River City to End After 24 Years

The BBC’s long‑running Scottish soap opera *River City*, set in the fictional Glasgow district of Shieldinch, is set to conclude after 24 years on air. The decision, announced by the BBC in early March, will see the final episode broadcast in late July, marking the end of a programme that has been a staple of Scottish daytime television since its debut in 2002. Production will cease at the end of the current season, with the network confirming that no new episodes will be commissioned.

*River City* has been praised for its focus on local issues and its portrayal of everyday life in a working‑class Glasgow community. Over its run it has produced more than 5,000 episodes, becoming one of the longest‑running dramas in the UK and a key platform for emerging Scottish actors. While the BBC has not released a formal statement on the reasons behind the cancellation, the network cited a shift in strategic priorities and the need to allocate resources to new programming. The final broadcast will feature a wrap‑up of several long‑running storylines and a tribute to the show’s impact on Scottish television.

The final episode will air on 28 July 2026, after which the BBC will replace *River City*’s slot with a new daytime drama. Viewers who have followed the Shieldinch community for nearly a quarter of a century can expect a farewell that honours the series’ legacy and the characters that have become familiar faces to audiences across Scotland.