Andy Gray leads new cast set to debut in BBC Scotland’s award-winning River City
Much-loved actor of the stage and screen, Andy Gray, is among the new faces set to debut in BBC Scotland’s popular soap River City, taking on the role of silver-tongued trickster and entertainer Peter Griffiths.
Published: 4 March 2016
I’m really looking forward to getting down to Dumbarton and learning more about Peter Griffiths – he sounds like quite a character!
Perth-born actor Andy (Canned Laughter, City Lights) will make his screen debut in River City in July as the wayward father of troubled teen Drew McLean (Benjamin Nugent). The life and soul of any party, Peter Griffiths is a charming rogue with all the patter, a serial womaniser who shows up in Shieldinch to reconnect with the son he walked out on when Drew was a baby.
However, while Drew is delighted to finally find out the identity of his father, Peter’s ex-partner Caitlin McLean (Gayle Telfer Stevens) is none too happy with the shock family reunion. Andy will film his first River City scenes at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studios in April in episodes which will air in the summer of 2016.
Andy Gray is thrilled to be joining the cast of River City: “I’m very excited about the whole idea of being part of this Scottish institution. My character Peter is someone who has an outward appearance of being ‘Mr Happy’ but there’s a darkness to him which will be great to investigate. I’m really looking forward to getting down to Dumbarton and learning more about Peter Griffiths – he sounds like quite a character!”
Other new cast joining the drama include Edinburgh actress Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas from Canada. Jenny takes on the role of Lenny Murdoch’s daughter, Amber, who arrives back in Shieldinch in April after serving five years in prison for murdering one of her father’s criminal associates. However, gone is the girl-next-door Amber used to be. Once the apple of her daddy’s eye, Amber is now a much darker, tougher character who is set to make her mark on Shieldinch.
TV newcomer Sophia Kolinas will play Cassie Evans, an unconventional new love interest for the recently bereaved viewers’ favourite Angus Lindsay (Scott Fletcher). Cassie makes her River City debut in May this year.
Sara Harkins, River City’s Creative Director, welcomes the new additions to the popular drama series: “River City is delighted to have such wonderful established and emerging acting talent joining the show. Andy Gray is much-loved by audiences of all ages and has a tremendous pedigree in theatre and TV, and new faces Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas are sure to make a big impact with the River City fans. The show is going from strength to strength at the moment. Unmissable storylines and an ensemble cast which is second to none have made River City the jewel in Scotland’s drama crown. Bringing talent like Andy, Jenny and Sophia to the show will, I’m sure, give the fans something to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.”
BBC Scotland’s popular weekly soap has attracted critical acclaim in recent months. In January, one of the show’s longest running writers, Louise Ironside, scooped the ‘Best Long Running TV Series’ award at the prestigious Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, beating off stiff competition from Emmerdale and Holby City. On-screen talent, actor Jordan Young (who plays Alex McAllister) has also been nominated for the ‘Best Actor’ award at next month's Scottish Variety Awards in Glasgow, which will be hosted by River City’s Leah MacRae.
River City is part of BBC Scotland’s commitment to produce distinctive Scottish output, and complements productions including Shetland (BBC One), One Of Us (BBC One), Sunset Song, Katie Morag (CBeebies), Murder (BBC Two) and landmark series Highlands (BBC One).
JW4
