A STAR of River City has launched a petition to save the soap.
Darren Brownlie, 40, has generated 6000 signatures in less than 24 hours with his plea to BBC bosses.
It was revealed on Tuesday that BBC Scotland will scrap River City after 23 years.
It sparked an outcry from fans, showbiz union Equity and stars who have appeared on the show.
Darren, who played Mikey in the soap for three years, said: “River City attracts half a million viewers per episode and has an iconic status in Scottish TV culture. This decision is an attack on Scottish-made TV drama, Scottish TV workers and the soap's 500,000 loyal viewers.”
Fans who signed Darren's petition made their feelings known in the comments section. One wrote: “They can't take this off us Scottish people. Gutted for cast and viewers, watched from the beginning. So heartbreaking”
Others backing his call include EastEnders script-writer Darren Rapier who said: ‘As River City closes, yet another opportunity has gone for new and mid-level writers.”
Cumbernauld East Councillor Adam Smith added: “River City was my first TV and film job 20 years ago this year. The production provides employment and training opportunities to a huge number of people, including from Cumbernauld and the wider North Lanarkshire, and BBC Scotland must reconsider plans.”
Launched in September 2002 with an audience of 780,000, River City was seen as a Scottish competitor to EastEnders and Coronation Street but struggled to draw interest from other parts of the UK.
It currently boasts around 400,000 viewers per episode.
The axe came weeks after research firm Parro...
Darren Brownlie, 40, has generated 6000 signatures in less than 24 hours with his plea to BBC bosses.
It was revealed on Tuesday that BBC Scotland will scrap River City after 23 years.
It sparked an outcry from fans, showbiz union Equity and stars who have appeared on the show.
Darren, who played Mikey in the soap for three years, said: “River City attracts half a million viewers per episode and has an iconic status in Scottish TV culture. This decision is an attack on Scottish-made TV drama, Scottish TV workers and the soap's 500,000 loyal viewers.”
Fans who signed Darren's petition made their feelings known in the comments section. One wrote: “They can't take this off us Scottish people. Gutted for cast and viewers, watched from the beginning. So heartbreaking”
Others backing his call include EastEnders script-writer Darren Rapier who said: ‘As River City closes, yet another opportunity has gone for new and mid-level writers.”
Cumbernauld East Councillor Adam Smith added: “River City was my first TV and film job 20 years ago this year. The production provides employment and training opportunities to a huge number of people, including from Cumbernauld and the wider North Lanarkshire, and BBC Scotland must reconsider plans.”
Launched in September 2002 with an audience of 780,000, River City was seen as a Scottish competitor to EastEnders and Coronation Street but struggled to draw interest from other parts of the UK.
It currently boasts around 400,000 viewers per episode.
The axe came weeks after research firm Parro...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 20, 2025