River City cast and crew say fond farewell to Shieldinch as final scenes filmed

The iconic Glasgow-based drama has been axed after 24 years when bosses at BBC Scotland said it was “no longer value for money”.

The final scenes of River City have been filmed as Scotland’s longest-running drama series comes to end after 24 years. The iconic Glasgow-based drama set in Shieldinch has been axed as BBC Scotland said it was “no longer value for money”.

TV bosses refused to do a U-turn on the decision despite a ‘Save River City’ campaign backed by the cast, viewers, politicians and actors’ union Equity. The final episode filmed on Friday will be aired at the end of August.

It will be followed by a specially-commissioned documentary, taking the audience at home through two decades of drama, iconic moments and never seen before behind-the-scenes footage. Speaking to Glasgow Live, Executive Producer Martin McCardie said: “It’s a very emotional time.

“Since last week, people have been up and down – we are fighting to get to the very end of a really special finale. The audience deserve a character based ending, and I think that’s what we’ve done. It will bring a tear to the eye.”

Tony Kearney, who starred as Scott Wallace for nearly ten years, and is now Executive Producer and Director at Solus Productions, who are making the documentary, said he is “indebted” to River City. “I learned my craft of a director here”, he said.

“River City taught me about direction and how to handle performers – I went behind the camera and haven’t acted since. Once you’ve been a part of this team it’ll never leave you.”

Actor Stephen Purdon is the programme’s longest-serving cast member. Better known as ‘Shellsuit’ Bob O’Hara, he said it was “emotional, surreal, hard to put it into words” on their final day on set.

He added: “I’ve grown up here. When I started I was 19 and still living with my mum, now I’m nearly 43 with two kids and a wife.

“It’s funny, a lot of the things Bob’s went through on screen, I’ve went through in my personal life too. But it’s the people I’ll miss most, coming in here and seeing their faces, the banter, the chat and the actors you work closely with. It sounds cliché but it is one big happy family.

“I came in a bit earlier and just had a wee walk around myself and to try take it all in, but you’ve still got scenes to film, you’ve still got to be professional, you’ve still got to go and do your work.”

Sally Howitt, who plays Stephen’s on-screen mum Scarlett O’Hara said: “I’ll never not be Scarlett, I never want to lose that.

“I was first casted for one-month, and 23 years later here I am. It’s such a momentous time, it’s hard to believe it’s the end.”

And when some of the cast picked a memento to take home with them, Sally said: “I’ve had to take the Virgin Mary from my sideboard. I actually took a frying pan and a leopard print tray and some coasters too.

When asked what he’ll be nicking, Stephen jokingly said: “No comment. Next question.”

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