MSP hits out at BBC chiefs over soap axing

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie has accused BBC chiefs of "deliberately misleading" cast and crew following the axing of River City.

- STAFF REPORTER

The Dumbarton MSP hit out during a showdown with network bosses in Holyrood's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee recently.

When BBC bosses announced in March that the axe would fall on River City from June 2026, they claimed that the lease on the Dumbarton base where the soap is filmed could not be renewed.

But the landlord, Westerwood Properties revealed that they had hoped the broadcaster would stay.

When BBC chiefs faced a grilling from MSPs including Jackie whose Dumbarton constituency houses the BBC's River City studio - she also accused the network of throwing up a “red herring” by blaming the presence of RAAC concrete on the site.

BBC Scotland Director Hayley Valentine, Director of Nations, Rhodri Talfan Davies and Corporate Affairs Director Luke McCullough, appeared before the committee in the Holyrood Chamber.