Long-running BBC Scotland drama series River City will air its final episodes in Autumn 2026 after the BBC announced that the axe has been brought down
After gracing our screens for longer than two decades, River City is being dropped by the BBC. The announcement has come that the beloved BBC Scotland show’s final episodes will be broadcast in Autumn 2026.
Fans of the much-loved series are in for a shock with the news that the soap, which spins the riveting lives of Shieldinch locals, will bow out next year. The BBC has attributed the cut to “significant” changes in viewer habits, with modern audiences favouring bite-sized series over long-standing soap operas, and “competition” contributing to its demise.
Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland, commented on the closure: “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.”
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Fans are gutted over the news that River City is getting the chop, with one fan lamenting on social media: “Another one bites the dust, the end for #RiverCity in 2026,” while another chimed in: “Knew it. With so many major characters being written out recently I predicted this was on the cards. With its often ropey writing and storylines it was definitely a guilty pleasure but I’ll be sad to see #RiverCity go… it’s not the only soap facing the axed right now, I reckon,” reports the Mirror.
A third expressed their dismay: “Yet another soap bites the dust. That’s the second this year and it’s not even April!”
BBC Scotland has dropped the bombshell of three spanking new shows today, including Counsels, a legal drama that tracks the lives of five young lawyers as they navigate their training at a top-notch law school in Scotland.
The upcoming show Grams is pegged as a darkly humorous thriller about a widow who finds herself in the crosshairs of a gang.
Meanwhile, The Young Team, a six-part saga, delves into the life of a lad named Azzy as he transitions from boyhood to manhood.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, lamented the end of an era: “We are incredibly proud of River City and it is with great sadness that we have come to this difficult decision. I want to thank the River City team in front of and behind the cameras for their dedication to the show over the years, past and present.
“For more than two decades, River City has brought drama to life on screen as well as offering industry training at grassroots level, and we know that fans of the programme will be really sad to see it go. The show leaves a tremendous legacy behind and the new productions we’ve announced will offer further opportunities.”
She continued, addressing the evolving media environment: “However, the media landscape is changing at pace and, as audience viewing habits change, it’s vital we respond to this. Our three new dramas, alongside the returning drama favourites, reflect the increasing shift in audience demand for series rooted in Scotland which play to audiences across the UK…and beyond. We’re delighted to be working with such great production teams and remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in Scotland’s creative industry.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
