Tragedy comes to River City as characters' lives hang in balance

One might think the BBC drama’s scriptwriters could have given Kim a break, considering that in recent years she has been diagnosed with heart failure, survived a transplant and had to cope with her mum’s diagnosis of dementia.

But no, poor Kim and her beloved Bob (Stephen Purdon) are about to find their lives thrown into turmoil once more as a life-threatening car crash leaves two key characters’ lives hanging in the balance…

Bob and Angus are confronted by a horrifying scene (Image: BBC/ALAN PEEBLES)

Angus (Scott Fletcher) (Image: BBC/ALAN PEEBLES)

“It was very emotional and actually quite harrowing, but acting with Stephen and Scott [Fletcher, who plays Angus], was very supportive, it felt like we were all in it together,” says Frances, who is from Glasgow's Southside.

“The whole team is involved when you’re doing something like this, and being on location made it a bit different.”

She adds: “I’ve been lucky in the last seven years I’ve played Kim to have had so many different kinds of stories, it’s definitely been an emotional rollercoaster so far.

“You kind of fall in love with the character you play on a show like River City, and you want to do her justice.”

The drama begins as the O’Hara family prepare to set off on their family holiday.

Just as they are about to hit the road, Angus tells Bob an urgent job has come in and they will have to catch up with Kim and Bernie (Barbara Rafferty) later on - but it is all a ploy, as Bob secretly plans to collect Kim’s engagement ring.

Sadly, it means Bob and Angus are the ones who arrive first at the crash site.

Barbara Rafferty as Bernie (Image: BBC/ALAN PEEBLES)

The nail-bitingly tense scenes that follow will have viewers on the edge of their seats (and reaching for the hankies...)

Frances actually appeared on the long-running BBC drama series before she landed the role of nurse and young mum Kim.

Kim (Frances Thorburn) and Bernie (Barbara Rafferty) are caught up in a car crash (Image: BBC/ALAN PEEBLES)

“A long time ago, I had a tiny part as a politician’s wife,” she explains, adding with a laugh: “I was married to Colin McCredie’s character Nick – and actually, Holly Jack, who plays Nicole, had an affair with Nick and then when I came back as Kim, she also had an affair with Bob.”

Tragedy is coming to Shieldinch... (Image: BBC/ALAN PEEBLES)

Frances recalls: “I loved that first part, and I hoped and prayed I might get asked back to be a regular.

“I had watched River City for years as a fan, so landing the role of Kim really was a dream.”

She adds: “And to be able to work alongside all these legends of Scottish theatre and screen, like Barbara Rafferty, is a real gift.”

READ NEXT: Story of fire that 'burned for decades' in hills near Glasgow turned into a play

Frances began singing before she started acting, and for a while was unsure exactly which way she wanted to go.

“There was no drama department at my school but we did a school show, South Pacific, and that was the first time I thought - maybe this is what I could do?” she explains.

Frances as Dusty at Oran Mor (Image: Newsquest)

“I started singing when I was 15, and joined a jazz band – I was doing gigs with the band while I studied for my Highers.

“I wasn’t really sure whether to do drama, or music. Back then there wasn’t a musical theatre course, so you had to decide."

She adds, grinning: “Telly wasn’t part of it though. I thought I’d be changing the world, in theatre.”

Having several strings to her bow has paid off, she agrees. During six years working in London, Frances landed roles in high-profile productions including Fiddler On The Roof at the Savoy Theatre and Anthony and Cleopatra at the Globe Theatre.

In Glasgow, she has also cornered the market in playing iconic female singers on stage, including Marilyn Monroe at the Citizens Theatre, and Judy Garland, Dusty Springfield and, recently, Patsy Cline, at Oran Mor.

READ NEXT: I saw When We Were Young at Glasgow's Pavilion - here is my verdict

“I love playing these women, I admire their tenacity, the sheer grit and the power they had in their worlds,” says Frances.

“Patsy Cline, for example, was a trailblazer in country music.”

There are not many opportunities for Kim to burst into song on River City, admits Frances.

“Although they know I can sing, so they do try and slip in the odd song for me to do, which is fun," she adds, laughing.

“I love being in River City and it has definitely changed my life. I do get stopped on the street more.

"But I was never really ambitious for fame, I just want to make great work.

“I have nearly jacked it in a number of times,  but I’ve always managed to keep going, and it’s a magical journey.”

The dramatic episodes will be shown on the BBC Scotland channel at 10pm on Monday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 28, and on BBC iPlayer.