The Great BBC Soap Opera

The future of River City has been discussed in the Scottish Parliament after the BBC’s decision to cancel the long-running soap due to "changing viewing patterns". MSPs were supported by members of the cast at Holyrood – and join other famous names like Ewan McGregor, Richard E Grant and Irvine Welsh in urging the corporation to reconsider. We ask TV critic Siobhan Synott if Scotland is a place for creatives to thrive. And actor Tom Urie, who played Big Bob in the soap, tells us how important it has been in launching careers. And what to do about 'headphone dodgers' who play music and videos out loud in public? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says 'the Scottish political establishment is scared' of his party after being excluded from a summit organised by First Minister John Swinney. We ask Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd whether Mr Swinney’s description of Mr Farage’s party as 'far right' is fair. And as rumours swirl about the celebrity lineup, would Martin and Laura prefer to be a Faithful or a Traitor? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

The Scottish Government has accepted that it has an 'obligation' to move at pace to implement the effects of the UK Supreme Court’s decision that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Meanwhile, a top Scottish lawyer, Roddy Dunlop, has criticised Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman for what he described as 'reprehensible' comments attacking the judiciary. Ms Chapman - the deputy convener of Holyrood's equalities committee - was filmed at a weekend rally condemning what she called 'bigotry, prejudice and hatred coming from the Supreme Court'. Martin asks Lynsey Bews and Phil Sim what the decision means. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Anne Marie Ward from Faces and Voices of Recovery UK has dedicated her life to advocating for those recovering from addiction. She tells us why we need to think differently about our drugs deaths crisis. And gives her take on drug consumption rooms, which we talked about in the very first episode of Scotcast. You can listen to ‘UK’s first drug supervision room opens’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027430 Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

With a third of Scots classed as obese, it’s no wonder weight-loss medicines like Ozempic, which isn’t approved in the UK, are in demand. Pharmacist Sehar Shahid, who prescribes Wegovy and Mounjaro, tells Martin about the complications people are risking by getting these drugs without a prescription. You can listen to our first episode on so-called ‘skinny jabs’, 'Can weight-loss jabs save the NHS?’, on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028sqf Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Some campaigners pushing for the reintroduction of lynx to the Highlands as part of a wider rewilding campaign. We ask former president of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, Martin Kennedy, why he and others have such strong objections. Martin also responds to some of the claims made in the first episode we did on this topic. You can listen to 'Who thinks lynx should roam the Highlands?' on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027tgn Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Age-checking techniques must be introduced to all UK websites where pornography can be found by July. We ask former porn producer Mike Stabile from the Free Speech Coalition, the US adult entertainment trade body, why his organisation opposes the measures. And Mike responds to allegations, made in the first episode we did on this topic, that the porn industry bullies its opponents. You can listen to ‘Mary v the porn industry’ on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027430 Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Martin Geissler speaks to BBC reporter Katie Hunter, who has been investigating millionaire Kevin Booth (pictured), who abused women in an underground chamber at his remote Highland home and in foreign hotel rooms. And with an 'extreme' wildfire warning in place across much of Scotland – we ask fire expert Professor Rory Hadden and environmental scientist and campaigner Laura Young if Scotland is prepared for our changing climate. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]. Artwork photo credit: Peter Jolly/Northpix

Two weeks before Netflix released Adolescence, a debut novel by Scottish writer Chris McQueer with strikingly similar influences was published. Chris tells Martin about the 'boggin' things he saw while researching incels and the so-called manosphere for his book, Hermit, and reveals why he thinks some young men are so attracted to the message of online influencers like Andrew Tate. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Politicians in Holyrood and Westminster are preparing to vote on changing the law to allow terminally-ill people the right to seek medical help to die. We ask the BBC’s Phil Sim and health journalist Helen Puttick about the differences between the assisted dying bill going through the Scottish Parliament – put forward by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur – and Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s (both pictured), which applies to England and Wales. And Laura and Martin discuss the story of a 'miracle' baby - born to a Scottish mum using a donated womb. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]