. Dr. Campbell was blamed for the death, and he lost his livelihood.
The Campbells heard of Canada's need for settlers and decide to start a new life in a new land. Dr. Campbell sets up a medical practice, and the entire family takes up farming as well.
The series has been described as the "Canadian Little House on the Prairie" but producer John Delmage stated that, while The Campbells might be similar to Little House, "we don’t have as much sugar."
Production
The series was given a green light in 1985 with production stating in June of that year. Most of the episodes were shot on location at a fifty acre farm owned by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, and all clothing, furnishings, and the doctor's medical treatments were historically accurate.
The premiere episode was partly filmed in Scotland, as were two episodes broadcast in 1989, when Dr. Campbell and his daughter, Emma, briefly return to their native country.
Cast
Malcolm Stoddard as Dr. James Campbell
John Wildman as Neil Campbell
Amber-Lea Weston as Emma Campbell
Eric Richards as John Campbell
Cedric Smith as Captain Thomas Sims
Brigit Wilson as Harriet Sims
Wendy Lyon as Rebecca Sims
Barbara Kyle as Charlotte Logan
Rosemary Dunsmore as Mary McTavish
Episodes
Media availability
In 1996 GoodTimes Entertainment released a two volume VHS set of selected episodes entitled Adventures On the Prairie With The Campbells. On June 23, 2015, Timeless Media Group released The Campbells - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.