Am I the only person on here that thinks Hollyoaks is now one big joke; the episode on 5th October was the best one I’ve seen in ages and only because it involved the old established characters, who I actually have some sentimental connections with.

Now during its hay day in the late 90’s Hollyoaks was fantastic for teenage people, it was actually a relevant soap with a lot of integrity. But now it’s one big laugh fest and when they try and be serious it just doesn’t work. Now I know most people who think it’s sh*t would say that the fitness off the actors/actresses on the show far outweighs their need for acting skills – but I’ve got to the point where this isn’t the case anymore.

I remember when Natasha OD’d because Rob and Dermot spiked her drink or when Stan and Ollie were involved in a car chase and died – but most people don’t have a clue what or whom I’m going on about. Yet the stuff I just mentioned was fantastic and very good drama.
Also back in the day the acting was a lot better, which is a thing that no longer applies to Hollyoaks.

Basically what I’m getting at is – At 19, am I now too old to still be watching Hollyoaks???

(Yes the title of thread was used for the shock factor).

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No way are you too old. I say that cause I'm 27 and watch it It is a bit of a joke at the moment although I did fine the "family" get together with Max, Tony, Beth etc funny. How mad is Tony?

That's why Hollyoaks is good - because it's not a "typical" soap, it has a lot of comedy in it.

No but to be fair it is a bit lame sometimes. Does anyone else itch to smack Darren? How spoiled can one person be? Also how sad is his dad to fall for it.

Im gonna be 30 next month and have watched Hollyoaks since it started and love it. Like any of the other soaps it has bad spell (eg Eastenders just now) but on the whole I would say its one of the better ones.

well i still enjoy hollyoaks

aanddfan - most of the time the comedy is no longer deliberate and people just end up laughing for a full 28 minutes because its so over the top and cheesy that it just isn't funny anymore. Any serious issues they explore like Mandy physically abusing Tony, or Justin's supposed "drug addiction" are just turned into a joke and not taken seriously - Hollyoaks used to be funny and dramatic at the same time - now every character is a comedian.

One more thing how much of a FOX was Jude Cunningham .

Ive never liked Hollyoaks before now. The ratings haven't got less so I think it's safe.

Its doing really well if its just gone five nights a week, remember they axed Brookie so they could push Hollyoaks as Channel 4's flagship soap, I doubt the end is near. I watch it now and again but wouldn't religiously watch it, but everytime I do watch I want to seriously smack Darren one.

Yes and then give him a big kick in the shin.

I stopped watching Hollyoaks a while ago it really has gone down hill and I started to hate most of the new characters that they bought in, Phil Redmond seems to have lost his way this show should be axed..

The end is nowhere near...its a superb soap!

Wow Lisa we agree on something yet again - question who is your favorite old school Hollyoaks character and why ???

All of the Rob and Lucy stuff was my fave that was the best years for Hollyoaks.

Phil Redmond is not the big innovative genius everyone makes him out to be.
He's rather dull.

Mate, the comedy IS deliberate, and good for them for doing that. If you don't like it you still have EE and Emmerdale, Casualty, Holby City...
Over the past 2 months Hollyoaks has improved so much that it's now become by far the best UK soap !
Some people just don't understand that not everyone likes boring TV.

Dont know how anybody can think that Hollyoaks is a good soap... its pathetic..... Bombhead and Mr C.... give me a break.... if that was real life the guy would be in a nut house......

The acting is dire....i really wish they would show the old episodes... they were great.

I always liked Lucy Benson... terrible things always seemed to happen to her... losing two of her family and getting hooked on heroin.. you actually cared about the characters then.... now it is just a big joke.

Or to put it better, it's exactly as a soap should be and the problem is with EE and the ITV ones.

Because it's interesting, funny, there aren't too many old people.
Bombhead is a legend, Mr C., Lee, Tony are hilarious....

Well you should have taped them then.
Seriously have you tried EE, Emmerdale, Corrrie, H&A, that's 2 hours of very serious traditional drama a day.

I feel sorry for people who don't like Hollyoaks really, you musn't laugh very often.

At the end of the day all comedy and drama is subjective - so most people think i should move on and watch something else instead then ????

But comparing the show to what it once was is very hard to do.

I think the way the show has tackled certain issues has been superb.

Recently the domestic violence storyline with Mandy hitting Tony was superbly done - Tony not feeling like a man, other people not believing him saying he was just soft etc. I'm sure its the kind of thing that some men go through out there. Sure Tony now walks around like he knows it all with councilling but thats a rather good way of brightening things whilst in no way denouncing the seriousness of the original plot.

And the cannabis storyline with Justin is great too. His behaviour, the mother trying to paper over the cracks etc. Again all really true to life.

How people such at TheSarge can say that the show has not taken these issues seriously and has turned them into a joke is beyond me.

I admit its not perfect. The serial killer storyline was squeezed for so long it got stupid - and how they now are trying to make you feel sorry for Ellie is just unrealistic.

It is a breath of fresh air though amongst the sourness of the other soaps.

Only if you're not prepared to give it a fair go.

I still watch Hollyoaks and I'm 31 Us old people still like to have a sense of humour you know!! But why oh why did they kill off Mr C? I must admit though I do miss Jambo and his car.

Hollyoaks is so pants at the mo, most of the characters just need to go, and as for new characters - paler versions of past characters. So panty-pants. C'mon Oakers, get dramatic (no more serial killer storylines please). The Oaks needs a good pyschogical villian, someone who plays mind games and causes distrust...

me and my mum who in here 40's watch and after one omnibus she has got into it and even she finds it funny but i think it could get much better.