HE is the man responsible for some of Shieldinch's most explosive dramas and grittiest one-liners.

HE is the man responsible for some of Shieldinch's most explosive dramas and grittiest one-liners.

Now James Doherty, who has written many an episode for BBC soap River City, has been put in charge of the script for the new trust running Glasgow's museums and leisure centres.

Mr Doherty has been named as the £50,000-a-year "spin doctor" for Culture and Sport Glasgow.

His main task is making sure the charitable trust - chaired by former Lord Provost Liz Cameron and whose members include Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden and Lord Stevenson of Coddenham - looks good in the press.

It may all sound a far cry from the world of Shellsuit Bob, Scarlet, Roisin and the other tough-talking regulars at the Ship Inn.

But it'll be no easier a job for Mr Doherty, 32, who is currently a senior press officer at Glasgow City Council.

The council, which is the sole owner of Culture and Sport Glasgow, says the trust's creation will save the local authority almost £10million a year, mostly from reduced business rates available to charities.

But it was created amid opposition from politicians who claimed services were already run well under public control, and the new body - which will hold its board meetings in private - would be less open and accountable.

The trust is also being probed by European Union officials after a complaint the council should have put the services out to tender, allowing other companies to compete to run the services.

News last month that Culture and Sport Glasgow was advertising for a "media manager" - Mr Doherty's new post - fanned the flames of the controversy with the council's SNP group leader John Mason saying the job would be about "spin" and "burying bad news".

Mr Doherty said: "I'm delighted to join a team which is constantly delivering an outstanding service for the people of Glasgow and look forward to building on that success."