BBC Scotland’s beloved drama, River City, is undergoing a major transformation as it adopts a fresh multi-series format, set to debut on BBC iPlayer, BBC Scotland, and BBC One Scotland after the summer.
Starting October 23, viewers can expect a more frequent dose of their favourite show, as River City will now be divided into three distinct series each year. Each series will span 11 weeks and air twice a week, with exciting new episodes premiering every Monday on BBC iPlayer.
Fans of the current run will be captivated until Wednesday, August 9, when a gripping dramatic showdown puts one character’s life in peril. As the show recently earned the prestigious ‘Best Drama’ award at the RTS Scotland 2023 ceremony, the anticipation for the upcoming changes is even higher.
During the following 10-week period, from August to September, River City will temporarily go off-screen to prepare for its grand return in the all-new multi-series drama format come October. The show’s loyal audience can look forward to a thrilling and engaging television experience like never before.
Gavin Smith, Commissioning Executive, BBC Scotland says: “This new format allows the production team the chance to delve deeper in to storylines and create more ‘must-see’ moments, which River City has become renowned for. When the series returns in October, Montego Street will have had a mini makeover and we’ll be introducing the first of three new characters so there will be lots for the River City fans to look forward to when it returns in the Autumn.”
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland adds: “BBC Scotland is very proud of River City and we know it has an incredibly loyal audience who tune in to follow the drama in Shieldinch every week. That drama will continue but we are changing the broadcast pattern to allow us to keep delivering value to all licence fee payers whilst at the same time bringing more dramatic storylines to Montego Street.”
Martin McCardie, BBC Studios Series Producer for River City: “‘We are all excited by the new format changes to River City. It means we can be more ambitious with stories and can develop the series to reflect Scotland in 2023 and beyond.”
A BBC Studios production for BBC Scotland, filming resumes on Monday 28 August at the BBC Dumbarton Studios for the first of the new multi-series episodes which will air from October 2023 through to January 2024.
