True North: Life and Times of Master Hamilton
Andy Hamilton pictured at the Dublin Horse Show in 2012. True North: Life and Times of Master Hamilton is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday 10 February at 10.35pm
Monday 10 February BBC One Northern Ireland, 10.35pm (For viewers outside of NI, living in the rest of the UK, BBC One Northern Ireland can be viewed via Sky Channel 953, Freesat Channel 957 and Virgin Channel 863)
True North: Life and Times of Master Hamilton follows the story of Hunt Master Andy Hamilton – a family man who is determined to pass on his talent and traditions to his two sons before it is too late.
This look at rural life made by Erica Starling Productions on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday 10 February at 10.35pm shows a world run in contrast to the hustle and bustle of urban daily lives.
As Andy’s life unfolds through his beloved horses in the rural and peaceful landscape of County Antrim, it reveals a family coping with the devastation of terminal cancer.
Six years ago Andy was diagnosed with an inoperable tumour and at the time was given six months to live.
Determined not to be beaten by cancer, 52-year-old Andy introduces viewers to the world of hunting, horseracing, horse dealing and weekly chemotherapy visits.
Viewers will meet the long established Mid-Antrim Harriers of which Andy is a joint master, visit the highly anticipated annual Armagh point-to-point, the Cheltenham of Irish racing, which is Andy’s dream to win with his pride and joy ‘Knockans Bridge’, and share in Andy’s life on the farm with his two sons Bob and Joe and wife Judith.
Andy and Judith Hamilton who feature in True North: Life and Times of Master Hamilton is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday 10 February at 10.35pm
This intimate portrait of Andy’s life illuminates a world which few are part of and one being challenged by cancer.
Producer and director Louise Liddy says: “Andy was breaking in a horse when I first met him. I had never seen anything like it before and I was totally captivated by his special gift with horses, his sheer determination not to let cancer prevent him from doing what he wanted to do and to see his sons grow up. He was inspirational. We made this film together over nine months and it was a privilege to be invited into his world and to get to know him and the Hamilton family.”
True North is a series of fresh new, revelatory and uniquely personal single documentaries form BBC Northern Ireland.
