'I've grown up here' say cast members as River City films final scenes after 24 years (original) (raw)

Published 25th Apr 2026, 06:00 BST

Whenever River City executive producer Martin McCardie has gone on set at Dumbarton Studios over the past week, he has noticed things missing.

“People are taking away mementos, taking away clothes, you go onto a set and it’s like ‘where’s half the set?’” he says. “Actors have pocketed them.”

It is the final day of filming of the long-running soap, set in the fictional Glasgow suburb of Shieldinch, after 24 years.

The atmosphere at the BBC’s Dumbarton Studios is muted. At first glance, it is business as usual, with cast and crew grabbing a bite in the River City canteen and tech crew setting up for a day’s work.

However, outside the canteen door, a “costume sale” sign directs staff to a rail of clothes on the adjacent corridor, while posters advertise the end of show party for cast and crew next weekend, dubbed “A Last Shindig in Shieldinch”.

The cast is preparing to see the River City clapperboard fall for the last time tonight, after the “dramatic showdown” between character Lenny Murdoch and his nemesis Harry Foulkes is filmed.

“It’s mixed feelings,” says Mr McCardie. “We’re happy with what we’ve been able to achieve, but sad it’s come to an end. This week and all last week, people have been up and down.”

He admits all possible endings for the show had been considered, including “blowing the whole thing up”, but opted for a more character-driven finale, focused on gangster Murdoch.

“We thought about all of that, but then what we thought was that the audience deserved a more character based ending,” he says. “There’s a story that’s been driving through that we’d like to take to a conclusion.”

For Stephen Purdon, who was cast in the show from its first episode in 2002, as a 19-year-old playing Bob O’Hara - otherwise known as Shellsuit Bob - the end of River City is the end of an era.

“When I started here, I was 19, still living with my mum,” he says. “Now leaving, I’m nearly 43, I’ve got two kids and a wife. It’s weird because a lot of things that happen [in River City] bring back the memories of my personal life. I’ve grown up on screen, I’ve grown up working here, I’ve grown up being around the same people.”

Mr Purden, who along with cast mate Sally Howitt, has recently filmed a role in new BBC show Counsels, was three months into an acting course at Langside College when he landed an audition for a new BBC series, going up against 30 other young Scottish actors. His initial 12 week contract was extended.

“I was genuinely there for three months,” he says. “Now it’s 24 years later. They’re probably still expecting me back any day.”

He arrived on set early on Friday to take a solo walk around Shieldinch for the last time.

“You’re trying to take it all in, but you’ve still got scenes to film, you’ve still got to be professional,” he says.

“I don’t think it’s going to really sink into my brain until maybe next week. It’s like a normal filming day, but it’s not a normal day, because that is the last day. It’s a strange one.”

Stephen Purdon, aka Bob O'Hara. | Alan Peebles Photography

He says his phone has been “blowing up” since he posted a social media post about the final filming day.

“As much as I say TV has changed, there’s still a core audience that watch River City, it’s our own, it’s an institution, it’s our own voice.”

The iconic Tall Ship pub, standing at the end of Shieldinch’s Montego Street, is to be the location for tonight’s dramatic final scenes. Cast are then due to pose for a final photo, before popping open the prosecco.

“I think I’ll be quite emotional tonight,” says Mr Purdon. “Today, when they say wrap, that’s a wrap.”

Across the road from the Oyster Cafe, Scarlett O’Hara, aka Ms Howitt, comes out of the close of red brick houses which has served as the exterior of her home since she started on the soap in 2003.

Already in costume to film her final scenes, Ms Howitt admits she is in denial that the show is to end.

“I’m going for the reboot,” she says. “A wee spin off. I’ll never not be Scarlett.”

She is among the actors who has taken home some mementos from the set, but insists she asked permission “from the boss” first.

Among the trinkets she has pocketed from her character’s flat are an icon of the Virgin Mary and pictures of the Pope - as well as a frying pan, a leopard print tray and some coasters.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen to the site now,” she says, “So I just wanted to take everything. People were like ‘Sally, leave the cooker!’.”

Sally Howitt as Scarlett O'Hara. | Alan Peebles Photography

Tony Kearney, who starred in the soap for nearly ten years as Scott Wallace after its launch, has been on set in recent weeks, filming for a documentary tribute to the iconic soap. River City: Our Story will be screened immediately after the final episode is screened in August.

He remembers his first day on set in 2002, pointing to the shop which once housed his character’s graphic design business.

“They were still finishing off the buildings on that day, builders were around the place,” he says. “But this bit was finished, which is why we filmed here.”

“My character had just got a big contract, so my first line was something like, ‘We got it, we got the deal’,” he recalls. “It was exciting. New beginnings.”

After playing Wallace, he moved behind the camera to become a director, eventually coming back to direct an episode of the show.

“I’m indebted to River City,” he says. “England has four soaps, Ireland has two, Wales has one, Scotland now doesn’t have a soap. I think it is the fact River City was a foot in the door for so many people, it is going to be a huge loss.”