Outlander: Who's who in the time travelling epic romance

The award winning epic debuted last week on More4, so keep a clear head where others might lose theirs with our who’s who guide.

The time-flip story takes World War 2 nurse Claire Randall (A Golden Globe nominated Caitriona Balfe) back to the untamed Jacobite highlands of the 1743. Independent and strong willed, Claire served on the front lines during the war. She’s no stranger to battle and will need her quick wits to survive.

With local druid Mrs. Graham (Tracey Wilkinson) foretelling Claire’s journey-while-going-nowhere in her tea-leaves and highlighting the complicated timelines in her palm, the temptation is clearly too much for Claire when the ancient landscape calls to her.

“There’s nowhere magic and superstition leaks into everyday life more than in the Scottish highlands”

An innocent exploration of enchanted standing stones with war veteran husband Frank (Tobias Menzies, also a Golden Globe nominee) has major repercussions, as she lands at the mercy of … Tobias Menzies, this time playing Frank’s ancestor, Black Jack Randall.

Far from being in love with her though, royal army captain Black Jack develops an unhealthy interest – bad news for Claire, since Jack is a bit of a sadist who justifies his cruelty to himself as a means to enforce British rule.

Personality wise, he couldn’t be further from his descendent Frank, linked only perhaps by a soldier’s cunning – Frank was a spymaster for MI6 during the war, sending men to their deaths. He’s looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian when his wife vanishes.

Luckily, Scottish rebels, led by Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish) aid her escape – but take her deeper into their territories. A fearsome warrior, Dougal is the War Chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, and the ruling Laird’s loyal right hand. Though tactically adept, he can let anger and impatience cloud his judgment.

Enter our hero, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), handsome, intelligent and urbane. A gentleness sets him apart from his contemporaries and forced into marriage to save her life, Claire and Jamie begin to fall in love – much to Claire’s angst. However, the most intriguing first glimpse of Jamie is in the midst of a storm on Halloween’s Eve 1945, gazing up at Claire through a B’n’B window but vanishing, literally, when challenged by Frank.

With the MacKenzie clansmen mistaking Claire for a druid and Jamie grateful for her medical assistance, she’s seemingly safe enough as they make their way to Castle Leoch, whereupon she will meet the Laird of the Clan, Colum MacKenzie (Gary Lewis).

Jamie’s maternal uncle, Colum relies on his brother Dougal to keep order for him due to a degenerative disease, Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome, which leaves him in pain and immobile most days. He is shrewd, intuitive and a strict, determined leader who privately dreads what will become of his clan.

One man Claire will have to win over is Jamie’s godfather, Murtagh Fraser (Duncan Lacroix) who conscientiously and loyally watches over his charge – so Claire best not hurt him. Murtagh is more than handy when it comes to violence, as Claire discovered when he rescued her from Randall’s vile clutches.

One woman who will become an ally is Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek), wife of the procurator fiscal and a dab hand with medicinal herbs. Manipulative, mysterious and savvy, many believe her to be a witch but no doubt Claire can determine the science from magic.

There’s honour and steadfastness to be found amongst the Mackenzie clansmen, with Jamie’s second cousin, keen raider and power seeker Rupert MacKenzie (Grant O’Rourke), assigned to keep an eye on Claire and report back to Dougal. The 6ft 8in Angus Mhor – which quite literally means Big Angus (Stephen Walters) is generally a quiet man, devoted to Colum, who likes his drink but hates the English – he’ll happily send Claire back to where she came from.

I wonder if he’ll ever find out exactly how far that is?

The show, which first aired on US Network Starz in 2014, found a UK home on Amazon Prime and built up a dedicated following. Now it’s landed on regular telly and I’m hooked already. Catch up on All4 and settle in on Thursdays, 9pm on More 4.