BBC Scotland has been accused of “needlessly” throwing workers into “completely avoidable” uncertainty as union and industry heads demand an explanation on how River City jobs will be replaced.
BBC Scotland announced last week that the long-standing drama River City would come to an end in autumn 2026 after more than 20 years on screen.
The broadcaster said it would move the soap’s funding into three new series – Counsels, Grams, and The Young Team.
However, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary Roz Foyer has demanded that BBC Scotland explain how it plans to replace the jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities at the Dumbarton–based studio.
“This decision from the BBC is short-sighted, regressive and needlessly throws creative workers into completely avoidable precarity,” she told The National.
“On behalf of our creative unions, we would implore the broadcaster to explain, without equivocation, how they are going to replace the dozens of jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities the film studios at Dumbarton currently offer to workers across Scotland.”
Foyer (below) added that representation matters, and working-class communities need to hear their voices reflected on screen.
“It’s inexplicable that a state-owned broadcaster would halt production on a show that represents the very communities that make up so much of the UK,” she said.
“Scotland can be a leading light in production and the creative arts. We would expect the BBC to share in and crucially fund, not cut, that vision.”
BBC Scotland have previously said the decision to end River City is a “creative one” driven by changing audience habits and declining viewing figures.
The broadcaster added that it will increase its spend on drama productions to around £95 million over the next three years.
However, Peter Strachan, who sits on the board of trade body Directors UK, has been critical of the broadcaster's commitment to Scottish off-screen talent, having accused BBC Scotland of choosing London-based companies and crew over homegrown workers.
He claimed that “very little” senior talent has been hired on Scottish dramas like Vigil, Granite Harbour and Shetland and has joined the calls for BBC Scotland to give guarantees about jobs and career pipelines.
“What we need to ask the BBC is will it give guarantees about jobs and career pipelines built into the commissioning process rather than just training? The idea that we need training further reinforces the bias that we are somehow lacking,” he said.
“We aren’t, we just need a fair level of opportunity.
“Very little senior talent is being hired to work on Vigil, Granite Harbour and Shetland and other ‘Scottish’ dramas.
“Also, all three are made by production companies based outside Scotland. This needs to change.”
Strachan added it is “not good enough” for dramas to just be filmed in Scotland and has called for Scottish talent at all levels to be involved at all stages.
“The jury is out regarding the new dramas. The director and writer of Mint, being filmed in Scotland and mentioned in the BBC’s River City press release, is London based are the production company Fearless Minds and House Productions.
“How is this being touted by the BBC as being Scottish? Like The Traitors, it feels like more ‘lift and shift’ rather than a coherent strategy to develop and support Scottish talent.
“It’s not good enough just to film here, Scottish talent at all levels must be involved, and at all stages.”
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.”
