PJ Corrigan swaps the Tall Ship for an army tank

PJ Corrigan is leaving River City's Shieldinch (BBC Scotland/ Alan Peebles)

Despite his character Stevie’s troubles, viewers have taken him to their hearts.

But now he’s set to bow out in one of the BBC Scotland soap’s drama-packed storylines.

And PJ, as he’s known to all, has told The Sunday Post how he knew the time was definitely right to say farewell to Shieldinch.

“This really has been a leap of faith and you’ve got to be sure,” confides the friendly 32-year-old.

“After this length of time there’s a real attachment and it feels like family.

“But there’s also the security side of things in not leaving when you don’t know what you might be going on to.

“You’ve got to be sensible and when I’ve thought about it before it didn’t feel right.

“This time, though, it definitely did and I haven’t felt any regrets.”

The timing obviously helped. Although we’re just about to witness Stevie’s departure, PJ actually filmed the scenes last autumn.

That was just before he started a lengthy and lucrative panto run at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh.

And later this year he’ll be one of the stars of the Gary: Tank Commander live shows at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

The soap exit comes when Stevie, after celebrating becoming a dad with a few drinks, gets involved in a scrap on the way home.

He throws the first punch but is shocked when he later hears his supposed attacker is in a coma, and subsequently dies.

With the police hunting the victim’s attacker, Stevie feels the net closing in.

PJ initially joined the soap for just three episodes and, after such a long time there, he admits it was strange taking his leave.

“It was an emotional last filming day with a lot of stuff to do,” he reveals.

“So I didn’t have too much time to dwell on things or take a last stroll along the street.

“I did do a wee speech after my final scene, thanking everyone.

“Then I just went home and had a cold beer and thought, ‘That’s it.’”

Paul James (above, with Keira Lucchesi, who plays Stella Walker) is getting ready to leave Shieldinch in a drama-packed episode (BBC Scotland/Alan Peebles)

Over the years Stevie has gone from bad boy drug addict to a reformed character running the Tall Ship pub.

Regardless of Stevie’s fortunes he has been a real fans’ favourite.

“He’s really a bit of a loveable rogue,” says PJ. “When he got off the drugs and straightened himself out I’d get lots of nice older women coming up saying they were so glad.

“And when he was struggling they’d say how sorry they were to see he was in trouble. People liked him and that’s lovely.”

The show also made PJ a bit of a heartthrob with all-ages appeal.

“The only hassle at all came when I was out for a night and I’d get lots of young girls coming up to get their photos taken with me.

“It was usually their boyfriends taking the photos and some of them didn’t look too happy.”

Since the panto came to an end PJ has used the free time to get himself back to the gym. He says he’s getting close to the super-toned shape he was in during the acclaimed tour of Gregory Burke’s play Black Watch, which he did before River City.

And the fitness will come in very useful during what’s sure to be the adrenaline-filled and keenly anticipated Gary: Tank Commander shows alongside Gary McHugh in October.

“I was at the Still Game shows at the Hydro and the atmosphere was incredible, so I’m looking forward to that,” adds PJ.

“Paul Riley, who plays Winston, is a pal and when I asked him what it was like coming out on stage each night he said it was like being Elvis!”

Meanwhile PJ and girlfriend Sarah will make sure they catch this week’s explosive events which set up his exit a week on Tuesday.

River City, BBC1 Scotland, Tues, 8pm.

Still Game stage show as Scottish as it gets