Season 2 • Episode 6
LatestThe Mallens is a British television drama based on four Catherine Cookson novels, The Mallen Streak, The Mallen Girls, The Mallen Secret, and The Mallen Curse. Produced by Granada Television for ITV1, it ran for thirteen episodes from 10 June 1979 to 3 July 1980. A ruthless 19th-century Northumberland squire, Thomas Mallen of High Banks Hall, has a genetic white streak (poliosis) in his hair and fathers numerous illegitimate children, all of whom inherit the white streak and live disastrous lives.
Production
Granada's lavish Northumberland locations sell the period.
Acting
Caroline Blakiston anchors the melodrama with steel.
Creator
Catherine Cookson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'Mallen streak' is real: poliosis causes a white forelock and occurs in Waardenburg syndrome.
Granada dominated 1970s British period drama—this was their grittier, northern answer to Upstairs, Downstairs.
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