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Anyone else both rue & lament the fact, that we will never again see a new soap?
I was talking about this to a fellow soap lover and we relised that no tv network in the day and age would ever dream of commissioning a new soap.:( This left us feeling sad, as we can both remember the glory years of the 80s, when tv was filled with loads of them.
But alas, this will never be the case again.
But alas, this will never be the case again.
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I disagree. With new channels since the 80s there is more chance not less of a new soap. I think channel 5 could launch a new one. I'd like a Birmingham soap. We've had Manchester, London and Liverpool so why not Birmingham? I would love the accents.
I doubt that, they would simply replace it with cheap reality shite.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a615902/new-irish-soap-red-rock-to-begin-advertising-campaign.html#~oYjDDqv6BHg1Kt
So I wouldn't write off the idea. Nothing lasts forever, old things die, new things come along.
Now Hollyoaks has gone down the tubes, there's an open goal for anyone who wants to start a decent ongoing youth drama.
I'd love a new soap but like the OP I just can't see it happening. If there were one, it would undoubtedly be a daytime drama such as Doctors rather than a prime time fixture. The days of new traditional soap operas are long gone.
'Doctors' is set in Birmingham as was 'Crossroads'. I think a Welsh English language soap opera could be good, possibly set in Cardiff, as I like the accent.
I don't know why, but a new soap on either C4 or C5 wouldnt be as successful as one being on either BBC or ITV.
The problem is that it inevitably will be another EE or Corrie, as that is what works. I know years ago they started a new soap based around middle class characters and that didn't work.
I think what could work, is to have another soap that is broadcast later after the watershed, either on BBC or ITV and could show stuff that EE and Corrie only can only go so far with.
The Only Way Is Essex is a modern soap of sorts.
Never say Never.
I did wonder about Crossroads but I was only young when it was on and can't remember where it was set. Yes Newcastle could be good I love Geordie accents. I can't speak Welsh
It'll be interesting to see how Red Rock pans out. They're trying to cover all bases by marketing it as a soap as well as a police procedural so I've a feeling it may end up like something along the lines of The Bill or Casualty where you have a crime or illness of the week with soapy storylines going on in the background.
There was Quayside in the late 90's but it was only shown regionally so nobody ever remembers it.
Unfortunately they don't appear to be. When asked about the possible resurrection of Brookside, they made a comment about an exciting new drama coming up. Everyone got excited and thought that it may be a new soap but then they announced their new school drama with the working title of The ABC. It basically appears to be Waterloo Road with a more ethnically diverse cast.
You're right about TOWIE and it's kind being modern soaps. The likes of the Real Housewives series has definitely taken the place of the US glamour soaps that were so big in the 80's and on the daytime schedules for years. We still get primetime soaps like Nashville and Revenge every so often but the daytime soaps have been decimated from 12 being on air during the era of Sunset Beach to just 4 left now and I do think that cheaper reality soaps like Real Housewives have played a part in this. Personally I'd rather watch a scripted drama. I don't mind TOWIE but The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Made in Chelsea are really really awful.
Dear God no:o
Still I think reality shows have taken the place of soaps
However there's scope for new soaps. Currently we only have working class soaps; would be interesting to see a suburban soap. Also the obvious one is that all the big soaps air before the watershed so you could have a later soap where people didn't say 'flaming' all the time.
I dont believe there will ever be another major soap on the scale size and popularity of EastEnders, Coronation Street or Emmerdale-I dont believe any uk broadcaster would stump up the huge amount of upfront cash needed for such a commitment and more to the point such a gamble.
I think there is a still a possibility of niche soaps that are smaller scale and cheaper to make but what increasingly broadcasters seem to be doing is commisioning scripted reality shows like TOWIE,Made in Chelsea,The Valleys,Ex on the beach,Geordie Shore which are soap like (in a very cheap diluted partial way!) and contain SOME elements of soaps, "characters" to root for and invest in,onscreen romance,tension,feuds,drama with an element of it being a continuing story.They are much cheaper to make than soaps and therefore they easily cover their production costs and are much less of a risk/gamble if they flop.
So we will have things partially akin to a soap or soaplite but major new soapa-no not in my opinion.
The genre has had a tremendously good long run for its money but in many ways their losing their potency and pulling power in a multi channel era so a big major soap would be seen as too big a risk.
i have fond memories of the wonderful amy turtle. crossroads in the 70's, now there was a soap.
we still have doctors representing the west midlands, doing very nicely and is the uk's 4th most watched continuing drama after emmerdale.
i also love regional accents.
The poster clearly said an English language soap opera set in Wales.
As for their being no space in the schedule. Channel 5 could introduce a new soap going out 4 times a week in the following spaces.
Saturday - Not worth it
Sunday - 7pm - 9pm
Monday - No slots
Tuesday - 8pm or 8:30pm
Wednesday - 8pm or 8:30pm
Thursday - 8:30pm
Friday - No slots
I love the accent on River City