The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) has hit out at the BBC’s decision to axe River City, warning that the cancellation is another devastating blow to the UK’s continuing TV drama industry.
The long-running Scottish soap will cease production in autumn 2026, a move that WGGB Chair Emma Reeves says will result in a “significant loss of writing hours” and further undermine the already struggling continuing drama sector.
“This is devastating news for the writing community, following so soon after the announcement of cuts to Emmerdale and Coronation Street, the axing of Doctors last year, and the cancellation of Holby before that,” Reeves said in a statement.
“While we welcome a commitment from BBC Scotland to invest in new drama production, these changes will result in a huge blow to our members who write for River City, to loyal audiences, and another serious erosion of continuing drama which provides a unique talent pipeline into an industry that is currently facing crisis after crisis.”
The BBC has defended the decision, stating that it remains committed to investing in Scottish drama, but Reeves and the WGGB are demanding urgent talks with the corporation to address the impact of the cuts.
WGGB has urged affected members to seek support and legal advice, providing a direct contact for those impacted by the news.
The cancellation of River City follows a worrying trend for British TV drama, as broadcasters increasingly face financial pressures, changing audience habits, and streaming competition. With Emmerdale and Coronation Street also undergoing cuts, many fear for the future of homegrown serial dramas that have been a staple of UK television for decades.
The BBC has yet to respond to the WGGB’s concerns publicly, but pressure is mounting on the broadcaster to clarify its long-term strategy for scripted drama in the UK.
The WGGB aren’t the only organisation to speak out about the cut. Directors UK boss Andy Harrower said the move is a “killer blow to our members based in Scotland for whom the last couple of years have been really challenging in terms of having enough work to sustain a living.” He told Deadline: “The BBC has indicated that the money saved will be reallocated to other Scottish production. This must happen, and it must translate into work opportunities for Scottish talent. We will hold the BBC to account on this.”
