Latest news with #StephenPurdon
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Grado and Stephen Purdon bringing comedy tour to Airdrie Town Hall
The panto double-act will be tag-teaming up for the 'Grado & Purdon: Shellsuits & Spandex' show that is sure to leave audiences in stitches. Two of Scotland's favourite funnymen and familiar faces are heading to Airdrie Town Hall for an evening of laughter. Grado, the wrestler and star of TV's Two Doors Down and Scot Squad, and River City's Stephen Purdon, aka the BBC soap's Bob O'Hara, will take to the stage at the Stirling Street venue on June 10 as they hit the road for a hilarious tour across Scotland. The panto double-act will be tag-teaming up for the Grado & Purdon: Shellsuits & Spandex show that is sure to leave audiences in stitches. From Shieldinch to Latimer Crescent, the duo will share late tales from their careers in television, wrestling and panto, plus plenty of personal anecdotes. Boab and Grado promise "a night of laughter and fun that audiences won't forget", with a chance to meet the pair after the show. Grado & Purdon: Shellsuits & Spandex at Airdrie Town Hall starts at 7.30pm, with tickets priced £25 for standards and £39 for meet and greets. For tickets, and more information, call the box office team on 01698 274545 or visit here. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Campaigners under fire from BBC over River City 'mistruths'
The actors' union had claimed that the long-running soap attracts more than half a million viewers on average for each episode and is outperforming other drama series. Read more: However BBC Scotland said the actual figure for the soap was just 200,000 per episode, with River City lagging well behind other made-in-Scotland dramas like Shetland, Granite Harbour and Vigil. The BBC is also angry at suggestions that River City's £9 million budget would be 'funnelled into cheap reality or factual TV' as well as used to make new drama series which would shun Scottish talent, and instead import cast and crew from England. The campaign to save River City has won cross-party support since the show's cancellation was announced in March. Equity launched an immediate campaign to save River City in March after BBC Scotland announced plans to bring the show, which was launched in 2002, to an end in the autumn of 2026. BBC Scotland chiefs have blamed 'changing audience habits and declining viewing figures' for the decision, but have insisted River City's budget will be fully reinvested as part of a commitment to spend £95m on drama from Scotland between 2026 and 2028. Scott Fletcher and Stephen Purdon have starred in River City. (Image: BBC) Three brand new shows set in and around Glasgow – Counsels, Grams and The Young Team – have been commissioned from Scottish writers. Other new BBC productions that have been filming in Scotland in recent months include Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd's new show Half Man, which will feature Jamie Bell, Neve McIntosh and Amy Manson, family crime drama Mint, which will star Laura Fraser and Lewis Gribben, and psychological thriller The Ridge, which will see Outlander and Karen Pirie star Lauren Lyle appear opposite New Zealand actor Jay Ryan. BBC Scotland is to keep making Shetland, which stars Ashley Jensen and Alison O'Donnell. (Image: BBC) BBC Scotland has also announced the return of Shetland and Granite Harbour for new series, while a third instalment of Vigil has also been commissioned. Equity has predicted that the loss of River City, which it described as 'a well-loved staple of TV schedules,' would be a 'disaster for Scottish television". Nearly 12,000 supporters have backed a petition demanding a rethink from BBC Scotland over River City's cancellation, claiming it 'outperforms other TV series by more than 2.5 times". Equity general secretary Paul Fleming previously said: 'The £9m annual budget is excellent value for money given the hours of programming produced throughout the year for a successful show pulling in a regular audience of 500,000 per episode.' Equity Scotland official Marlene Curran has suggested River City would be replaced by "lift and shift" productions based outside Scotland. She said previously: "They'll have their cast and crew already lined up, and then they'll bring it up to Scotland, use our locations so that it looks as if it is a Scottish production made in Scotland, and then take it back down south to edit it again." Equity's website and the online petition have recently been amended to make it clear that its regular audience is actually 200,000 per episode. BBC Scotland said this compares to an average Scottish audience of 453,000 for Granite Harbour, 710,000 for Vigil and 791,000 for Shetland. A spokesperson for BBC Scotland said: 'River City does not have an audience of 500,000 per episode. 'When River City launched on BBC One Scotland in 2002 it had an initial audience of 700,000 but by last year, the average audience for River City across 2024 was 200,000 in Scotland. 'The decision to end River City is a creative one driven by changing audience habits and declining viewing figures, which have dropped to an average of 200,000 per episode, considerably lower than other BBC dramas. 'Audience patterns have shifted away from long-running serials to short-run dramas, so that is where we will be moving our drama investment. 'This is about value for money for the audience. We are not cutting our drama spend in Scotland – in fact, we will increase it to around £95m over the next three years.' BBC Scotland insisted that Scottish culture and voices would be represented in the three new drama series it unveiled as part of its River City announcement. Its spokesperson added: 'All of the lead writers on each of these new dramas are Scottish – it's wrong to suggest otherwise. 'The BBC and the independent companies involved are fully committed to hiring Scottish crew as we successfully do with other dramas such as Shetland, Mint, Half Man and Granite Harbour. 'It's inaccurate to say that these new dramas will be bringing cast and crew up from the south rather than hiring locally and these mistruths are damaging to the creative sector we are committed to growing. 'The BBC remains committed to reflecting Scottish culture and voices in dramas across the UK. 'River City training opportunities will remain active for another year until we cease production in April 2026. 'We are actively working with BBC colleagues, the independent companies making our newly announced dramas and others in the industry on future training opportunities.'
