|
||||||||
Why since Crossroads have we never had a British soap set in the Midlands? |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
Why since Crossroads have we never had a British soap set in the Midlands?
The Midlands are, after all, the heart of the nation. The North and South of England are very much in their own defined worlds as demonstrated by the two dominant soaps of the past few decades. A good Midlands soap set in a fictional Midlands town would be an interesting premise because it would show England as is really is, without clear definition.
|
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 3,290
|
Doctors is based in the Midlands area from the accents I detect. Although I know Doctors is technically a drama and not a soap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Over the hills and far away
Posts: 12,540
|
There are lots of parts of the UK that don't have soaps or other tv programmes set in them, and never have had. The part of Scotland I live in has never had a soap, or as far as I know any other t.v. programme set in it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think the BBC is much interested in anything outside of London and its commuter belt. The other stations are much better at this but what they have is soaps that are now long running and can justify the money invested in them -maybe they're reluctant to take a chance on a new one?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
I've never seen Doctors as a soap, personally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: notts Uk
Posts: 2,026
|
The archers is set in the midlands and has been running for over 62 years.
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
Quote:
The archers is set in the midlands and has been running for over 62 years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Winter is coming.
Posts: 13,324
|
Midlands is pretty much North to us Southerners... So you've got Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Hollyoaks, The Archers
|
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,434
|
Quote:
The archers is set in the midlands and has been running for over 62 years.
I listen to the archers every day. Ambridge Extra is also very gripping. Why isn't there a thread for the Archers?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,434
|
Quote:
You know I wasn't referring to a radio soap
|
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
Quote:
Its still a soap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,434
|
Quote:
Well, let me rephrase - Why since Crossroads have we never had a British television soap set in the Midlands?
![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Over the hills and far away
Posts: 12,540
|
Quote:
Midlands is pretty much North to us Southerners... So you've got Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Hollyoaks, The Archers
![]() ![]() ![]() In Scotland, many of us wonder why Manchester is referred to as 'the North' - it looks like it's in the middle of England to us (ducks to avoid bullets)! Now, Thurso, they could tell you about being in the North.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: notts Uk
Posts: 2,026
|
Quote:
You beat me to it
I listen to the archers every day. Ambridge Extra is also very gripping. Why isn't there a thread for the Archers? |
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Exiled Mancunian
Posts: 30,830
|
Quote:
![]() ![]() In Scotland, many of us wonder why Manchester is referred to as 'the North' - it looks like it's in the middle of England to us (ducks to avoid bullets)! Now, Thurso, they could tell you about being in the North.And Muckle Flugga is further north than Thurso Thurso are SO Southern it hurts.Back on topic - new Brummie soap please! So many options - set it in the world of fashion and bring the city's landmarks into public viewing. |
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
Quote:
It's more of a "political" north - that whole former industrial belt from Eastham Ferry to the Hull docks.
And Muckle Flugga is further north than Thurso Thurso are SO Southern it hurts.Back on topic - new Brummie soap please! So many options - set it in the world of fashion and bring the city's landmarks into public viewing. |
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Over the hills and far away
Posts: 12,540
|
I think that when tv programme makers are giving the green light to programmes being made, location is one of the things they consider because it will help to create a sense of identity about the programme.
People who have never been to these places can instantly call up a picture of a village in Yorkshire, a backstreet in Manchester, an East End square. It's probably an inaccurate picture, but there's something they can take hold off. With the scottish soap 'Take the High Road' for instance - it was filmed on the edge of central Scotland, only about twenty miles from Glasgow, but although they never defined exactly where it was, the impression was that it was much further into the Highlands. Why? Because for a programme that was potentially going to be networked and sent abroad as well, the Highlands (even though the Highland is a vast and very varied area) is a place that they will have a pre-conceived idea about, and some recognition of. The midlands probably suffers from the same 'prejudice' as the central belt of Scotland - it's been industrial,, and the communities are largely neither big cities or farming villlages (as opposed to industrial villages). It's too much of a mix, and not clearly defined as one thing. Also, there's a perception that 'industrial areas' are not beautiful, so there would be no interesting scenery and lovely countryside, which just isn't true. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 7,096
|
I'd be quite happy to see repeats of Crossroads (1980 - 1988),which are NOT wiped-off! ITV 3 or Drama could show them twice daily.....instead of the perrenial Heartbeat, Last of the Summer Wine etc!:yawn:
|
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Over the hills and far away
Posts: 12,540
|
Quote:
It's more of a "political" north - that whole former industrial belt from Eastham Ferry to the Hull docks.
And Muckle Flugga is further north than Thurso Thurso are SO Southern it hurts.Back on topic - new Brummie soap please! So many options - set it in the world of fashion and bring the city's landmarks into public viewing. ![]() The good people of Unst would no doubt agree - but Manchester would be the balmy tropics to them!I have to admit, I know nothing about Birmingham or the midlands (apart from Crossroads) and I think in a way, that might be part of the problem, it's not really a place that people who don't know it have a clear image of, where people do have preconceived ideas about the East End, Manchester and Yorkshire (however unrealistic these may be). That's going to be a big hinderance when you're trying to get viewers interested in a soap. |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: The Mean Streets of Greenwich
Posts: 67,165
|
Quote:
![]() ![]() In Scotland, many of us wonder why Manchester is referred to as 'the North' - it looks like it's in the middle of England to us (ducks to avoid bullets)! Now, Thurso, they could tell you about being in the North.![]() Manchester is just slap bang in the middle!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,131
|
As previously stated, Doctors is a soap and is set in the Midlands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Black Country lad in Yorkshire
Posts: 118,101
|
Crossroads was set in a motel. The motel was in the Midlands but it could have been anywhere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209
|
Quote:
As previously stated, Doctors is a soap and is set in the Midlands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Winter is coming.
Posts: 13,324
|
Quote:
![]() ![]() In Scotland, many of us wonder why Manchester is referred to as 'the North' - it looks like it's in the middle of England to us (ducks to avoid bullets)! Now, Thurso, they could tell you about being in the North. Heck if it's above the M4 corridor it's borderline...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Guest
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,931
|
A Brookside-type soap set in a modern housing development and based in the Midlands would work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 4,434
|
Quote:
A Brookside-type soap set in a modern housing development and based in the Midlands would work.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 13:39.





Thurso are SO Southern it hurts.