The actor who has played the longest running character in River City, which is filmed in Dumbarton, is taking his passion for Rangers to the stage.

Stephen Purdon swapped the specially built Shieldinch set at Gooseholm to take on the role of Scotland’s first world champion boxer Benny Lynch this year.

He has since been busy touring the country in the hard-hitting production, but his latest endeavour will provide some light relief for the actor who has supported Rangers all his life.

The 36-year-old is now set to star in Rally Roon the Rangers later this month at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre giving the Ibrox faithful a play they can cheer on.

“It has been a long time since there has been a Rangers show on the stage,”said Stephen, who has played Bob O’Hara or Shellsuit Bob as he is also known, in the soap since 2002.

“There has been a lot about Celtic. Celtic - The Musical, The Celtic Story, Celts in Seville.

“I think the fans will love the banter. It is something for Rangers fans and hopefully, they like it.”

Read more: Archive Hour: Dumbarton twins set to star in River City

The play was created by the team behind Singin I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim and centres around the story of eight die-hard Rangers fans.

With Scots Squad funnyman Grado also on board, the story follows the group as they try to save The Wee Rangers Supporters Club from demolition.

As well as plenty of laughs, the play will also feature ‘simply the best’ of Rangers songs.

And for Stephen, it is a role he will relish.

“I am now 36 and I have been going to Ibrox since I was eight or nine,” he explained.

“My dad was a mad Rangers fan and he went to games everywhere.

“I have my own season ticket, and the club is a very important thing in my life.”

He joked: “I love Rangers and my wife kind of moans about it a lot because I am always planning my calendar around football games.”

A love of Rangers was perhaps one draw for taking on the project for Stephen. Another was sharing the stage again with his good pal Grado, whose real name is Graeme Stevely.

He added: “I remember I first met him when he did a few episodes of River City. I was like, ‘who is this guy? I cannae work with this guy’

“We are quite close friends now and we have done a lot together.

“He is mad and always bouncing about, doing something or carrying on.

“He is a great, genuine guy and he is really down to earth.

“We get on great.”

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Rally Roon the Rangers at the Pavilion Theatre from July 24 to August 3.

For tickets, visit paviliontheatre.co.uk.