The three new dramas will all be produced in Scotland; long-running series River City is set to end in 2026

Three new Scottish dramas have been greenlit as the BBC confirms that long-running drama River City will end next year.

All three new dramas have been commissioned by Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, and Louise Thornton, head of commissioning for BBC Scotland.

World Productions’ Grams is a six-part, darkly comic thriller from creator/writer/director James Price. Set in Price’s home turf of Springburn, Glasgow, the drama centres on widowed Glaswegian Thana who, following the death of her beloved grandson Michael, becomes the target of a violent local hang whom Michael had crossed. Thana forms an unlikely friendship with Connor, an angry, volatile friend of Michael’s and the pair seek the truth about his death.

The executive producers are Simon Heath and Jake Lushington for World Productions, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland. George Aza-Selinger, head of development for World Productions Scotland, is producer. Grams is supported by Screen Scotland, and produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.

The Young Team is the scripted debut from Graeme Armstrong, adapted from his best-selling debut novel of the same name. Set and filmed in North Lanarkshire, the drama will be produced by Synchronicity Films.

The Young Team centres on15-year-old Azzy Williams and his pals, as they roam the streets of Airdrie on a Friday night, bottles of Buckfast in hand and techno playing from tinny speakers. Azzy longs to become fully initiated into local gang the Young Team Posse (YTP). But when Azzy, determined to prove himself, makes a bold move, a brutal gang conflict ensues…

The executive producers are Claire Mundell for Synchronicity Films, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland.

Counsels is an 8 x 60’ legal drama co-created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack. Set and filmed in and around Glasgow, the series follows five young lawyers who once trained together at law school and now facing each other in the city’s courts.

Counsels is co-created, written and executive produced by Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, with further episodes written by Maryam Hamidi and Jingan Young (Gaynor Holmes is executive producer for the BBC, with Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland, and Daniel Donnelly for Balloon Scotland.

Alongside the three new titles, the BBC also confirmed the return of Granite Harbour for a third series, to film in Aberdeen and Glasgow later this year.

Thornton said of the demise of River City and the new commissions: “We are incredibly proud of River City and it is with great sadness that we have come to this difficult decision. I want to thank the River City team in front of and behind the cameras for their dedication to the show over the years, past and present. For more than two decades, River City has brought drama to life on screen as well as offering industry training at grassroots level, and we know that fans of the programme will be really sad to see it go. The show leaves a tremendous legacy behind and the new productions we’ve announced will offer further opportunities.

“However, the media landscape is changing at pace and, as audience viewing habits change, it’s vital we respond to this. Our three new dramas, alongside the returning drama favourites, reflect the increasing shift in audience demand for series rooted in Scotland which play to audiences across the UK…and beyond. We’re delighted to be working with such great production teams and remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in Scotland’s creative industry.”

Total investment in BBC drama from Scotland over the next three years is expected to rise to over £95m cumulatively (2026-28).