EastEnders and Bad Girls star Simone Lahbib to join River City in its final year
The actress will play Vivienne 'Viv' Barton in the soap in a new gangster family storyline
Former Eastenders and Bad Girls star Simone Lahbib is to join the cast of BBC Scotland soap River City in its final year.
Simone, 60, from Stirling, is set to arrive in Shieldinch as Vivienne 'Viv' Barton.
The former St Modan's High School pupil will appear in the drama as part of the formidable Foulkes gangster family.
Simone will make her River City debut at the end of June as part of the forthcoming new series.
She is best known for her roles in 'Bad Girls', as Wing Governor Helen Stewart, and 'Wire in the Blood' as DI Alex Fielding, opposite Robson Green. She also played Katy Lewis in iconic BBC soap Eastenders.
Business owner Viv will arrive in Shieldinch in the hope of reconciling with her son Tyler (Cameron Fulton), after walking out on her marriage to Harry Foulkes (Jim Sturgeon) and her family over two decades ago.
Her surprise arrival shocks family friend Eddie Corrigan (Rob Jarvis), who reveals to Viv he thought she was dead – a lie Harry spun for decades.
Stunned, Viv will reveal the shocking truth behind her decision to abandon her family – but questions remain over whether Tyler will forgive her.
Looking ahead to the role, delighted Simone said: : 'Viv is a wonderfully complex character. She'll do and say anything she needs to survive but surviving isn't enough for Viv…she has plans.
'Viv is desperate to reconnect with her son Tyler, played by the super talented Cameron Fulton and all the while avoid her ex-husband, gangster Harry Foulkes who is played by the lovely Jim Sturgeon. Unfortunately, the way she will go about things turns what is already a delicate, emotionally charged situation into a series of traumatic events.
'She's like the proverbial cat among the pigeons, a bull in a china shop, a tornado, causing devastation to everything and everyone in her path.'
Martin McCardie, BBC Studios Executive Producer, says: 'Everyone is thrilled to have Simone on board at River City. Her character Viv Barton is wonderfully complex and will make quite an impact on arrival. She's a caring mum who desperately wants to make amends with her estranged son, Tyler but she also has her eye on the Foulkes family fortune and the power her ex-husband Harry has. Viv doesn't care who will be collateral damage in her pursuit of these things…including her son. We're sure audiences will be enthralled by Viv Barton and the chaos she brings with her.'
Returning to Scotland is a perk of the job for Simone. River City is filmed on a set in Dumbarton – just a short distance from her hometown of Stirling, where she will stay with her parents during filming.
Simone added: 'Working in Scotland for me always feels like coming home. It's literally the most perfect location for me – I get to stay with my parents between filming, so I spend time with all my family and even have my mum to go through my lines with me - she gets very into her roles!
'River City has a truly wonderful cast and crew. There's a real family feel on set which comes from working with good people. Everyone has made me feel so welcome from day one.'
BBC Scotland announced in March that the long-running soap will end in autumn next year, sparking concerns from two trade unions and the region's MSP.
The soap is filmed on a bespoke studio, located at Lomondgate, in Dumbarton.
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The pair clashed for two years running at the British Soap Awards, with the host admitting Danny was "scaring the life out of him". In 2018, in what may have been a planned stunt, Danny got irritated at the host repeatedly asking if he was "alright". He eventually stood and squared up to Phillip, barking: "What, you want to make one with me?" Phil joked: "Leave it you, back off. Sit down I'm in charge here mate." The following year Danny sat stoney-faced as Phillip made a gag about him being a fan of "trim down South" - in reference to Corrie's Trim Up North barber shop. The actor failed to respond and turned to the person sitting next to him, ignoring Phil, who laughed awkwardly. Host controversy 12 Speaking of Phillip Schofield, he threw the awards into chaos in 2023 when he was forced to withdraw from hosting duties, following revelations of an affair with a much younger runner that he had concealed from ITV bosses. Despite singer Jane McDonald stepping in to present the show at the last minute, protestors gathered outside the The Lowry in Salford. Along with the soap fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols, people were holding placards with photographs of Schofield and his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby. Bright night Kellie Bright looked like she'd had a fabulous night as she left the Inside Soap Awards in 2017. The 48-year-old actress - who plays landlady Linda Carter - was pictured having a snooze in the taxi home. She'd already got in a spot of bother with screen hubby Danny Dyer, 47, after losing their Best Soap Partnership gong at the afterparty. Hollyoaks vs Hollywood 12 Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, 43, once worked as a waiter at the British Soap Awards and says he was humiliated by the Hollyoaks cast - whom he dubbed "b*****ds". He told Glamour magazine: "They feed all these soap stars with alcohol and then put them in the studio for the awards, so they're more rowdy and it makes for better television. "So, as a waiter, I had to stand there with a tray waiting for them to put their empties on before going in. "I remember this whole group of actors from Hollyoaks piling on with loads of champagne glasses and it being full, and one of them saying, 'Guys, guys, watch this! I'm going to put one more on, I'm going to put one more on...' "And I was thinking, 'No, please don't put another...' and them smashing everywhere. All these Hollyoaks actors were in hysterics and I was like, 'You b*****ds!'" Tumble time Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe was less than steady on her feet when she left the 2017 Inside Soap Awards. The Mercedes McQueen star, 41, stumbled out of the glitzy bash and had to be helped to the car as she almost took a tumble. Those towering heels may have been the culprit.
