River City Stars Protest Cancellation in the Scottish Parliament

The creative industries of Scotland will undergo a “massive blow” unless the BBC having canceled the decision to cancel the River City soap, according to the stars of the show.

A number of players in the program were in the Scottish Parliament to hear a motion to save the show, which should end next year.

Stephen Pardon, who played Bob (previously “ Shellsuit Bob ”) on the program since his start, told BBC Scotland News that the program served as a pipeline for talents that could otherwise be lost in industry.

BBC Scotland announced the decision to chop soap Last month, citing changes in public behavior far from long -term series.

The members of the past and current distribution – including Frank Gallagher, who played the boss of the crime Lenny Murdoch, and Gary: the star of the Chars Scott Fletcher – held Pacards outside of Holyrood Protestant against the cancellation, before sitting in Parliament to listen to the motion, brought by the MSP Labour Neil Bibby.

Punard, the only member of the original distribution remaining of its launch in 2002, said that the show was important for the off -screen talents he nourished as well as those on the screen, emphasizing the program training academy – which teaches participants through courses and workshops.

He said: “This is the only Constant Scottish spectacle throughout the year, and it’s not just on the screen.

“This is what happens behind the scenes, like the Academy by training – it is a path to industry for people who may not have any links.”

A BBC spokesperson said that training possibilities with River City would remain active until April 2026.

BBC Scotland previously said that it would increase total investment in the theater over the next three years by focusing on “world class productions” which can be sold internationally.

However, Punard has declared that short -term productions would not be able to reproduce the coherence of RiverAnd it would be a “solid blow for industry” if the cancellation continued.

He added: “A six -part tragedy will not be constantly there.

“It may be great for a short period, but for longevity, a show like River City is a treadmill (for talent).”

Tom Urie, who was in soap for four years from 2010 to 2014, said BBC’s Scotcast Podcast The show was now “integrated into Scottish culture”.

He said: “As an actor living in Scotland, he is an accessible ambition to have.

“If you look at something like Vigil, how could I get there?

“It doesn’t look like something that will be there for four months and then disappear.”

The series, which takes place in a fictitious region west of Scotland called Shiedinch, is filmed on a set specially built in Dumbarton and presented the tastes of the Star of Outlander Sam Heughan in the leading roles.

The blue singer of the deacon Lorraine McIntosh, the Scottish veteran Johnny Beattie and Easter actor Alex Ferns also played roles in the show.

Bibby said he had brought the motion in the hope that it would encourage BBC Scotland to think again and that it was particularly concerned about the closure of the Dumbarton studio.

He said: “River City was a platform and a path for young creative talents in Scotland. It is really important that we have this platform, and I hope that the BBC will reflect again and maintain this emblematic soap.”

Scottish government secretary Angus Robertson said that during the debate, the decision to put an end to River City was “more than regrettable” and that it showed a “disturbing trend in decision -making that goes against the BBC’s commitment to invest in nations”.

Punard has admitted that the cancellation would personally have an emotional impact for him.

He said: “I am 42 years old this year and started when I was 19, so that means everything for me. I was there before having my children and now they see me on the screen, so it’s very important to me.”