List of River City characters introduced in 2016–2017

River City is a BBC Scotland soap opera from Scotland. This is a list of characters who first appeared on the programme during 2016 and 2017.

Maggie McLean

Maggie McLean
River City character
Portrayed by	Kathryn Howden
Duration	2017–present
Classification	Present
In-universe information Brothers John McLean Daughters Ellie McLean

Maggie McLean is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City portrayed by Kathryn Howden. ^[1]

Maggie has an abusive brother John. ^[2] She killed Joe Dunn. ^{[3] [4]} In 2018, Maggie reveals she is a victim of rape and incest. ^[5]

Kim O'Hara

Kim O'Hara
River City character
Portrayed by	Frances Thorburn
Duration	2016–2024
Classification	Present
In-universe information Mother Isobel MacKenzie Spouse Simon Monroe (previously) Bob O'Hara Sons Mackenzie O'Hara

Kim O'Hara (also Monroe) is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City portrayed by Frances Thorburn. ^[6] Her storylines, from a broken down marriage with Bob O'Hara and health complications that saw her undergo a heart transplant. ^[7]

In 2024, she survives a car crash that takes the life of Bernie O'Hara. ^[8]

Ellie McLean

Ellie McLean
River City character
Portrayed by	Leah MacRae
Duration	2016–2022
Classification	Former
In-universe information Mother Maggie McLean

Ellie McLean is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City portrayed by Leah MacRae. ^[9]

Ellie joins as a care worker who looks after dementia sufferer Malcolm Hamilton (Johnny Beattie). ^[10]

In early 2022, Ellie had a storyline on infertility. ^[11] She then turns to surrogacy. ^[12]

Pete Galloway

Pete Galloway
River City character
Portrayed by	Andy Gray
Duration	2016–2018
Classification	Former
In-universe information Wife Caitlin McLean Sons Drew McLean

Pete Galloway (also Griffiths and McLean) is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Andy Gray. ^[13] Andy is the husband of Caitlin McLean and the father of Drew McLean. ^[14] Gray died in 2021. ^[15] The character was killed off-screen in January 2022. ^[16]

Martina Kennedy

Martina Kennedy
River City character
Portrayed by	Ann-Louise Ross
Duration	2016–2022
Classification	Former
In-universe information Brothers Billy Kennedy Sons Alex McAllister

Martina Kennedy (also McAllister) is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Ann-Louise Ross. ^[17] She described as an evil matriarch. ^[18] She is the mother of Alex McAllister (Jordan Young). ^[19]

Greig Roth

Greig Roth
River City character
Portrayed by	Glen Wallace
Duration	2016–2018
Classification	Former
In-universe information Wife Lorna Roth Daughters Frankie Roth Katie Roth

Greig Roth is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Glen Wallace. ^[20] He was introduced in 2016 alongside his wife Lorna (Alana Hood) and daughters Frankie (Lorna McMenemy) and Katie (Libby Dye). ^[21]

Lorna Roth

Lorna Roth
River City character
Portrayed by	Alana Hood
Duration	2016
Appears in	11 October 2016
Classification	Former
In-universe information Sisters Annie Murdoch Husband Greig Roth Daughters Frankie Roth Katie Roth

Lorna Roth is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Alana Hood. ^[20] She was introduced in 2016 alongside her husband Greig (Glen Wallace) and daughters Frankie (Lorna McMenemy) and Katie (Libby Dye). ^[21] She is the younger sister of local GP Annie Murdoch (Dawn Steele). ^[22]

Frankie Roth

Frankie Roth
River City character
Portrayed by	Lorna McMenemy
Duration	2016–2018
Classification	Former
In-universe information Father Greig Roth Mother Lorna Roth Sisters Katie Roth

Frankie Roth is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Lorna McMenemy. ^[20] She was introduced in 2016 alongside her parents Greig (Glen Wallace) and Lorna (Alana Hood) and sister Katie (Libby Dye). ^[21]

