BBC axe major soap which ran for over 20 years as final date revealed
BBC Scotland have axed a flagship soap which has ran for 23 years on the broadcaster with three new dramas to replace it
BBC Scotland has announced the end of River City, their flagship soap which has run on the broadcaster for 23 years.
Following the locals of the fictional Glaswegian district of Shieldinch, it has been a mainstay of the network for over 20 years but will air its final episode in Autumn 2026.
Originally airing in September 2002, it will continue filming for another 12 months before the set is closed for good.
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The justification for this decision from the BBC has been their claim that audiences have shifted away from long-running series towards shorter runs.
A statement shared on social media read: "After over 20 years telling the stories of the characters in Shieldinch, we’re sorry to bring you the sad news that River City will come to an end in Sept 2026.
"We’re thankful to our amazing viewers, fans, cast, crew, writers & producers who are all a valued part of the community.
"Looking ahead, the BBC will increase investment in other major drama productions set across Scotland.
"We’ll still be bringing you all the drama from River City and will be here with all the best moments and news until we plan our Shieldinch send-off.
"Thank you for being part of the show, and we hope you’ll continue to share your favourite moments and characters with us until then."
The show will be replaced by three different dramas that focus on Scotland's talent in front and behind the camera - Counsels, Grams and The Young Team, along with a third series of Granite Harbour.
BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: "River City has been a wonderful adventure and of course we’ll all be sad to see it go. The team have done a brilliant job and I know they have some big plans for the finale next year.
"But as viewing patterns change and competition intensifies, this is the right time to invest in the next generation of high-impact drama series from across Scotland showcasing storytelling across the UK.
"Our goal is to grow Scotland further on the global drama map – with a slate of world-class productions that set the standard not just here but internationally too."