MSPs have pledged their support for Equity’s ‘Save River City’ campaign. Jackie Baillie, Neil Bibby and Pam Duncan-Glancy all visited the set of the Glasgow-based soap and signed placards saying ‘I back the Save River City campaign’. They also met with the cast of the BBC drama alongside Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming, and posed for photos outside The Tall Ship pub from the show.
On Monday night, Equity held a national meeting for Scotland-based members attended by Angus Robertson, the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs & Culture. At the meeting, Robertson voiced his concerns over BBC Scotland’s plans to axe the 22-year old soap, later posting on X: “I share the concerns of many in the screen sector about recent TV commissioning for Scotland, including ending of River City. Thanks for opportunity to speak at national @EquityUK meeting in Glasgow and will be working closely to ensure no detriment to sector in Scotland. Last week BBC Scotland announced the cancellation of River City after providing more than 20 years of essential opportunities for Scottish talent. Three new drama projects have been confirmed, two of which will be made by London production companies.”
This comes after an Equity petition calling on BBC Scotland to Save River City surpassed 10,000 signatures since its launch last week on Tuesday 18 March. In addition, Scottish Labour has accused BBC Scotland of ‘smoke and mirrors’ after they revealed that the landlord of the site where River City is filmed was keen to extend the lease to BBC Scotland. BBC Scotland had stated that the lease would come to an end in September 2026, which is also when they plan to end the show.
Posting on X after her set visit yesterday, Jackie Baillie, who is the MSP for Dumbarton where River City is filmed, said: “River City is an iconic show that platforms Scottish actors while supporting Scotland’s film and TV industry. The BBC must change its mind and we will strain every sinew to save the show and support Scottish talent.”
Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming said: “It was important to be on-set with our River City members this week and hear direct about the impact that losing this show would have on training, acting and creative opportunities in Scotland. River City is the only Scottish soap, so its closure would be devastating for local talent. Equity will continue to campaign and lobby to Save River City, and demand that the show’s £9 million annual budget be ringfenced for continuing drama in Scotland.”
“There has been a great outpouring of support for River City, from members of the public, politicians, and those who work in the Scottish screen industry alike,” says Equity Scotland Official Marlene Curran. “This shows that, unlike the decision-makers at BBC Scotland, people know the value of the show and why it should be saved. Not only do long-running soaps like River City work as a training ground for those starting out in the industry, but they also offer the all-too-rare benefit of job security in an industry that is otherwise characterised by precarity and excludes those from working class backgrounds.”
On Monday afternoon, hundreds of Save River City campaign leaflets were distributed outside Glasgow Central station, with a strong response from the public towards the show.
Read more about Equity’s campaign to Save River City.