She dated Angus Lindsay and dealt with bulimia. ^[23] She killed villain Rick Harper (Alex Ferns). ^[24]

Katie Roth

Katie Roth
River City character
Portrayed by	Libby Dye
Duration	2016–2020
Classification	Former
In-universe information Father Greig Roth Mother Lorna Roth Sisters Frankie Roth

Katie Roth is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Libby Dye. ^[20] She was introduced in 2016 alongside her parents Greig (Glen Wallace) and Lorna (Alana Hood) and sister Frankie (Lorna McMenemy). ^[21]

Andy Cousins

Andy Cousins
River City character
Portrayed by	Simon Webbe
Duration	2016–2017
Classification	Former
In-universe information Occupation Soldier

Andy Cousins is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Blue singer Simon Webbe in his television debut. ^[25] Andy first appeared in November 2016. ^[26] Webbe did not use a Scottish accent for the role. ^[27] Andy is a former army soldier and a close friend of the Roth family. ^[28]

Mackenzie O'Hara

Mackenzie O'Hara
River City character
Portrayed by	Connor McPhelim
Duration	2017–present
Classification	Present

Mackenzie O'Hara is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Connor McPhelim. He is the son of Kim O'Hara (Frances Thorburn). ^[29]

Rick Harper

Rick Harper
River City character
Portrayed by	Alex Ferns
Duration	2017–2018
Classification	Former

Rick Harper is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Alex Ferns. ^[30]

The villain was killed off in a whodunit storyline when he was hit on the head with a candle stick, later revealed to be Frankie Roth (Lorna McMenemy). ^[24]

Dougie Patterson

Dougie Patterson
River City character
Portrayed by	Stewart Porter
Duration	2017–2018
Classification	Present
In-universe information Daughters Poppy Patterson

Dougie Patterson is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Stewart Porter. ^[31]

Charlotte Crozier

Charlotte Crozier
River City character
Portrayed by	Daisy Veldhoven
Duration	2017–2020
Classification	Present
In-universe information Grandfathers Lenny Murdoch

Charlotte Crozier (also Murdoch) is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Daisy Veldhoven. ^[32]

Jules Belmont

Jules Belmont
River City character
Portrayed by	Aisha Toussaint
Duration	2017–2018
First appearance	31 January 2017
Classification	Former
In-universe information Sisters Shelley Belmont

Jules Belmont is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Aisha Toussaint. ^[33]

Shelley Belmont

Shelley Belmont
River City character
Portrayed by	Adiza Shardow
Duration	2017–2018
Classification	Former
In-universe information Sisters Jules Belmont

Shelley Belmont is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Adiza Shardow. ^[34]

Farah Khurana

Farah Khurana
River City character
Portrayed by	Shobna Gulati
Duration	2017–2018
Classification	Former

Farah Khurana is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Shobna Gulati. ^[34] Gulati is famous from playing Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street. ^[35] Farah is a university friend of artisan baker AJ Jandhu. ^[36] The character is described as "fun loving". ^[37]

John McLean

John McLean
River City character
Portrayed by	Frank Gilhooley
Duration	2017–2021
Classification	Former
In-universe information Sisters Maggie McLean

JohnMcLean is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Frank Gilhooley. ^[34]

John is involved in an incest and sex abuse storyline. ^{[38] [39]}

Danny Turner

Danny Turner is a fictional character from the BBC Scotland soap opera River City played by Neil Pendleton from 2017 to 2021. ^[40]

References

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3. "Edinburgh River City star recalls real life 'soap opera' of growing up in working class Pennywell". Edinburgh News. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
4. Hart, Lesley (2023-08-19). "LESLEY HART: Yes, I'm dead, thanks for asking". The Courier. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
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17. Greenaway, Heather (2015-11-01). "Katie Morag star fears fans will be shocked by new River City role". Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
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