The BBC has released images teasing a dramatic fire scene in the final episode of River City, showing arch-villain Lenny Murdoch bloodied amid the blaze, as the long-running Scottish soap prepares to end after 24 years. Writer Johnny McKnight, who has worked on the show for almost a decade, specifically asked to pen the finale, calling it a rare and cathartic chance to say goodbye, while cast members reflected on the pressure to deliver an ending that satisfies fans, citing divisive finales of shows like The Sopranos and Dexter as cautionary examples.

The finale airs on Monday, accompanied by a one-off documentary, River City: The Last Take. Cast members including Frank Gallagher (Lenny Murdoch), Grant Stott (Sam Spiller) and Jenny Hulse (Amber) spoke about the show's legacy, noting its punishing production schedule of up to 17 scripted pages a day and its role as a training ground for actors, writers, directors and crew across the Scottish TV industry. The finale was filmed in April on the show's now-demolished Dumbarton set, and fans have already been marking the ending with events such as one held at Glasgow's Tron Theatre.