Frances Thorburn on River City dream and harrowing crash scenes

Frances Thorburn at Oran Mor, Glasgow, where she starred in a show based on the life of Patsy Cline.

Frances Thorburn has a picture stored in her phone to remind her of one of the best days of her life.

She took the selfie seconds after she was told she was joining the cast of River City, one of her favourite TV shows, because she never wanted to forget how she felt in that moment.

“I was doing a play at the Traverse in Edinburgh called Grain In The Blood and I was in Queen Street Station in Glasgow when I took the call,” she smiled, recalling the offer from eight years ago. “I was over the moon. It was a huge, life-changing job.

“I was already a massive River City fan, so I had big love for it already, and I was told my character Kim was coming in as Bob’s love interest. I thought, ‘wow, that’s amazing’. I took a picture of my face because I was so happy and I wanted to remember what it looked like when I received the news.

“It’s still one of my fondest memories. It’s the most work I’ve done in one place. I usually do theatre and I’ve had a couple of big runs in London – I worked at The Globe for a full season – but the most time would be 18 months on one job, so this has been a huge part of my life.”

Frances captured her reaction to getting the River City role in a selfie.

Frances, who had a daughter, Eva, in November 2021, would go round to her mum’s every Tuesday night to watch River City together, so she admits to being starstruck when she first arrived on set.

“It was magical, but I was very nervous – I hadn’t done much television before,” she explained. “In my first week, I had 35 scenes to learn. That might not sound a lot but it is. I was jumping in at the deep end and I had to learn everything on the gig. I was put with Stephen [Purdon, who plays Bob O’Hara] straightaway and he was a great support from day one. He’s a legend. Mr River City. We developed a lovely chemistry. Being put into the O’Hara family felt like being in a real family.

“Even though it was a huge undertaking, and they were famous stars to me while I was the newbie, they welcomed me with open arms and it all gelled. That’s probably why I’ve been able to stay for so long.”

The pictures coming out of this week’s River City are a world away from the beaming smile Frances snapped eight years ago. Looking dazed and her face bloodied, she is part of two huge episodes that serve as the show’s cliffhanger before it goes on a break.

This week’s storyline sees the O’Haras embarking on a family holiday, only for Kim and Bernie (Barbara Rafferty) to be in a devastating car crash where their lives hang in the balance.

The wreckage is found by Angus and Bob, who had just picked up an engagement ring for Kim, and at the hospital Bob sits by his partner’s and aunt’s bedsides as tragedy hangs over the family. For Frances, it was the first time she had done a shoot on location and she was struck by the realism of the crash scenes.

“There were so many people involved,” she said. “Firemen, police, drone shots – there was so much happening and it felt like we were making a film. It was a big undertaking and feels like a massive finale.

“I don’t get to work with Barbara too often, so it was a privilege and honour to film these delicate, emotional scenes with her. We supported each other because it was strange to step into a mangled car – it’s something that can affect you.

“When I first saw the car, with the windows smashed, the air bags gone, completely smashed in at the front, your first instinct – even though you know it’s pretend – is to say, ‘oh my gosh’.

“It was intense. I was chatting to Barbara, who I know so well, and there was blood all over her face. It was arresting to see.”

This week’s car crash and its aftermath is the latest in a series of hard-hitting storylines Frances’ character has had in this current run of the drama.

“She’s been really stretched and pulled in different directions, which is great for me as an actor,” Frances said. “She thinks she is going to die from heart failure and will have to leave her kids, then she gets a transplant but has survivors’ guilt, and she also gets back with Bob and they’re going to get married again. There’s been lots of highs and lows.”

With such a huge story arc planned, Frances was told months in advance about what to expect for her character. The research team handed her a folder of notes and testimonies from people who had gone through transplants, and Frances did her own research too. She says she has been shocked with the response from viewers and the number of people who have reached out to her after watching it.

“The researchers passed information to me and I also spoke to some organisations,” she said. “I didn’t speak to people with survivors’ guilt but I’m very aware of what it is – not in the context of a transplant but I have my own experience of what it is and I understood some of what it is. All of that comes into play during shooting and making sure you feel the right spots are being hit.

“It was a gift to play, but a big responsibility to get it right. People reached out to me – folk on the street, on Instagram, to say it had happened to them and to thank us for using it as a storyline. It feels like a unique thing, but it does happen to a few people and I think they appreciated seeing it. These aren’t easy storylines but I feel they’re important ones.

Kim is involved in a car crash in this week’s episode of River City.

“It’s been a gift, but I’ve also felt a responsibility to Kim too, because I care about her even though she’s not real. I want to make sure her story is handled correctly. But I didn’t expect it to be so personal for people. It’s the most I’ve been contacted by viewers.

“The whole team took so much time in handling the story correctly, with all the research they did, and I was struck by the reaction. If people see their lives reflected on screen, I don’t know if it gives comfort, but it provides a connection.

“There are real things that people want to see on their living room TVs to feel they are connected to you when serious things are going on in their lives, because they know the characters so well.

“That connection with the audience is vital. People have stopped me in the street to talk about so many different things that have happened to Kim – although usually they just ask me if I’m getting back with Bob, and I say I want that for her too. And now it’s happened!”

But will Kim and Bob get their happy ending or will the aftermath of the car crash mean the characters are facing a devastating tragedy?

‘Singing is a big part of my life’

As well as being an actor, Frances Thorburn is an accomplished singer. She’s spent the summer performing two singing roles.

“Singing is a big part of my life,” she said. “I did Hen Night Horror, a comedy musical, around the country. I played a dominatrix, which couldn’t be any more different to Kim on River City!

“It was great to do something new and tour it. The whole team: the actors, writers, crew – except for the sound guy – were Scottish. It was unique and bold. It was quite naughty and people were laughing so much. We were receiving standing ovations every night and people came back to see it again. I hope it returns.”

For the past 10 nights, Frances has been starring in A Bottle Of Wine And Patsy Cline, playing the country music legend in the show at Oran Mor in Glasgow, with the final performance this evening.

“She was a quite incredible woman, also a working mum, and trying to break new ground in the country scene in the 50s. She’s still one of the biggest selling artists in country – her longevity is incredible.

“I’ve fallen in love with her music. I have a similar tone to her, so I can hit those low notes. She’s a big hitter as well as being heartbreaking. Playing complex but strong women is a gift.”

River City, Monday and Wednesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm, and Tuesday and Thursday, BBC One Scotland, 7pm. Also on the iPlayer