 Rough Diamond
Mondays:
9 pm & 12 am ET /
6 pm & 9 pm PT
BEGINS
Oct 1, 2007
Aidan Docherty is about to take the biggest gamble of his life.
A horse trainer in Ireland’s County Kildare, Aidan is ready to sell off the rundown family stables at a tidy profit and begin a new life. But the startling appearance of a young newcomer changes everything.
So begins Rough Diamond, a handsome new BBC drama set to make its Canadian television premiere on VisionTV.
The six-part series, set against the backdrop of the horse-racing world, airs on Mondays, starting Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. and midnight ET/6 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT.
Conor Mullen stars as Aidan, a gifted horse trainer whose life has been in a downward spiral since the death of his father, for which he blames himself. Saddled with impossible debts – mostly the result of his reckless gambling – Aidan is on the verge of handing his property over to Charlie Carrick (Stanley Townsend), millionaire owner of the neighbouring Firebrand stables.
Fate, however, has other ideas. Into his life come two unexpected arrivals: a half-crazed colt in desperate need of a good trainer, and a teenage boy named Jonah Price (Ben Davies) who claims to be Aidan’s son.
For the first time since his father died, Aidan has a chance for a future. But is he brave enough to take the reins?
Lorraine Pilkington also stars as Charlie’s wife Yolanda, and newcomer Muireann Bird plays their headstrong daughter Sheridan.
Rough Diamond is a creation of World Productions, the team behind the hit series Ballykissangel.
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Fans of Rough Diamond will enjoy the week's other equestrian-themed offerings on VisionTV: the acclaimed feature film The Black Stallion (Tuesday, Oct. 2, 9 p.m. and midnight ET/6 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT) and its sequel The Black Stallion Returns (Thursday, Oct. 4, 9 p.m. and midnight ET/6 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT). These family favourites tell the story of a young boy's friendship with a swift and splendid Arabian stallion.
 The Black Stallion Tuesday. October 2
9 pm & 12 am ET/
6 pm & 9 pm PT
While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When the ship tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. Alec befriends the horse, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training The Black to race against the fastest horses in the world. Stars Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney and Teri Garr
 The Black Stallion Returns
Thursday. October 4
9 pm & 12 am ET/
6 pm & 9 pm PT
Alec Ramsay returns in this sequel to the popular 1979 film. Alec's beloved stallion is living comfortably in his barn in New York. But when Moroccan thieves steal the horse in order to race him in Africa, Alec stows away to Africa to find his equine friend.
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| Horse sense.
VisionTV adds documentaries Spirit of the Mustang , Northern Dancer to its equine-themed
programming in October They are, perhaps, the most spiritual of all the animals. VisionTV is getting on its high horse Oct. 1, launching a week of programming that celebrates the noble equine spirit. In addition to the previously announced Canadian premiere of the BBC drama series Rough Diamond and a broadcast of
the feature films The Black Stallion and The Black Stallion Returns (see below), the network has lined up two special documentary presentations: |
 Spirit of the Mustang
Wednesday, Oct 3, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, 60 mins.
When horses were reintroduced to North America four centuries ago, some were allowed to run free. Now these Mustangs are true wild horses, forced to fend for themselves in the harsh, unforgiving wilderness of Nevada and Montana. While they have their freedom, life is difficult and dangerous for these wild horses of North America. Sir David Attenborough narrates this documentary from his renowned BBC series David Attenborough's Natural World
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Northern Dancer
Wednesday, Oct 3, 10:30 pm ET/7:30 pm PT, 60 mins.
He was the little horse with a big heart. When Northern Dancer was a yearling in 1962, no one wanted to buy him. It took beer baron E.P. Taylor to see the champion in him. Two years later, Northern Dancer became the first Canadian born and bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. After an untimely injury forced his retirement, he became the greatest stud horse in history, fathering more than 150 stake race winners. The first animal ever inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, Northern Dancer – who died in 1990 – has made a greater impact on racing bloodlines than any other horse in the world. This Gemini Award-nominated documentary from the acclaimed Life and Times biography series tells the true story of a four-legged Canadian legend. |
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