Latest news with #Viv
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
EastEnders star cast in another iconic soap for 'traumatic' story
EastEnders star Simone Lahbib joins River City in an explosive new role. From Walford to Shieldinch! The former Albert Square star is trading the Queen Vic for something different, landing a role in BBC Scotland's longest-running soap, River City and is sure to stir up some trouble! The actress who played Katy Lewis, a Walford villain, left Albert Square four years ago. Viewers will remember Katy's chilling storyline, which tackled one of the show's heaviest topics as it was revealed Katy had sexually assaulted Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, as a child, triggering an emotional storyline. Now she's back in the land of soaps, and this time on home ground. Born and bred in Stirling, Simone is thrilled to be back filming in Scotland. She said, '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!' Simone is now stepping into the role of Viv Barton – a no-nonsense gangster matriarch with a mysterious past. Viv is part of the notorious Foulkes family and has been believed to be dead for decades. She's back in town in hopes of reconciling with her son, Tyler (Cameron Fulton), after walking out on her marriage with Harry Foulkes (Jim Sturgeon) and her family over two decades ago. Simone went on to say, 'Viv is desperate to reconnect with her son Tyler, and all the while avoid her ex-husband, gangster Harry Foulkes' More Trending '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. 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.' Fans will also remember Simone from her iconic role in Bad Girls as 'Helen Stewart', the forgiving Larkhall prison governor whose romance with Nikki Wade became one of British TV's most renowned LGBTQ+ love stories. With River City announcing the show will come to an end in 2026 after 24 years on air, could Simone's explosive character be a key player in the show's endgame? If her soap track record is anything to go by, Viv Barton won't go quietly! If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. View More » MORE: EastEnders Shirley Carter star's return to TV confirmed – alongside Danny Dyer
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
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.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Scottish actress Simone Lahbib joins River City cast
Simone Lahbib, known for her roles in Bad Girls, Wire in the Blood, Loch Ness, has joined the BBC show as Vivienne 'Viv' Barton who is part of the formidable Foulkes gangster family. (Image: Image of Simone Lahbib, pictured by Jamie Simpson) Business owner Viv arrives 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 will Tyler forgive her and how will Harry feel to see his wife back from the dead? Simone will make her debut at the end of June as part of the forthcoming new series. The actress' debut episode will air on BBC iPlayer on June 23 and June 25 on BBC Scotland. READ NEXT: Hit US rapper Nelly sends message to Glasgow fans ahead of OVO Hydro show (Image: Image of Simone Lahbib, pictured by Jamie Simpson) Speaking on her new role, 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.' Simone went on to explain how returning to Scotland is the real perk of the job. She said: '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.' (Image: Image of Simone Lahbib, pictured by Jamie Simpson) Martin McCardie, BBC Studios executive producer, added: '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.' READ NEXT: Huge chain could open new store on Glasgow's Buchanan Street The news comes as BBC bosses announced plans to cancel the show next year, claiming viewing patterns had shifted. BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: 'I didn't take this lightly and I did think about the consequences for cast, for crew, for people who are impacted by the decision, of course I did. 'However, we have to put our audience's needs first, and the audience for River City has declined significantly over the past five years.' Cast and crew, as well as the actors' union Equity, have already appeared before the committee to warn of the impact of the soap's cancellation.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Star of iconic noughties show joins River City
THEY'RE set to shake up Shieldinch following the announcement that the series will be axed in 2026 after a 24 years run. Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER EastEnders star Simone Lahbib has joined the ranks of River City after a shock soap switch. The Scots actress, from Stirling, played villain carer Katy Lewis in Albert Square and left Walford four years ago. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 1 Simone Lahbib has joined the cast of River City. Credit: BBC Now the Bad Girls favourite, 60, is set to shake up Shieldinch following the announcement that the series will be axed in 2026 after a 24 years run. She joins the cast as Vivienne 'Viv' Barton – part of the formidable Foulkes gangster family - as she hopes to of reconcile with her son Tyler (Cameron Fulton), after walking out on her marriage to Harry Foulkes (Jim Sturgeon). Simone said: "Viv is desperate to reconnect with her son Tyler and all the while avoid her ex-husband, gangster Harry Foulkes "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. "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." 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 will Tyler forgive her and how will Harry feel to see his wife back from the dead? She 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. Iconic Scots BBC show AXED after more than 20 years '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.' River City returns June 23 on iPlayer and June 25 on BBC Scotland
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Major donation will bring two new exhibits to life at Dekker Huis Museum in Zeeland
ZEELAND — A significant donation to the Les Hoogland Fund will support two major projects at Dekker Huis Museum, according to an announcement from the Zeeland Historical Society. The donation comes from Todd Hoogland, Julie Hoogland Taylor, Gregg Hoogland and Jane Hoogland Jipping, along with contributions from other individuals. Les Hoogland died in 2024. He was Zeeland's longest-serving mayor, with 22 years in office, championing community growth and connection. He and his wife, Viv, made several contributions to Zeeland and the greater West Michigan region. 'We are incredibly grateful to the Hoogland family and all those who contributed to the Les Hoogland Fund,' Audrey Rojo, curator at the Zeeland Historical Society, wrote in the announcement. 'This donation ensures that Zeeland's history — especially the stories of our veterans and civic leaders — will be preserved and shared for generations to come. Les and Viv's deep love for this community continues to inspire us.' The first project will revitalize the museum's Veterans' Memorial Room. The Stories of Service Exhibit will showcase the sacrifices and contributions of local servicemen and women, as well as highlight the role of local veterans' organizations, such as American Legion Post #33. Planned improvements include structural repairs, upgraded lighting and enhanced displays that offer a deeper, more engaging historical experience, according to the release. The second initiative, The Les Hoogland Civic Legacy Exhibit: The Heart of Zeeland, will introduce a brand-new exhibit focusing on the city's civic leadership. This display will honor the efforts of community leaders, city governance, police and fire departments, and other essential public services that have shaped Zeeland's past and present. Featuring interactive elements and a fresh design, the exhibit will provide visitors with an in-depth look at the city's civic history and the individuals who made a lasting impact, according to the release. More: 'He loved this city': Zeeland's longest serving mayor Les Hoogland dies at 94 "This project is about more than honoring the past — it's about empowering the future,' wrote Museum Director Katelyn VerMerris. 'By showcasing the stories of service and leadership that built Zeeland, we hope to inspire others to carry that same spirit forward in new and meaningful ways. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our community that is making these projects possible." Subscribe: Receive unlimited digital access to your local news coverage Renovations and exhibit installations are set to begin in the coming months, with an anticipated completion date in October 2025. The museum will stay open as much as possible during the renovations with an adapted exhibit flow as needed. Additional funding is needed to incorporate interactive features in the veterans' display, which will help visitors connect more deeply with veterans' stories. To support this effort, donations can be earmarked for the Les Hoogland Fund. For more information, visit — This story was created by reporter Karly Graham, kgraham@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Major donation will bring new exhibits to life at Dekker Huis Museum