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Panto pals Grado and Stephen Purdon team up for Lanarkshire shows next month
Presented by Aberdeen-based promoters, Breakneck Comedy, the 22 date tour sees them perform across the country with three Lanarkshire dates confirmed. Panto pals Grado and Stephen Purdon are teaming up to share stories from their careers on screen and in the wrestling ring. Presented by Aberdeen-based promoters, Breakneck Comedy, the 22 date tour sees them perform across the country with three Lanarkshire dates confirmed. The pair will be at the South Dalziel Historic Building in Motherwell on Sunday, June 8, Airdrie Town Hall on Tuesday, June 10, and Cumbernauld New Town Hall on Saturday, June 21. While the duo is a well-known panto double act (appearing annually at the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow), Shell Suits and Spandex is the first time they've got together to share stories from their respective careers as well as their work together as 'panto dafties' and podcast hosts. Good friends on and off stage, audiences can expect them to serve up an evening of no holds barred anecdotes, banter, and laughs. Breakneck Comedy's founder, Naz Hussain said: 'Anyone who's seen these guys in panto will know they have an amazing chemistry and a great sense of humour, and with major roles in two of Scotland's best-loved TV shows – among other things – they have loads of great stories to share. 'I'm delighted that they've chosen to do their show with us, and I can't wait to hear the tales they'll be sharing.' Breakneck Comedy is renowned for bringing top comedians and performers to towns and venues that might not be on the usual tour schedule. 'I love bringing big names to towns that some promoters might overlook' says Naz. 'It's really exciting to be able to put on shows all over Scotland and make it easier for people to be able to enjoy a great night of comedy and entertainment without them having to worry about catching a train home from the city.'
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Panto pals Grado and Stephen Purdon team up for Livingston show next month
Presented by Aberdeen-based promoters, Breakneck Comedy, the 22 date tour sees them perform across the country and will at the Grand Central in Livingston on Tuesday, June 3. Panto pals Grado and Stephen Purdon are teaming up to share stories from their careers on screen and in the wrestling ring. Presented by Aberdeen-based promoters, Breakneck Comedy, the 22 date tour sees them perform across the country and will at the Grand Central in Livingston on Tuesday, June 3. While the duo is a well-known panto double act (appearing annually at the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow), Shell Suits and Spandex is the first time they've got together to share stories from their respective careers as well as their work together as 'panto dafties' and podcast hosts. Good friends on and off stage, audiences can expect them to serve up an evening of no holds barred anecdotes, banter, and laughs. Breakneck Comedy's founder, Naz Hussain said: 'Anyone who's seen these guys in panto will know they have an amazing chemistry and a great sense of humour, and with major roles in two of Scotland's best-loved TV shows – among other things – they have loads of great stories to share. 'I'm delighted that they've chosen to do their show with us, and I can't wait to hear the tales they'll be sharing.' Breakneck Comedy is renowned for bringing top comedians and performers to towns and venues that might not be on the usual tour schedule. 'I love bringing big names to towns that some promoters might overlook' says Naz. 'It's really exciting to be able to put on shows all over Scotland and make it easier for people to be able to enjoy a great night of comedy and entertainment without them having to worry about catching a train home from the city.' More information on the tour is available at
Edinburgh Live
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
River City stars hold Edinburgh protest in bid to save much-loved soap
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The cast of River City held a protest at Edinburgh's Holyrood on Wednesday, April 23, in a bid to save the beloved Scottish soap. Stars demonstrated outside the Scottish Parliament in an attempt to stop the decision to close down the drama which has been running for over 20 years, reports the Daily Record. Stephen Purdon - who plays Shellsuit Bob in the series - said: 'We are attending the Scottish Parliament because we care deeply about the production and all the people who work on it. Training, pathways, and opportunities will be lost for many people. "Seventy-two trainees have come through River City in the last two and a half years. How will that be replaced? "And most of all, for our audience, people who love the show, what about them? That's why we must be there, to ask BBC Scotland to reverse this decision before it's too late.' The iconic Glasgow-based drama - which is filmed in Dumbarton - has been on our screens since 2002 but BBC Scotland announced last month that Scotland's only domestic soap will air its final episode in September 2026. The cast attended a debate in the Scottish Parliament on a Labour motion calling for the programme to be saved. SNP, Labour, Tory and Green MSPs all joined forces in calling for the BBC to reverse its decision. Elena Whitham, of the SNP, said: 'Cancelling this show risks creating a cultural vacuum, and an economic one too. "We talk about levelling up, about decentralising opportunity, but how can we do that if we're cutting off the very platforms that nurture regional talent… This also smacks of snobbery and classism, and we must call that out.' Scottish Labour Deputy Leader - who represents Dumbarton where the soap is filmed - Jackie Baillie said: 'River City has put Dumbarton on the map for TV and film talent while creating jobs and opportunities in everything from catering to directing. "The announcement of its closure has sent shockwaves through my constituency — I urge the BBC to save River City, and commit to its Dumbarton studio site so that more shows can be Made in Scotland not less." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: 'There is clearly an abundance of passion and support for River City and the opportunities that this kind of production brings to our creative sector. "I've been clear to the BBC that they must protect and increase its investment in Scotland, and enhance the network of professionals who contribute to its productions like River City. "I expect the BBC to fully and fairly represent all communities in Scotland, and I'll continue to advocate on behalf of License Fee payers to ensure that the Scottish industry and audiences are properly represented.' When it was announced that the soap was ending BBC Scotland bosses said that "viewing habits have changed" and they will be investing in the "next generation of high-impact drama series from across Scotland". Reflecting a significant change in audience behaviour away from long-running series and towards shorter runs, the BBC will make a considerable boost in major drama productions set across Scotland. This means moving the River City investment and starting three new series – Counsels, Grams and The Young Team.
