RIVER CITY has proved the launching pad for actors' careers.

Life in Shieldinch can be a fleeting existence, however.

So what happens after actors leave Montego Street? BARRY McDONALD finds out.

GORDON KENNEDY The former Absolutely star turned up in Shieldinch as womanising Mac but was forced to leave town following the revelation he'd fathered a child by a 16-year-old.

Gordon Kennedy went on to star in television drama Red Cap, playing Bruce Hornsby. He then progressed to a couple of episodes of Where the Heart Is before hiding out in the woods with the merry men in Robin Hood. A soap is just no fun without the bad boys A love rat, selfish, controlling and an embezzling lawyer, Archie Buchanan, played by Gilly Gilchrist, above, is the husband from hell for long-suffering Gina.

Anything in a skirt is fair game and he's up to his old tricks with Niamh, who went to jail for him.

He stole from Gina, then drugged his mum and tried to make her think she was losing her mind.

He now faces a court case and has persuaded Gina to raise his bail. Nice guy. Black sheep Robert Henderson, played by Maurice Roeves, turns out to be real father of Alice but Moira wisely chose George to bring her up.

Quite a guy, Robert. He breaks into Shirley's flat, clearing out George's things and destroying George and Shirley's wedding tape. Then frames Nicki for theft, vandalises George's bench, holds Shirley and Nicki hostage, tries to force himself on Shirley, attacks Malcolm and Billy and then escapes. Neighbours star Stefan Dennis played Dr Marcus McKenzie. He seemed perfect for Gina. But the charming bedside manner hid a sinister side. He came to a sticky end, but not before he had raped poor, trusting Gina and stabbed Jo.

Heather, Marcus' girl-friend killed him to save her-self.

LORRAINE McINTOSH Following roles in My Name is Joe, Taggart and Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, the Deacon Blue singer joined the cast of River City as Alice.

The former wife of Mac, alcoholic Alice did six months in the clink for trying to frame him for downloading child pornography. She left Sheildinch after disgracing herself when she revealed who her real father was.

Lorraine, 43, left the soap last October to concentrate on theatre work.

At the moment, however, her future lies with music, as she joins husband Ricky Ross on a Deacon Blue tour.

STEPHEN PURDON The actor is more affectionately known to fans as Shellsuit Bob. The son of bad boy Paddy Adams, young Bob was Sheildinch's loveable rogue.

Still a River City regular, Stephen Purdon has had roles in Ratcatcher and Sweet Sixteen. Since the soap, he's been a regular in pantomime, starring as Peter Pan.

However, he won't be donning the face paint this year as River City bosses have banned its stars from appearing in panto. Stephen was seen playing Wee Frankie in The Summer of 69 at the Pavilion.

RYAN FLETCHER Playing reformed bad boy Vader, Ryan was last seen driving into the sunset to explore the world.

Following his departure from River City, Ryan has split his loyalties between the stage and fronting indie band Eryka.

When he's not belting out the tunes, he's treading the boards, as in Ae Fond Kiss - part of Oran Mor's A Play, a Pie and a Pint series.

At present he's in Los Angeles with the highly acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland production, Black Watch, playing Kenzie. Coincidentally, Ryan's grandfather was in the Black Watch regiment.

LAURA O'DONNELL Following roles in Orphans and the film version of the Ian Banks' novel Complicity, with Johnny Lee Miller, young Laura arrived in Montego Street playing Michelle Rafferty, Shellsuit Bob's first love.

Laura swapped Shieldinch for Springburn, where the 21-year-old recently opened a cafe, Laura's Lunches.

Working alongside her aunt Rosemary, Laura plans to open several cafes across Glasgow.

ERIC BARLOW Following parts in orphans, Two Thousand Acres of Sky, and The Bill, Eric turned up in River City as Tommy Donachie, the original landlord of The Tall Ship. Tommy was killed by the Shieldinch Strangler after he rescued his stepdaughter Kirsty from his clutches.

After leaving the soap, Eric starred in Taggart, Monarch of the Glen, Rebus, Casualty and Doctors.

JO CAMERON BROWN Playing granny Moira Henderson, Jo was one of the original River City cast. However, Moira died in a car crash and left Shieldinch forever.

Despite appearing in the soon-top-be released film Einstein and Eddington, alongside David Tennant and Andy Serkis, Jo has been making use of her other talent - that of a voice and dialect coach. She's lent her skills to Starter for Ten, Brick Lane and coached Sophia Myles and Jamie Bell in the acclaimed Hallam Foe.

DUNCAN DUFF Duncan played property developer Lewis Cope in River City. Lewis was the show's prodigal son but became a loser in love when Della left him, taking their son with her.

Fans of the Edinburgh-born actor would have seen him in The Bill, Rosemary and Thyme, Doctor Who and Channel 4's teen drama, Skins.

ALASDAIR HARVEY Playing the role of Ewan Donachie, Alasdair left River City after only one year.

Ewan finally left the show to return to Inverness. Alasdair has continued to work in theatre and television, appearing in several episodes of The Bill as Bruce Malcolm. However, he's perhaps best known as the face behind the confused.com television adverts.