River City star Juliet Cadzow reveals fears about joining soap

The 71-year-old began her career working with The Big Yin himself, Sir Billy Connolly, and has become well-known for her roles in Still Game, starring in pantomimes with Elaine C Smith and for playing Edie McCredie in the children’s show Balamory.

But despite her experience in the industry, Cadzow admitted her fears about joining the hit soap in 2018 as series regular Suzie Fraser.

Speaking on BBC’s Big Birthday Bash, she said: “Everybody is so friendly and welcoming, but I was terrified.  

“When I think of all that I have done, I’ve been in Coronation Street, The Bill, but I was terrified when I first went to River City.

“Everybody was lovely. Warm and welcoming and it is a joy [to be part of] actually, it really is.”

Cadzow then discussed her role in Balamory, which was filmed in Mull and ran from 2002 until 2005. She starred alongside the likes of Julie Wilson-Nimmo, Miles Jupp and Andrew Agnew.  

Juliet alongside Julie Wilson-Nimmo in Balamory (Image: Newsquest)

Fans of the programme back in the day will remember that each character has their own song, but Cadzow admitted that she initially dreaded having to sing before her ‘When I Honk My Horn’ song became a hit with viewers.  

She said: “We had terrific fun filming it, a lot of fun.

“In fact, I can remember going back to the songs, when we first went to Mull, we were all in a sort of holding pen, as it were.

“We were taken away one by one.”

After Rodd Christensen, who played Spencer the painter, was taken away, Juliet asked him what he had to do.

She explained: “He said: ‘Oh it was absolutely ghastly; you’ve got to stand in the middle of the street and dance and sing your song’. 

“I said ‘nooo, I’m not going to do that! I’m not doing it!’

“We were convinced to the contrary, we did it and great fun it was too.”