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A Soap set in the past?


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Old 09-12-2012, 15:28
TheGraduate2012
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I was just wondering, does anyone think a soap set in a past decade would be more interesting than the modern ones. I'm talking about the 60s, 70s or 80s ala Heartbeat (but more interesting). It's just that most soaps seem terribly dated these days anyway but I think one set in the past would maybe be more realistic, especially because back then people actually did; go to the pub every night; use laundrettes; speak to their neighbours etc.
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Old 09-12-2012, 19:04
KornerKabin
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Months ago I suggested that ITV could do a Downton Abbey style version of Coronation Street set at the beginning of the 1900s.

They could renovate the Quay Street set into an early 20th century version once production of 'modern' Corrie moves to Salford.

Daran Little wrote quite extensive backstories of the first residents of Coronation Street, none of whom, I believe ever actually appeared on the show. All of the original cast moved onto the street in the 1930s apart from, perhaps, Albert Tatlock.
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Old 09-12-2012, 19:23
phill363
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Months ago I suggested that ITV could do a Downton Abbey style version of Coronation Street set at the beginning of the 1900s.

They could renovate the Quay Street set into an early 20th century version once production of 'modern' Corrie moves to Salford.

Daran Little wrote quite extensive backstories of the first residents of Coronation Street, none of whom, I believe ever actually appeared on the show. All of the original cast moved onto the street in the 1930s apart from, perhaps, Albert Tatlock.
They should do that even if its just for a mini series spin off, Coronation Street: The war years, or Coronation street: the depression years, characters from the past could appear played by other people of course.
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Old 09-12-2012, 20:45
gboy
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EastEnders did an episode set during the Second World War called 'Civvy Street', which featured characters Lou, Ethel and Reg Cox as their younger selves. Also, 'Dot's Story' was partially set during WWII.
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Old 09-12-2012, 20:47
EEforest
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EastEnders did a brilliant episode for remembrance day in 2005. It was all about Nana Moon during the war. One of my favourite ever soap episodes.
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Old 10-12-2012, 00:15
MelSingleton
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I was just wondering, does anyone think a soap set in a past decade would be more interesting than the modern ones. I'm talking about the 60s, 70s or 80s ala Heartbeat (but more interesting). It's just that most soaps seem terribly dated these days anyway but I think one set in the past would maybe be more realistic, especially because back then people actually did; go to the pub every night; use laundrettes; speak to their neighbours etc.
Australian serial 'The Sullivans' set during World War II was very popular in its day (1976-1983).
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Old 10-12-2012, 00:32
Anti Static
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ITV used to run an afternoon soap in the 70's called The Cedar Tree which was set in the 1920's and centred around an aristocratic family. Imagine a poor-man's version of Downton Abbey with dialogue and sets by Crossroads and you've pretty much got the picture.

Just found a clip on YT: http://youtu.be/uymQKSP_tpM
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Old 10-12-2012, 01:20
Pierson
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Months ago I suggested that ITV could do a Downton Abbey style version of Coronation Street set at the beginning of the 1900s.

They could renovate the Quay Street set into an early 20th century version once production of 'modern' Corrie moves to Salford.

Daran Little wrote quite extensive backstories of the first residents of Coronation Street, none of whom, I believe ever actually appeared on the show. All of the original cast moved onto the street in the 1930s apart from, perhaps, Albert Tatlock.
One of the reasons why this has never been attempted is the cost - Downton Abbey is one of the most expensive TV shows around. In order to do it well, they'd need a large budget like Downton Abbey (which costs millions per episode).

Another reason is that writing wise, it'd be near impossible to do. You need to be able to research stories thoroughly. It'd start off well but down the line, things would fall apart as there's not enough time to put together stories that are realistic and well researched in the amount of time soaps have. Soap operas rely on pushing boundaries, you can't do that with a period soap opera, the scope for storylines is very limited.
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Old 10-12-2012, 07:44
MrGiles2
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There are quite a few stories of Catherine Cookson which have been filmed over the years, many of them are still enjoyable viewing. More like "oldie" soaps.

And talking of older soaps, I remember The Grove Family which aired on BBC during the mid 1950s. Supposedly a working class family they had a four bedroom house, a workshop, a car, and never seemed to be short of money. That was how BBC used to depict working class families in those days. The Grove Family were actually middle class.

The soap ran for two years and featured Edward Evans, Ruth Dunning and Christopher Beeny as the son. Cannot recall the name of the actress who played the daughter.

The oldie "Corrie" from the days when it first started in 1961 was more working class, and they had very strong characters in those days, many of them now legends in their own right.

Only Ken Barlow, Emily Bishop and Dennis Tanner survive from those early years.
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:36
KornerKabin
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One of the reasons why this has never been attempted is the cost - Downton Abbey is one of the most expensive TV shows around. In order to do it well, they'd need a large budget like Downton Abbey (which costs millions per episode).

