One of Scotland’s most recognisable screen talents is heading back to her roots — and straight into the heart of Shieldinch. Simone Lahbib, best known for gritty dramas like Bad Girls, Wire in the Blood and Loch Ness, will make her River City debut later this month in what producers are promising will be a high-stakes, emotionally charged storyline.
Her new character, Vivienne ‘Viv’ Barton, is no ordinary arrival. She’s a long-lost mother, a shrewd businesswoman, and part of the notorious Foulkes gangster family — but Viv’s return is anything but a warm homecoming.
“She’s a tornado,” Lahbib warns. “She’ll do and say anything she needs to survive… but surviving isn’t enough for Viv. She has plans.”
A ghost from the past
Viv Barton re-enters the lives of her estranged family more than two decades after walking out on them — an act that left a legacy of bitterness, grief, and secrets.
Her sudden appearance catches everyone off guard, especially Eddie Corrigan (played by Rob Jarvis), who believed Viv had died years ago. In fact, that was a lie spun by her husband, the cold and calculating gangster Harry Foulkes (Jim Sturgeon). Viv’s return now threatens to unravel years of deception — and reignite old rivalries.
But Viv hasn’t come back just to stir up trouble. She’s here to reconnect with her surviving son, Tyler Foulkes (Cameron Fulton), whose New Year’s Day accident — combined with the death of his brother Darren — has left Viv guilt-ridden and determined to put things right.
How she goes about that, though, may do more harm than good.
“She’s like the proverbial cat among the pigeons, a bull in a china shop,” Lahbib says. “A tornado, causing devastation to everything and everyone in her path.”
A mother’s love — or a power play?
Viv’s return is layered with conflicting motives. On the surface, she wants redemption. But beneath that, says Executive Producer Martin McCardie, lies something more dangerous.
“She’s a caring mum who desperately wants to make amends,” he explains. “But she also has her eye on the Foulkes family fortune — and the power her ex-husband Harry still holds. Viv doesn’t care who becomes collateral damage in that pursuit… including her son.”
That emotional duality — torn between maternal instinct and Machiavellian ambition — makes Viv one of the most compelling characters to enter Shieldinch in years.
“She’s wonderfully complex,” McCardie adds. “And with Simone bringing her to life, viewers are in for something truly unforgettable.”
A homecoming for Lahbib
For Lahbib, joining River City has been more than just another role. It’s also a chance to spend meaningful time in her native Scotland.
“Working in Scotland for me always feels like coming home,” she says. “I get to stay with my parents between filming, spend time with family… and my mum even helps run lines with me. She gets very into her roles!”
The production’s atmosphere has also left a mark on her.
“River City has a truly wonderful cast and crew. There’s a real family feel on set — that kind of connection comes from working with good people. Everyone made me feel so welcome from day one.”
Who else is new in Shieldinch?
Lahbib isn’t the only fresh face this season. A trio of new arrivals joins her on the streets of Shieldinch, each bringing their own baggage — and potential story arcs.
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Michael Moreland (Six Four, Years & Years) appears as Dr Joseph Albert
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James Young (Guilt) steps into the role of Simon Mack
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Graeme Dalling (Outlander) plays Chris Black, the husband of long-standing character Kelly-Marie Adams (Carmen Pieraccini)
All are set to feature in a season that producers say will be “more emotionally intense than ever.”
Mark your calendar
Viv Barton storms into River City on 23 June on BBC iPlayer, and 25 June on BBC Scotland. The new season kicks off from Monday 16 June, airing:
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Mondays and Wednesdays on BBC Scotland
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Tuesdays and Thursdays on BBC One Scotland
Behind the scenes, the show remains a BBC Studios Drama Production for BBC Scotland, with Martin McCardie and Gavin Smith returning as Executive Producers.
