9 April 2009
MADAME ECOSSE ON BBC ALBA
Monday 13 April, 9pm, BBC ALBA
“Stop the world, Scotland wants to get on” were the words of prominent SNP politician, Winnie Ewing on the 2nd November 1967, when she won the sensational watershed Hamilton by-election, snatching one of the safest Labour seats in Scotland and transformed the political landscape forever.
An intimate but hard-hitting film titled ‘Madame Ecosse’ produced by madmac productions for BBC ALBA, will reveal exclusive footage of Winnie Ewing pre-Hamilton era and show her unseen personal photographic archive.
As she enters her 80th year, Winnie's charisma is undiminished and this Grand Dame of Scottish politcs is as sharp as ever. With contributions in the documentary from Alex Salmond, Ian Paisley, Tam Dalyell, Michael Russell, Brian Wilson, Angus Brendan MacNeil, Alasdair Allan and Fergus Ewing, the film explores her life and work and tells the story of a fast moving era during which her country and her life changed completely.
Winnie Ewing’s victory propelled the SNP from the fringes to the centre of Scottish politics and changed the two party system. It was a prophetic statement, and not just for Scotland. As a woman in Scottish politics she wanted a new way of doing things.
After five decades in politics spent in three parliaments, Westminster, Europe where she earned her nickname Madame Ecosse and the Scottish Parliament, Winnie has been hailed as a nationalist heroine who is loved by some and loathed by others.
So how did this lawyer become the Grand Dame of Scottish politics and why are we still coming to terms with the effects of her win at Hamilton? At the core of the documentary are interviews with Winnie herself.
‘Madame Ecosse’ is produced by Morag Stewart and Ishbel MacIver of madmac productions and directed by Ishbel MacIver. The documentary will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 13 April at 9pm which is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110.
Ends
For more information please contact Lorna Inglis at Media House on 0141 220 6040 / lorna@mediahouse.co.uk.
Within the programme the contributors say the following:
Alex Salmond - Winnie Ewing was Scottish politics, she epitomised Scotland. She was the woman of the moment. And the SNP rode on her coattails.
Ian Paisley - People starting in political life would do well to study her and to study the way she made her name… I don’t think anybody could teach her very much. She knew what she was doing and that’s the objective – I’m going for it and that’s it.
Tam Dalyell - She was a trailblazer. We’ve heard how Rosa Parks sat, Martin Luther King stood and Barack Obama ran. Now maybe she was in the position of Rosa Parks.
Mike Russell on her achievements in Europe - Her experience as a nationalist from a small party told her that you had to fight harder and louder than anyone else. So she went to the centre of Europe and fought louder and harder than anybody else for the Highlands and Islands, and the results were obvious. She did secure Objective One funding when most people thought it would be impossible.
Notes to Editors:
BBC ALBA is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110. For further information see www.bbcalba.co.uk
BBC ALBA is run by MG ALBA in partnership with the BBC. MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). Find out more about MG ALBA and about the partnership at www.mgalba.com