Jacqueline Leonard talks about Lydia's return to BBC River City this week

River City's Lydia Murdoch played by actress Jacqueline Leonard returns to Montego Street this week.

The soap favourite who has built up a resume playing Lorraine Wicks in Eastenders and Linda Hancock in Coronation Street talks about her return to the BBC drama and what the fans can expect next from her character.

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Welcome back! Is it nice to be back in Shieldinch?

Absolutely fantastic to be back in Shieldinch. Initially, I was a little nervous, but as soon as I stepped on set it was like I’d never been away.

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So what’s the story behind Lydia’s return?

The audience last saw Lydia having been apparently shot dead by Lenny, then dumped in the boot of Alex’s car. It was so cold that night, Lydia developed hypothermia, reducing the rate of bleeding which helped Lydia survive.

When Lydia wakes up she tells DCI Grant that Lenny must have discovered her affair with Alex and tried to kill her out of revenge. She’s heartbroken but feels returning to Shieldinch isn’t an option. Lydia makes a Deal with the Devil! Grant helps Lydia fake her death and she escapes to Italy. Grant wants Lenny behind bars for Lydia‘s death. But Lydia will only agree to this if Grant gets word to Amber. She does not want her daughter to suffer in grief. However Grant does nothing of the sort.

Lydia’s frustrated and trapped living another life, unable to speak to a daughter or a granddaughter, and it’s killing her. She wants to see Amber.

However, when she returns to Glasgow there is no sign of Amber and Lydia ends up seeing Lenny and Rory together. This is a huge shock for Lydia because Rory hated his father and she’s reminded of the power Lenny has, that he can get anyone back in his pocket.

Lydia goes to Grant and is heartbroken when she finds out that her daughter still believes she’s dead. She’s lost everything! And she knows she can’t return to Italy. So Lydia goes to a place close to her heart, and builds a life in Barra. Grant finds Lydia and tells her Amber is in danger and needs her help. This is the only way she can get Lydia to go back to Shieldinch.

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Is she happy to be back?

Lydia would never have left Amber willingly so she’s desperate to see Amber but apprehensive at how she will react to her mum still being alive. Lydia knows reconnecting with Amber won’t be easy. She doesn’t want to be drawn back into Lenny’s world either but having had a few years to reflect on what happened to her, she’s no longer frightened of Lenny. Lydia knows her death was a mistake but she despises Lenny for the way he just dumped her body and let Alex take the blame.

How was the reunion between Lydia and Lenny?

Extremely tense! She relives how she survived which brings back many emotions and she tells Lenny after years of wondering why it happened that she now knows it should’ve been Alex who died that night.

It was quite difficult working with Covid restrictions but in many ways it added to the tension of the scene. We had to keep a two meter distance at all times and Lydia wouldn’t have wanted Lenny anywhere near her.

What challenges does Lydia face now she’s back from the dead?

There are many! Lydia will have to face the rage of Alex who went to prison for her death. And the constant resistance from Amber. Her mother abandoned her and she feels betrayed and blames her for everything. She is deeply upset that Lydia didn’t return after hearing about Charlotte‘s death. Amber initially blamed her dad for everything, but it was all a lie. Lydia will have to rebuild her life but has lost all her identity and now Grant has disappeared how does she get back?

Of course there is a real threat from Darren Foulkes Who wants to reap revenge on Lenny. Should Lydia be worried?

Yes. They are extremely dangerous and Alex has reiterated this, and that they are too much for Lenny to handle on his own. (I think he underestimates Lenny). They want Lydia dead to get back at Lenny which means she has to stay hidden in the safe house. Frustrated, Lydia keeps pushing Lenny to get the Foukes family out of the way. She wants her life back!

While Lydia was away, her granddaughter Charlotte died of cancer but she didn’t go to the funeral. How do you think Amber will react to having her mum back?

Lydia didn’t find out about Charlotte’s death until afterwards and Grant told her it was far too dangerous to go to the funeral. Lenny would try to kill her again. Of course Amber doesn’t want to hear any of this. She was alone at such an unbearably sad time and she can’t even bring herself to talk or be in the same room as her mum. Lydia realises that she has to give her daughter time and space to come round.

What is it about Lydia and Lenny’s relationship that makes it so complex?

They absolutely love each other and hate each other at the same time.

Lydia hates his work, the gangster lifestyle. But that gave her a good life! However there was always a sense of underlying danger and fear, which Lydia has witnessed on several occasions. It’s when the children get involved she despises this lifestyle even more! She wants normality, but it’s all that Lenny knows and he’s drawn to that life. When Lydia wakes after her husband has shot her. She is heartbroken! She thinks Lenny shot her because of her affair with Alex but she never ever believed he would ever hurt her. Returning to Shieldinch was not an option, he might try it again. It’s only after going over and over it in her head she realises he meant to shoot Alex. It is true, Lenny would never mean to hurt her!

How does it feel to be back in Dumbarton filming on River City?

Resurrecting Lydia was quite a bold thing to do and I didn’t want to return in a ‘ coming out of the shower’ scene!! The writers have storylined a dramatic, medically accurate and emotionally truthful return and it’s so great to be back! The cast and crew are absolutely fantastic to work. Even though we have to get things done quickly we still try and have some fun.

Was it nice to be reunited with Frank Gallagher?

Yes! Frank is amazing to work with and he is such a brilliant actor!

How have the fans reacted to your return on social media?

Brilliant! There have been lots of will she won’t she conversations, especially since I have just finished in Coronation Street. And many funny conversations about Dallas and being lost in Weatherfield. So many of the fans are very happy to see her return!

What does the future hold for Lydia?

The return to the orbit of the Murdoch‘s and focus on rebuilding and reconnecting with Amber.

Lydia wants a new start, to make her own life, get her identity back and a new job to support herself. It also means there are some explosive and emotional storylines ahead!

River City will now twice-weekly- That’s exciting! What can fans expect from the new format?

River City was twice-weekly when I first started filming. And the cast and crew are over the moon it’s back to that format. The half hour leaves you wanting more but you don’t have to wait as long for the next episode …..

That’s filming wrapped for a few weeks, what plans have you got before returning to Shieldinch?

I’ve had quite a busy few years. I Had a great time teaching and directing throughout Covid and then went on to do some theatre and film Coronation Street so I’m looking forward to a bit of a break. Hopefully a week away in the sun. Although I have no plans yet. I’m always very last minute!

Catch River City On BBC Scotland tonight at 10pm and Wednesday at 10pm. You can also watch the show on BBC One at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday.