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Daily Record
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Kirsten McStay

Sam Heughan hints return to River City as BBC show celebrates 20 years

Sam Heughan has hinted that he could be returning to where his acting career all began - on BBC's River City.

The Outlander actor, who made his debut on the BBC show back in 2005, sent the cast a special message as the 20 year anniversary special airs on BBC iPlayer.

The Balmaclellan-born actor joined the Scots soap after he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was cast as Livingston FC footballer Andrew Murray, who was said to the new “golden boy” of the Scottish Premier League.

Andrew became the love interest of Kelly-Marie Adams, played by Carmen Pieraccini and after the two tied the knot, they jetted off to Monaco to live the WAG lifestyle, but in true soap opera style it would all come crashing down before long.

And speaking about his time on River City this week, Sam took time out from filming Outlander to deliver the message - still wearing his Jamie Fraser costume - and said he could maybe return if he found his way out of the 17th century.

He said: "Hello there and a very, very Happy Birthday, happy anniversary to the cast, creatives, producers of River City. I was a character called Andrew Murray in River City a long, long time ago."

Sam wished the soap a happy birthday (Twitter)

Pointing to his wig he wears to transform into Jamie, Sam added: "My wig now is similar to the hair I had as Andrew Murray but Andrew Murray's hair was a lot better - straightened! Curtains - beautiful!

"And his outfits, I mean - beyond compare! I played Andrew Murray who was a footballer, similar to the other Andrew Murray [tennis player] we know, but with bigger balls, so he played for Livingston."

Recalling the first time he was cast as the footballer, he said: "I'd never kicked a ball in my life. At the press call I got taken to Livingston Football Club and I was asked to do some keepie uppies, to kick the ball around for the photographers and it was extremely embarrassing and mortifying, where I probably managed about three or four keepie uppies and looked like a complete idiot."

He added: "My time on River City was really an incredible time. I was a young-ish actor cutting my teeth. So thanks to everyone who works there. But I wanted to say Carmen Pieraccini, Sally Howitt, Billy McElhaney, all these great actors I used to look up to. I was very fortunate to then work with them.

"Andrew Murray hasn't made a comeback but I have been working on my ball skills, I have been practising my keepie uppies so I look forward to his return, that's if I can find my way out of the 1700s!"

Sam will be back on our screens next year - just maybe not as Andrew Murray.

The actor this week revealed that season seven of Outlander will be back on our screens in the coming months.

He took to Instagram to share the news, with a picture of him and his on-screen wife Caitriona Balfe in character and the words 'Outlander new season coming in 2023'.

Alongside the picture, he wrote: "Lots to look forward to in the new year! Happy Holidays all! @outlander_starz."

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