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BBC News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Troops drills down into life inside The Royal Regiment of Scotland in new docuseries for BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer
The British Army's most deployed infantry unit, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, is set to open its barracks to TV cameras for the first time as part of a new limited docuseries for BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer. Set against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, The Troops, produced by STV Studios Factual, will take viewers to the front line of modern soldiering and paint an illuminating, multifaceted picture of what it means to serve in the British Army in 2025. The 3 x 60' series will have unprecedented access to the regiment and cover everything from life on the barracks to large-scale overseas military exercises, as soldiers and officers move towards the realities of conflict – the likes of which haven't been seen for a generation. This character-led series will also shine a light on the relatable challenges the soldiers face in their private lives, and explore how they juggle their tough, high-octane military careers with family life on the barracks and at home. The Troops is produced by STV Studios Factual for BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer. It is commissioned by Louise Thornton, BBC Scotland's Head of Multiplatform Commissioning, and David Harron, Factual Commissioning Executive. Executive Producers are Craig Hunter, Creative Director of STV Studios Factual, and Rosy Marshall-McCrae. The Series Producer is Abby Herron. The Troops was developed by Lucy Hazzard, Director of Development at STV Studios Factual, and James Burrough. David Harron, Factual Commissioning Executive, BBC Scotland, says: 'This series will give audiences rare and fascinating insights into the world of military service, by following the stories of the men and women in one of Scotland's famous regiments. The Troops is the latest in a long line of observational documentary series from BBC Scotland which compellingly explore different aspects of contemporary Scotland.' Craig Hunter, Executive Producer and Creative Director of STV Studios Factual, says: 'Our series will reveal the personal and professional lives of the men and women behind the uniform. Merging the challenges of home life with modern day soldiering, we'll follow a cast of characters facing some of the toughest working environments in the world. 'The Troops will move beyond the drills and the weapons training to accurately reflect the personalities, commitment and ambitions of an eclectic group of soldiers who could be deployed at any moment.' JG2
STV News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
It was unwise to think I could easily cross the Bridge of Lies
It's all very well sitting on your sofa shouting quiz answers at the TV. But it is quite a different beast being up there, testing your own general knowledge in front of telly hardman Ross Kemp. I was lucky enough to be recently asked along to a behind-the-scenes visit to the set of quiz show Bridge of Lies. As I routinely sit in disbelief watching contestants get simple answers wrong, I thought 'this is going to be a piece of cake'. How wrong I was…The set looked even more dramatic in person, with the iconic bridge looming under intense lighting. The intensity was real from the moment I walked into the studio. The buzzing cameras, the dramatic music, it was just like it looks on TV, but ten times more immersive in person. And at the centre of it all was host Ross Kemp – every bit as intense and focused as you would expect. His presence alone could make your pulse spike. I was put in a team of five to complete the final bridge. When Ross called my name, I stepped forward. Then came the three statements I had to face: Miley Cyrus is older than Taylor Swift Levi Strauss designed the small jean pocket to hold a watch The River Exe flows through the Wye Valley The format is simple but deceptive: three statements, one correct step forward at a time. But under pressure, with studio lights blazing and all the production staff's eyes on you, even the most confident answers can feel uncertain. I chose the first statement, believing Miley Cyrus was older than Taylor Swift. I took a step forward and was met with a red light. Incorrect. The bridge had beaten me. Of course, I knew the correct answer, in hindsight, but the pressure got to me. I'll be honest, it stung. I was gutted. But weirdly, I was also buzzing. The rush of stepping out there, the challenge, the drama – it was brilliant. Kemp, best known for his acting and hard-hitting documentary work, brings an unmistakable energy to the show. In person, he's completely in command of the room. But what really struck me was how genuinely warm and lovely he was off-camera. Despite the intense atmosphere he helps create on-screen, he made time for us, and his support behind the scenes helped calm the nerves of many contestants, myself included, and made the entire experience more enjoyable. He even welled up talking to me about a contestant who was now able to buy Christmas presents for her children after her success on the show. Behind the scenes, the show runs like clockwork. Every camera movement, lighting change, and sound cue is timed to perfection. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the scale and effort involved in producing what viewers see at home. Was being on Bridge of Lies scary? Absolutely. Nerve-wracking? Without question. I may not have made it across the bridge. But I walked away with a good story to tell, and I also have a lot more sympathy for those poor contestants that I used to shout at on my TV at home. Bridge of Lies and Celebrity Bridge of Lies are both produced by STV Studios and commissioned by the BBC. Celebrity Bridge of Lies returns to BBC One and iPlayer for a brand new series on Saturday, May 3. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
22-04-2025
- STV News
Catfish Next Door stalker NHS nurse jailed again
A former nurse who used a voice-changing app to pretend to be a man during a stalking campaign has been jailed again for breaching a non-harassment order. Adele Rennie, 34, pled guilty at the town's Sheriff Court on Tuesday after admitting contacting a woman she had previously been banned from approaching. Rennie was jailed in September 2024 and made subject of a five-year non-harassment order. This banned her from approaching, contacting or attempting to contact the woman, whom she had targeted during an elaborate catfishing scam. The Catfish Next Door, a documentary produced by STV Studios, tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Rennie, a former NHS nurse from Kilmarnock, who was revealed to be behind a string of meticulously crafted aliases. Over a ten-year period, Rennie targeted a number of local women with sophisticated stalking campaigns, which all began online but had far-reaching consequences for her victims. At Rennie's first court trial in 2017, Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane described the case as 'the most astounding narrative of facts I think I've heard in my entire career'. But that was just the start of the story, which saw multiple aliases, hundreds of alleged victims, and the most unlikely of perpetrators. She was released from jail on January 13, 2025, but remained registered as a sex offender and subject to monitoring and restrictions. She had been released for just ten days when she sent a text message to the female victim. Rennie was found to have flouted the non-harassment order on January 23 when a social worker was made aware of messages sent to the previous victim. The phone number of the woman had been stored in Rennie's phone under the name 'Gord' – but actually belonged to her previous victim whom Rennie was prohibited by court order from contacting. She was sentenced to 100 days in prison. David Bernard, Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: 'The law will not tolerate Adele Rennie's refusal to abide by the strict restrictions placed upon her. 'Prosecutors at COPFS will respond robustly to keep the community safe from distressing and damaging behaviour like stalking. 'We recognise the trauma suffered by some victims of this insidious crime and court orders will be enforced at the earliest opportunity should a perpetrator such as Rennie attempt to reoffend. 'I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of such offending to come forward, report it and seek support.' Rennie was also jailed in 2017 for stalking a number of women while pretending to be a man. She had used a voice-altering app to change the tone of her speech and utilised a number of aliases including David Graham, David Crolla, Davie, Marco and Matthew Mancini. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
