River City

River City was launched to a shaky start, but in recent months has become compelling viewing. A charicature of life in the west of Scotland, it is funny, diverse and somewhat addictive. This programme is not without its critics, but the viewing figures have been steadily increasing; this programme has become a surprise success for BBC Scotland.

Ideally, River City should be watched with an open mind and a sense of humour. It's great. Enjoy!

Like all soaps, you can love them or hate them, but River City has become I believe the most diverse soap on the box. From gangland activity to marriage issues, gay relationships to local community and of course the local boozer. Not only a home grown soap based around Glasgow, but one which takes you into the lives of every character, be it the local hairdresser Robbie, or gangster Lennie Murdoch, who can be ruthless, but also has a compassionate side when it comes to looking after his own. This is an hour out of reality once a week and if born/living or just love Scotland, then this soap's for you. BUT for all those who condemn it for whatever their reasons...hey turn the channel on your TV. and watch some American rubbish instead..

A lot was said about this soap when it first hit our screens. It wasn't realistic, the plots where very poor and the acting was woeful. And they where absolutely right.

But something like this would always have taken time and with the amount of money that was spent to create it, it wasn't going to be dropped quickly.

As time progressed the story's have became better, deeper and more life like (well as life like as a soup can allow) and any weak links in the acting where slowly replaced by new faces, and older faces already well known for their acting.

I can see it becoming stronger and stronger and with things such as Eastenders (which has be slammed in the press for stealing some of River City's original ideas) becoming basically silly it will be interesting to see if it could go national.

The show is pretty meh, not great not bad. David Paisley is grating to watch, without him it would be much better.

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.