River City is a Scottish television soap opera that was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland on 24 September 2002. River City follows the lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch. In November 2017, a short crossover episode of the show was made for Children in Need and featured several of the show's characters meeting characters from Scottish sitcom Scot Squad. In March 2020, production of River City was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and filming recommenced in August 2020. In place of new episodes, a select number of "classic" episodes were aired. In February 2022, it was announced the cast were back filming another series. In March of the same year the show returned to its original broadcast pattern of two half-hour episodes a week.

Setting
River City is set in Shieldinch, a fictional district in the west end of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Shieldinch was founded in 1860 and was known for its shipyard (the local pub is named "The Tall Ship", which is a tribute to the areas's shipbuilding heritage). The name is derived from the real districts of Whiteinch and Shieldhall, located on opposite banks of the River Clyde. Filming takes place on a set built specifically for the soap opera in the nearby town of Dumbarton.

Characters

The storylines featured in River City are based on personal relationships and family life. Community involvement and the ability to come to terms with family issues, distress, and disagreements contribute to the development of each character. One of the original families that River City had been centered on was the Hamilton family that included Malcolm Hamilton; his daughters; Eileen Donachie, formally called Eileen Henderson; Gina Hamilton, previously known as Gina Buchanan and Gina Rossi; Gina's daughters; Ruth Rossi; Green; and Joanne Rossi. Another family that was integral to River City was the Hendersons. Both of these families have grown as the show has gone on. Eileen had two children, Kirsty and Brian, with her husband Raymond, as well as a stepdaughter Hazel who was her second husband Tommy's daughter from a previous marriage. She later had another son, Stuart, with Raymond that happened by chance. Joanne Rossi's son Franco and Ruth Rossi's daughter Ellie also became part of the show.

The Hamilton and Adams-Mullen families were the main focus of the plot for several River City storylines. The Hamiltons played centre stage from the drama's beginnings in 2002, and the Adams–Mullen families from around 2003. Around the start of 2007, the storylines were based around the recently integrated Murdoch clan. In the year 2008 a new couple, the McKees, had been brought into the show when they made a new home in Shieldinch, giving them a big part in several storylines focused on their lives outside Shieldinch and the challenges of coming to a new town. As well as this, 2009 saw the introduction of the students and the hairdressers, consisting of father, daughter and two stylists. The current longest-serving character is Bob O'Hara, played by Stephen Purdon. He is the longest-serving character since Deirdre Davis' (Eileen Donachie) exit in May 2016 (the last character to have appeared since Episode 1). Scarlett O'Hara, played by Sally Howitt, is the longest-serving female character, having appeared since 2003. In 2016, Scottish actress Juliet Cadzow, known for appearing in Balamory, joined the soap.

Awards and nominations

References

External links
 
 

 
2002 Scottish television series debuts
2000s Scottish television series
2010s Scottish television series
2020s Scottish television series
2000s British television soap operas
2010s British television soap operas
2020s British television soap operas
BBC Scotland television shows
British television soap operas
English-language television shows
Fictional populated places in Scotland
Lesbian-related television shows
Scots-language mass media
Scottish television soap operas
Television series by BBC Studios
Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Television shows set in Glasgow
West Dunbartonshire