Another reason is that writing wise, it'd be near impossible to do. You need to be able to research stories thoroughly. It'd start off well but down the line, things would fall apart as there's not enough time to put together stories that are realistic and well researched in the amount of time soaps have. Soap operas rely on pushing boundaries, you can't do that with a period soap opera, the scope for storylines is very limited.
Do you work for ITV?
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:48
David the Wavid
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Months ago I suggested that ITV could do a Downton Abbey style version of Coronation Street set at the beginning of the 1900s.

They could renovate the Quay Street set into an early 20th century version once production of 'modern' Corrie moves to Salford.

Daran Little wrote quite extensive backstories of the first residents of Coronation Street, none of whom, I believe ever actually appeared on the show. All of the original cast moved onto the street in the 1930s apart from, perhaps, Albert Tatlock.
I've suggested such a series to ITV as it would be a real shame to waste probably the only opportunity to do it without having to build a set from scratch.

If they went by what's been written in the books, the first familiar character to move into the street would be Albert Tatlock in 1919. Harry Hewitt and Esther Hayes were born in 1922 and 1924, and the rest of the original cast arrived in the 1930s or later, although Albert and Ena Sharples (then Schofield) had worked across the street at Hardcastle's cotton mill since before 1910. We'd probably see a few familiar faces in the Rovers too.

If ITV was to do it I hope they'd start from 1902 and we'd see the first residents moving in, and the Rovers opening for the first time. The books would be a good source material but they do make for some grim reading as there are so many grisly deaths!

One of the reasons why this has never been attempted is the cost - Downton Abbey is one of the most expensive TV shows around. In order to do it well, they'd need a large budget like Downton Abbey (which costs millions per episode).

Another reason is that writing wise, it'd be near impossible to do. You need to be able to research stories thoroughly. It'd start off well but down the line, things would fall apart as there's not enough time to put together stories that are realistic and well researched in the amount of time soaps have. Soap operas rely on pushing boundaries, you can't do that with a period soap opera, the scope for storylines is very limited.
I think KK meant it more as a one-off or a multi-part drama rather than soap (just guessing).
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:54
KornerKabin
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I've suggested such a series to ITV as it would be a real shame to waste probably the only opportunity to do it without having to build a set from scratch.

If they went by what's been written in the books, the first familiar character to move into the street would be Albert Tatlock in 1919. Harry Hewitt and Esther Hayes were born in 1922 and 1924, and the rest of the original cast arrived in the 1930s or later, although Albert and Ena Sharples (then Schofield) had worked across the street at Hardcastle's cotton mill since before 1910. We'd probably see a few familiar faces in the Rovers too.

If ITV was to do it I hope they'd start from 1902 and we'd see the first residents moving in, and the Rovers opening for the first time. The books would be a good source material but they do make for some grim reading as there are so many grisly deaths!



I think KK meant it more as a one-off or a multi-part drama rather than soap (just guessing).
Thank you for this David - I'm glad that you think it could be a serious possibility!

I've not read the Daran Little books for a long, long time now, hence my sketchy recollections about dates and characters.

Starting the show from 1902 would be marvellous. I remember that Daran Little wrote quite vivid sections about each family moving into their brand new houses - a far cry from the tatty houses we associate with Coronation Street today.

As for grisly deaths, I remember the bit about the tee-total woman who protested outside of the Rovers, was pushed over and split her head open on the cobbles and died

Oh and you're right, I didn't originally think of it as a 'soap' that would run and run ... but now I think of it ... why not?!
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:58
kimindex
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ITV used to run an afternoon soap in the 70's called The Cedar Tree which was set in the 1920's and centred around an aristocratic family. Imagine a poor-man's version of Downton Abbey with dialogue and sets by Crossroads and you've pretty much got the picture.

Just found a clip on YT: http://youtu.be/uymQKSP_tpM
I used to love that! There was the Sullivans, too.
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Old 10-12-2012, 10:13
David the Wavid
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Actually, thinking about it, it wouldn't be impossible for them to redress the set while it's being used. All they would need are frontages for the cotton mill and the Mission, which would tower over the modern houses anyway. Everything else is cosmetic (new doors/windows/brickwork, etc). It would be a logistical nightmare to plan filming for both shows, though.
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Old 10-12-2012, 10:51
KornerKabin
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Actually, thinking about it, it wouldn't be impossible for them to redress the set while it's being used. All they would need are frontages for the cotton mill and the Mission, which would tower over the modern houses anyway. Everything else is cosmetic (new doors/windows/brickwork, etc). It would be a logistical nightmare to plan filming for both shows, though.
It could be possible you're right but it would be more than a nightmare!

The smaller changes to the houses could be achievable but the main problems would be No.7. and No.9. The corner shop would be the biggest set change as it would need a completely new frontage.
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Old 11-12-2012, 18:40
TheGraduate2012
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I suppose it would be a tall order in terms of costing if they were to do a soap from decades ago especially for 3-5 episodes a week. Maybe if they just went back to the 70s/80s ala Life on Mars? I remember Eastenders' flashback episode now, they did a really good job.
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Old 12-12-2012, 03:39
SuperAPJ
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I think that a lot of Eastenders fans would like a soap set in the time before Danielle was killed!
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