Welcome back, River City

Soap operas occupy a special place in the hearts of many people. So, for its fans, the news that BBC Scotland’s River City has resumed filming after a hiatus during the coronavirus lockdown will be like the return of old friends.

It is one of the latest signs of life returning to something like normal thanks in large part to the public’s adherence to the irksome restrictions imposed upon us all to curb the spread of the disease.

Some may sneer at soap operas – or simply prefer to watch something else – but there is little doubt that they are an important part of life in modern Scotland.

In addition to providing popular entertainment – a laudible achievement in itself – they are able to raise complicated social issues with a mass audience in a way that other forms of television struggle to do.

Drama that explores the trials and turmoil of our everyday lives is culturally significant and, for many, more practically useful than high-brow alternatives that explore esoteric issues in oblique and overly subtle ways. So, welcome back River City. You’ve been missed and your return will be a comfort to many.