"River City" (2002) TV series 2002-????

Creator:

Stephen Greenhorn
(more)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

24 September 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Anna Kerth	...	Lena Kruasky (23 episodes, 2006-2008)
Adam Smith	...	Pub Customer / ... (17 episodes, 2006-2009)
Kieron Elliott	...	Duncan Robertson (15 episodes, 2006)
Peter Vollebregt	...	Fr. Dominic (12 episodes, 2006)
David Paisley	...	Rory Murdoch (10 episodes, 2006-2008)

Series Directed by
Stephen Moore		(5 episodes, 2002-2006)
Daniel Wilson		(4 episodes, 2007-2008)
Jeff Naylor		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Simon Hook		(2 episodes, 2009)
Haldane Duncan		(unknown episodes)
Morag Fullarton		(unknown episodes)
Michael Hines		(unknown episodes)
Brian Horsburgh		(unknown episodes)
Shiona McCubbin		(unknown episodes)
Jim Shields		(unknown episodes)
Garth Tucker		(unknown episodes)
Fiona Walton		(unknown episodes)
Philip Wood		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
James McCreadie		(26 episodes, 2004-2009)
Justin Molotnikov		(2 episodes, 2003-2006)
Ann-Marie di Mambro		(2 episodes, 2007-2008)
Joanne Logue		(2 episodes, 2008)
Stephen Greenhorn		(1 episode, 2008)
Martin Brocklebank		(unknown episodes)
Mark Cairns		(unknown episodes)
Des Dillon		(unknown episodes)
Fergus Mitchell		(unknown episodes)
David Robertson		(unknown episodes)
David Young		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Morag Bain	....	producer (5 episodes, 2007-2009)
Sandra MacIver	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2007-2008)
Amanda Verlaque	....	producer (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sue Austen	....	series producer (2 episodes, 2009)
Steven Ross	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 2001-2003)
Carol Ann Docherty	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Stuart Doughty	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Jim Shields	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Lorne Balfe		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Film Editing by
Tom Nicol		(1 episode, 2007)
Dave Woods		(1 episode, 2007)
Hilary McCusker-Thomson		(unknown episodes)
Laura Wilson		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Kahleen Crawford		(9 episodes, 2007-2008)

Series Production Design by
David Jennings		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Art Direction by
Jamie MacWilliam		(22 episodes, 2003-2007)
Andy Drummond		(11 episodes, 2002-2007)

Series Costume Design by
Louise Allen		(8 episodes, 2002-2005)
Donna Macleod		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Makeup Department
Claire Davies	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 2007)
Julie MacKay	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Production Management
Anne McGarrity	....	production manager (2 episodes, 2007)
Hazel Brady	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dawn Harvey	....	second assistant director (40 episodes, 2002-2008)
Stephen Carney	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Tim Bain	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (2 episodes, 2007)
Patrick James Stephens	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2009)
Morris Milne	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Ted Mitchell	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Paul Smythe	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Philip Barratt	....	graphic artist (43 episodes, 2003-2008)
Stuart Bryce	....	production buyer (40 episodes, 2003-2008)
John Casey	....	property master (2 episodes, 2007)
Muir Balfour	....	supervising carpenter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Duncan Reid	....	sound recordist (1 episode, 2007)
Gracie Sinclair	....	sound mixer (1 episode, 2007)
John Gardner	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Alan Lawson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
David Quinn	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Mick Wild	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Perry Costello	....	armourer (4 episodes, 2002-2009)

Series Stunts
Bill Little	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 2006)
Tony Christian	....	stunt double (unknown episodes, 2003)
Michael Scott-Law	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Steve Truglia	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Coton	....	assistant camera (4 episodes, 2003-2004)

Series Casting Department
Kay Gannon	....	extras casting (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claire Pettifer	....	costume supervisor (1 episode, 2007)

Series Editorial Department
Patrick Doherty	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Kieran Hannigan	....	production secretary (4 episodes, 2007)
Kate Maginnis	....	floor runner / production runner (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Laurence Byrne	....	accountant / production accountant (2 episodes, 2007)
Jonathan Marquand Allison	....	production accountant (unknown episodes, 2003-2004)
Kristian Smith	....	script editor (unknown episodes, 2003)
Claire Armspach	....	script editor (unknown episodes)
Liz Briggs	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Thomas J. Clark	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Margaret Edwards	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Carter Ferguson	....	fight director (unknown episodes)
Neil McMahon	....	site manager (unknown episodes)
Jane Petit	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Carla Self	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Patrick James Stephens	....	scheduler (unknown episodes)
Sarah Teboul	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (BBC Scotland)

Other Companies

• United Casting  extras casting

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

It's come a long way

Premiering 24 September 2002, River City is the first British soap based in Scotland for quite a while. The show is set around Montego Street, in the fictitious Glasgow district of Sheildinch. Within this, there are a flux of principal characters, many of whom operate shops or businesses within Montego Street and the action focuses on them, their families and associates.

The opening episode showed promise, with the wedding of Tommy Donachie (Eric Barlow) to Eileen (Deirdre Davis), with Eileen's bitter ex-husband, Raymond (Paul Samson), looking on, vowing vengeance showed potential. Sadly, it was let down by some slightly poor scripting. Two and half years later "River City" his hit it's stride and in Scotland it's now more popular than the similar, London-based "Eastenders".

The recent revamp of the theme tune has helped. It now has a hard Celtic beat to it that resonates with many of the urban Scottish themes now explored within the show.

There have been some terrific entertaining story lines particularly over the last year or so, with drug addiction, obsession, rape and child abuse giving episodes an often powerful dramatic weight. With the double act of brassy Roisin (Joyce Falconer) and hapless Raymond (Paul Samson), there's been a fair share of comedy as well.

Tam Dean Burn is excellent as the creepy homosexual Godfather of Shieldinch. He has recently left the show for a bit, but here's hoping we haven't seen the last of him. Sally Howitt is on fine form as the steely, sexy Scarlett and Gray O'Brien isn't too bad as gambling, womanizing Billy Davies.

It was a mistake to get rid of Lewis Cope (Duncan Duff) just when he was getting interesting, but his recent return was a masterstroke and he's now back to his scheming, villainous best. Also of note are Carmen Pieraccini as the sassy Kelly-Marie, Jade Lezar as Roisin's wayward daughter Alanna, Gilly Gilchrist's womanizing lawyer Archie Buchanan and Carter Ferguson as charming bobby-on-the-beat Harry Black. In addition former "Deacon Blue" singer Lorraine MacIntosh is also very good as recovering alcoholic Alice.

"River City" has come a very long way since it's 2002 premiere, and things can only improve from here.