BBC Scotland has been accused of trying to use a landlord as a “scapegoat” for why the broadcaster decided to axe the long-running River City series.
Bosses at BBC Scotland had told staff at the BBC Studios in Dumbarton that part of the reason why the soap was being axed was because the landlord wanted to convert the site into a housing development, insiders told The National.
Further, Scottish Labour said in a press release that they were accusing the broadcaster of "a smoke and mirrors exercise after telling staff and actors that the landlord had other plans for the site".
However, Westerwood Properties, the owner of the site, told The National they would “sign a lease today” and that they can “categorically” rule out the claim they wanted to develop the land for houses.
The firm said it would “love” to keep the long-term lease going, adding that they would even look at possibilities of developing a new building for the studio if BBC Scotland wanted to make a long-term commitment.
BBC Scotland announced last week that River City would come to an end in autumn 2026 after more than 20 years on screen, but bosses behind the decision are now facing questions from the show's staff.
Craig Watson, director of Westerwood Properties, said his firm only learned about the decision not to continue the lease when the announcement to axe River City was made last week.
He added that his firm was in preliminary talks with BBC Scotland’s agents over renewing the contract, which is due to expire in September 2026, and that it would have been in his business's best interest to keep the studio open.
However, it is understood the broadcaster had led staff at the Dumbarton studio to believe that Westerwood Properties' communication was “not great”.
One source told The National: “They were inferring that the landlord wasn’t really communicating with them.”
Another source added that BBC bosses had gone on to imply that the site would be converted into housing developments.
The insider added that the claim was “confusing” for staff, but no one immediately questioned the statement as they were “shocked” at learning that their jobs were under threat.
They said that since their announcement last week, any questions regarding the housing development claim have been met with “vague answers”.
However, Watson said that the claim his firm had any plans to convert the site into a housing development is “categorically not true”.
He added: “We don’t build houses."
Watson told The National that since the announcement, he has looked at alternative uses for the site, including housing, but made clear this was done only after hearing of BBC Scotland’s decision.
Since it emerged that Westerwood Properties wanted to keep the lease at Dumbarton, BBC Scotland has been accused of trying to “pin the blame” on the property firm for the main reason why the show is due to be scrapped next year.
He said: “The closure of this studio has clear implications for the TV and film industry in Scotland, Scottish drama output and training.
“I echo calls for the BBC to revisit its decision and safeguard the future of River City, the Dumbarton studio and our TV and film industry in Scotland.”
A BBC Scotland spokesperson said: “As we outlined last week, the decision to end River City is a creative one driven by changing audience habits and declining viewing figures. Audience patterns have shifted away from long-running serials to short-run dramas so that is where we will be moving our drama investment.
"This is about value for money for the audience. We are not cutting our drama spend in Scotland – in fact, we will increase it to around £95m over the next three years.
"The Dumbarton lease coming to an end next year is not the reason River City will cease in September 2026 – the overriding factor has been an audience driven one.
“River City training opportunities will remain active for another year until we cease production in April 2026. We are actively working with BBC colleagues, the independent companies making our newly announced dramas and others in the industry on future training opportunities.
“Our new dramas are written by Scottish writers, they will employ a wide range of Scottish-based talent and will be made by producers with bases in Scotland – just like River City.”
