Credit: Alan Peebles.3 Anne Drive, Stenhousemuir, Larbert FK5 4JE
THE cast and crew of River City sobbed for Shieldinch as Scotland’s last soap called its final cut.
Actors teared up throughout the final day of filming after a 24 year run on BBC Scotland.
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Stephen Purdon felt grateful on the final day. Credit: Alan Peebles
Sally Howitt is gutted to be saying goodbye. Credit: Alan Peebles
Exec producer Martin McCardie said: “The team that finished last Friday, as soon as rap was called, there was sobbing right throughout the studio. It was an eerie sound. So it is very emotional.
“People have been up and down because we are fighting to get to the very end of a really special finale.
Stephen Purdon, who played Shellsuit Bob throughout the entire run, added: “It’s hard to put into words, I don’t think it’s going to fully dissect in my brain until maybe next week.
“I started here when I was 19, still staying with my mum. Now I’m leaving, nearly 43, and I have two kids and a wife.
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Martin McCardie hopes viewers love the ending. Credit: Alan Peebles
“So all those things, it’s weird because a lot of things that happen in this, I think back to memories that Bob’s went through, it reminds me of a time in my personal life, growing up on screen, growing up working here, growing up just being around the same people.
“I came in a bit earlier and just had a wee walk in here myself and tried to take it all in, but you’ve still got scenes to film, you’ve still got to be professional, you’ve still got to go and do your work.”
The current series of River City is on air until May 6 and the final episode will air at the end of August.
It will include a dramatic showdown between Lenny Murdoch and his nemesis Harry Foulkes, while we’ll also bid a fond farewell to the residents of Shieldinch for the last time.
It remains to be seen if Bob finally gets his happily ever after or if Scarlett O’Hara gets her Gone With The Wind moment and finds her leading man.
As well as the grand finale, there will also be a special, celebratory one-off documentary called River City: Our Story, directed and produced by Tony Kearney, who also starred as Scott Wallace for nearly 10 years on the soap.
Martin considered blowing up the entire set for the ending – but decided the viewers deserved better.
He said: “We thought about all of those types of endings, but then what we thought was that the audience deserved a character based ending. And in that we thought there’s a story that’s been driving through that we wanted to take to a conclusion.
“We felt that with the audience, there’s a character in particular, Lenny Murdoch, although he’s a serial killer and murdered everybody, they love him because he’s their serial killer. We need to have him in the conclusion of it.
“And then what we wanted to make sure was the heart and soul of the show, which is Bob and Scarlett and all those characters need to be represented at the end. So we’ve got a whole bit at the end that I think would bring a tear to their eyes.”
Stephen added: “It’s the people obviously I’ll miss most. Consistently acting for 24 years is kind of unheard of, especially being on the same show for 24 years, but the people here are what I will miss most.
“It’s not just myself, there’s so many people here that’s worked since the beginning.
“I’ll miss the people coming in and seeing the faces and having the banter, the chat, and actors you work closely with, it’ll be difficult not seeing anybody.”
With such fond memories of their time on set, it’s no surprise some of the cast picked a few mementos to take home with them.
Sally, who has also played Scarlett since the beginning, said: “I’ve had to take the Virgin Mary from a sideboard. I actually took a frying pan and a leopard print tray and some coasters.
“We run it by the lovely design and art department and everything. So I’ve got a few crackers, but Mary’s my favourite.”
Martin joked: “People are taking away mementos, taking away clothes. You go into a set and you’re like, ‘where’s half this set? Actors have pocketed them. And it’s a very emotional time.”