River City finale hints at fiery ending

Johnny McKnight wrote the final episode of River City, which airs on Monday after 24 years. Images released ahead of the finale show a bloodied Lenny Murdoch amidst a dramatic fire scene, hinting that the arch-villain, played by Frank Gallagher, is central to the ending.

McKnight, who has written for the soap for almost a decade, asked to write the last episode. He felt a significant responsibility to give the show's fans a satisfying conclusion. He referenced other cult TV shows like The Sopranos, Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, whose endings have divided audiences.

"I'm just part of a massive collective team effort and I hope we've done the fans proud to the end," McKnight told the BBC. He believes the show walked a fine line between comedy and drama. "River City is what I think it is to be Scottish. Our punches have punchlines," he said.

Cast reflections on the show's end

Grant Stott, who played Sam Spiller, was attracted to the role by the comedy. A broadcaster and pantomime regular with limited TV drama experience, he called the job a dream achieved. "If I never get a chance to work in the TV drama industry ever again, I'm all right with that because I've achieved what I wanted to do," he said.

Jenny Hulse, who plays Lenny Murdoch's daughter Amber, has a central role in the finale. Although filming ended in April, she says her "muscle memory" is gearing up for the usual return to set. The show, filmed on a now-demolished set in Dumbarton, had an intensive schedule.

"We were sometimes doing 17 pages a day of quite fast-paced dialogue, whereas if you were on another TV drama set it would be four pages," Hulse explained. "It's like a moving train and when you join you just have to kind of jump on and cling on."

A legacy as a creative factory

Over its run, River City became a vital training ground for the television industry. It provided experience for actors, writers, directors, camera operators, electricians, make-up artists, and wardrobe staff. Many have moved on to other jobs.

"That legacy and pride in what we did is really special," said Hulse. She feels lucky to have played the same character with regular work for 10 years, which she notes is unusual. She highlighted the career progression of several colleagues.

Ryan Graham, who directed the finale, started as a camera trainee. Holly Jack, who plays Nicole, now directs episodes, as does Sally Reid. "Cast members become writers, camera operators and directors, and it's incredible to watch that whole conveyor belt of talent," Hulse said. "It's been a factory. A factory of creativity."

The final curtain

For the cast and crew, it is now time to watch their final work. Alongside the hour-long finale, a one-off documentary titled River City: The Last Take will air. For fans, accepting the end is difficult.

McKnight recently hosted an event at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow with some of the cast. "They kept asking: 'Will it come back? Do you think it'll have another life?'" he recalled. His response underlined the finality. "You feel terrible saying, 'Well, the set has been demolished, so it's looking less likely.'"