After 24 years in Shieldinch, River City comes to an end tonight. The final-ever episode of the BBC Scotland soap airs on Monday, 31 August, bringing more than two decades of stories, families, feuds and familiar faces to a close in an hour-long finale. There is still plenty of drama waiting before the final credits roll, with Lenny Murdoch and Harry McLean heading towards one last showdown, while other residents face weddings, new beginnings and major decisions of their own. The finale will then be followed by a special documentary looking back at the series and its final days of filming.

What Time Is the River City Final Episode Tonight?

The final episode of River City airs tonight, Monday, 31 August, at 9pm on the BBC Scotland channel and BBC iPlayer. BBC first-look images from the finale show Frank Gallagher’s Lenny Murdoch bloodied beside a dramatic fire, while Stephen Purdon’s Bob O’Hara is also seen walking through Shieldinch as the series prepares to say goodbye.

What Happens in the River City Finale?

The BBC is keeping most of the final episode under wraps, but it has confirmed that the long-running rivalry between Lenny and Harry, played by Jim Sturgeon, will reach an intense showdown.

Elsewhere, love and marriage will play a part in the final stories for some Shieldinch residents, while new beginnings are waiting at The Tall Ship. With so many characters and storylines built up across more than two decades, the finale has the difficult job of giving both its current stories and the series itself a proper goodbye.

Johnny McKnight, who has written for River City for almost a decade, asked to write the final episode after learning the series was ending. He has spoken about the responsibility of giving fans a satisfying conclusion and making sure the final hour still feels true to the programme’s mix of comedy and drama.

What Is River City: The Last Take?

Once the final episode ends, BBC Scotland will continue the farewell with River City: The Last Take at 10pm.

The one-off documentary reunites members of the cast to celebrate the show’s 24-year history, while also going behind the scenes during its final week of filming. It will include memories from the cast, fan contributions, archive clips and stories from behind the camera as the programme takes one last look around Shieldinch.

Stephen Purdon, Sally Howitt, Frank Gallagher, Jacqueline Leonard, Jordan Young, Carmen Pieraccini, Grant Stott and Gayle Telfer Stevens are among those returning for the documentary.

Can You Watch River City on BBC iPlayer?

Yes. The final episode will be available through BBC iPlayer from 9pm tonight.

River City: The Last Take follows at 10pm on BBC Scotland, giving viewers the chance to go straight from the final episode into a full celebration of the show and the people who have made it over the past 24 years.

For CultureCues, this really does feel like the end of an era for Scottish television. River City has been part of BBC Scotland for 24 years, and generations of viewers have spent time in Shieldinch with these characters. There is something genuinely sad about knowing Montego Street is closing its doors for the final time tonight, but we are glad the series is getting a full hour to say goodbye, followed by a documentary celebrating everything that came before it. We will definitely be watching.

One last night in Shieldinch.

The final episode of River City airs tonight, Monday, 31 August, at 9pm on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer, followed by River City: The Last Take at 10pm.