TVDRAMA
The BBC has revealed that its drama series River City will air its final season in fall 2026 after more than 20 years on screen.
The River City investment will be dispersed to other major drama productions set across Scotland, beginning with the three new series Counsels, Grams and The Young Team.
As well as these new titles, other Scottish series will continue to receive investment. Granite Harbour will return for a third season, Shetland will come back with a tenth season, and Vigil will have a third season. The previously announced eight-part drama Mint is also on its way.
The new dramas form part of the single biggest investment in drama from Scotland in the past decade. Total investment in BBC drama from Scotland over the next three years is expected to rise to over £95 million cumulatively.
Among the new titles, Counsels is co-created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley (The Crow Road, Skins) and BBC Writers’ Drama Room graduate Gillian McCormack. Produced by Balloon Entertainment, it follows five young lawyers who once trained together at one of Scotland’s elite law schools but are now scattered across the profession and find themselves facing each other in the courts of Glasgow.
From World Productions, Grams is created, written and directed by James Price (Dog Days, Boys Night). Widowed Glaswegian Thana becomes the target of a violent local gang after the death of her beloved grandson Michael. She finds salvation in the form of Connor, a volatile friend of Michael’s with serious anger issues. Together, they form an unlikely partnership to find the truth of what really happened to Michael.
The Young Team, meanwhile, from Synchronicity Films, is an adaptation of Scottish writer Graeme Armstrong’s best-selling debut novel of the same name. Set and filmed in North Lanarkshire, it centers on 15-year-old Azzy, who roams the streets of Airdrie with his friends. Ready to smoke, pop pills, drink wine and fight, he longs to become fully initiated into a local gang, the Young Team Posse. When he makes a bold move to prove himself, a brutal gang conflict ensues.
“Audience habits are changing, and we are responding to that with these plans for three brilliant new dramas made in Scotland,” said Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama. “BBC viewers love truly authentic stories, and we are committed to creating high-impact content from across the U.K. so that we can better reflect and represent every part of the country. The success of the long-running Shetland, coupled with the return of Vigil and Granite Harbour, is a testament to the strength of talent we have in Scotland, and we look forward to seeing our three new shows come to life alongside these hugely popular returners.”
In addition to shifting the River City investment to new dramas, the BBC will work with industry partners on a new talent training plan in Scotland. A new framework for training will build on River City’s training academy and the ongoing work on other series to elevate individuals to senior creative roles, as well as supporting and developing production crews.
“River City has been a wonderful adventure, and, of course, we’ll all be sad to see it go,” said Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland. “The team has 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 U.K. 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.”
Louise Thornton, head of commissioning at BBC Scotland, added, “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 the grassroots level, and we know that fans of the program 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.
“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 favorites, reflect the increasing shift in audience demand for series rooted in Scotland that play to audiences across the U.K. 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.”
The chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, Emma Reeves, responded to the announcement of River City’s cancellation, saying, “This is devastating news for the writing community, following so soon after the announcement of cuts to Emmerdale and Coronation Street, the axing of BBC’s Doctors last year and the cancellation of Holby before that.
“While we welcome a commitment from BBC Scotland to invest in new drama production, these changes will result in a significant loss of writing hours—a huge blow to our members who write for River City [and] to loyal audiences. [It is] another serious erosion of continuing drama that provides a unique talent pipeline into an industry that is currently facing crisis after crisis.
“We are talking to the BBC as a matter of urgency and supporting our members.”
