BBC Studios/BBC ScotlandScottish soap opera River City was axed because it was no longer value for money, BBC Scotland’s director Hayley Valentine has said.
She was giving evidence at the Scottish Parliament about BBC Scotland’s drama investment strategy and her priorities after six months in her post.
The broadcaster announced in March that River City would be scrapped after 24 years, which led to criticism from actors and crew in the industry.
Ms Valentine said that the “cost per viewer” of producing the show was now much higher as audience figures had declined.
Ms Valentine told Holyrood’s culture committee that she didn’t take the decision to end the show lightly.
She said: “I did think about the consequences for cast, for crew, for people who are impacted by the decision.
“However, we have to put our audience needs first, and the audience for River City has declined significantly over the last five years.”
At the same time as axing River City, BBC Scotland announced three new dramas – Counsels, Grams and The Young Team – that would create new opportunities in the independent TV production sector.
It said total investment in BBC drama from Scotland over the next three years is expected to rise to over £95m.
Ms Valentine said the new dramas would cost more to make, but the BBC expected them to deliver bigger audiences.
The director added: “So in terms of value for money for the audience, I’m afraid that River City didn’t pass that test for us any longer. And we really hope the new dramas will.”
River City, which began in September 2002, will continue filming until March with the final series airing in autumn 2026.
Ms Valentine said the BBC had explored options for the show like changing the format, show times and iPlayer access but “it just hasn’t worked”.
“We have given it a really good run, but I do think it’s time to do other things,” she added.
‘No viable option’
Ms Valentine told the committee that network dramas like Shetland delivered an audience of about 700,000 in Scotland, and from seven to eight million across the UK.
Meanwhile, River City delivered an average of 200,000 viewers per episode.
The BBC’s corporate affairs director for nations Luke McCullough added: “Every other BBC Scotland drama we make gets more than double that figure as a minimum.”
The series, set in fictional Shieldinch, is filmed on a specially-built set in Dumbarton.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby, who brought forward a motion to save the show, claimed staff were told that the show was ending due to a lease expiring at the filming location.
Mr McCullough denied this and told the committee that the decision was based on editorial reasons.
However he said that RAAC was discovered at the site, adding: “There is no viable option for the BBC to renew that lease based on the state of the site at the moment.”
Mr McCullough said the timing of the decision to end the show next year tied in with the end of the lease.
But he said that if the broadcaster wanted to continue making the show, “we would have found a way of making it”.
PA MediaLast month, several actors from the programme held signs outside the Scottish Parliament protesting the cancellation.
Stephen Purdon, who played Bob in the show, previously told BBC Scotland News that the programme served as a pipeline for industry talent.
He said the programme’s training academy taught participants through classes and workshops.
River City was originally pitched as a Scottish competitor to Eastenders and Coronation Street but was never shown on a UK-wide network.
It featured Outlander star Sam Heughan in an early role.
Deacon Blue singer Lorraine McIntosh, Scottish acting veteran Johnny Beattie and EastEnders actor Alex Ferns also took roles in the show.
BBC Scotland has said it would increase total investment in drama over the next three years with a focus on “world-class productions” that can be sold internationally.
