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Hollyoaks crisis!


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Old 31-05-2015, 11:18
coreyseville
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Hi,

As I am sure a lot of Hollyoaks fans are aware, the past few months have been terrible for the show. The ratings are dire and I'm even finding it hard to support the show. I've watched the show pretty much most of my life (I'm 20) and I still love it but recently I can feel myself not being as interested in it anymore. The story lines are rushed and not thought out (Jason had a eating disorder for what 2 weeks?). I find myself complaining about the show on Twitter more than I do compliment the team. Most of the characters are now involved in some sort of crime which is making most of the village not likeable. We have run out of fun and humorous storylines instead everyone is either hiding a murder or a dark secret from their past.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...I am just getting past the target audience age range or is the show in need of fast revamp? I love the show and would hate to see it axed for good but the way things are going I can see that happening very fast. The first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of Brian Kirkwood, I had so much hope when he was announced to be coming back but he has clearly lost the plot and no longer able to do his job well. My replacement for BK would be Gareth Phillips, he took over the show after the awful Emma Smithwick finishing of the Silas storyline etc...He was only in the role for a very short amount of time while they looked for long term replacement but i think given time Gareth could have proved very popular with viewers.

Another thing that needs doing is getting rid of all the gangster crap and let some of the characters breath. We can still have a dramatic show without all the drugs crap that is being thrust upon us all the time, Hollyoaks to me is always at its best when tackling hard hitting storylines that are being told well (Hannahs anorexia, Stes HIV episode etc...).

What do you to guys think need to happen? What things wukd you do to help save the show?
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Old 31-05-2015, 12:11
nightwish1990
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They need to get rid of Kirkwood and kill Silas off screen. I think we need to draw a line under the past and focus on the future and clinging on to the hope that Silas will return is hopeless.

They need to focus on relationships and stop splitting couples up every week.

If they need to have a villain then they should make believable villains. We need a reason / storyline as to why they are so nasty. Panto villains like Grace and Freddie are hopeless. No reason as to why they are the mess they are.

Maybe get rid of Nancy. She just seems to settle for a week or two then has an affair. Maybe have Nancy leave to join her mum.

They need to stop relying on making characters gay so that John Paul and Ste can have a storyline. People don't just turn gay at the click of their fingers. I think they need to give Ste a really long break and stop giving him pointless storyline after pointless storyline all relating to his sexuality. His storylines are all relating to his sexuality.
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Old 31-05-2015, 13:34
West End Boy
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I am enjoying Hollyoaks at present, but I think storylines need to be followed through, we need an aftermath when things happen. When somebody has died they are forgotten with in a fortnight and everybody is ok and carries on as though it had not happened.

I think they need to ditch the hospital and bring back the college more. They have a good set of characters, they just need to get back to basics really and remember what Hollyoaks is about and what Phil Redmond created, The ingredients are all there, we just need a chef who can put them all together. Daran Little would make a great Oaks EP.
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Old 31-05-2015, 13:46
Soapfan678
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If Hollyoaks want better ratings, then they should get rid of the first look episodes.
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Old 31-05-2015, 13:51
hmeister
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If Hollyoaks want better ratings, then they should get rid of the first look episodes.
No, that would be a terrible idea. Some people prefer to watch it at 7pm.
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Old 31-05-2015, 15:15
Daily Dreams
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A complete clear out of characters needs to happen. Be rid of the gangster 'villains' and the OTT stunts every week. Bring back familiar characters to try and bring back regular viewers i.e. Dom Reilly, Rory Finnigan, Mandy Richardson, Jambo Bolton. Bring in new characters with interesting pasts, create strong relationships. Have a new, non-football related family take over The Dog. Have Jack buy the shop and focus the Osbornes in there. I miss the original set up, Il Gnosh, Drive N' Buy, Evissa, The Loft: it allowed more characters to interact; bring that back.
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Old 31-05-2015, 19:19
West End Boy
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Casting Zoe Lucker was a clever move.
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Old 31-05-2015, 20:07
pearlsandplums
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They need to get rid of Freddie. Or stop putting him in every bloody episode.
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Old 31-05-2015, 20:28
Pink_Smurf
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I like the way Patrick is written and acted. Jeremy Sheffield is so talented. The "gangsters" however are nowhere near as chilling or frightening as Patrick. Grace is more amusing than anything. They are not scary at all. I'm knocking on a bit and like Hollyoaks so I don't think the OP is too old for the programme. I agree that Zoe Lucker is a good signing. I like her a lot. I disagree that the 7pm slot should go as I like watching it at that time and a lot of people would miss the earlier time as they are still travelling home from work. I'm in the minority but I don't mind Freddie
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Old 31-05-2015, 20:41
Hankshaw
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The story lines are rushed and not thought out (Jason had a eating disorder for what 2 weeks?).
Hardly. More like months and then he went to the eating disorder clinic for a couple of months. It was a storyline, a slow burn storyline that had a conclusion.
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Old 31-05-2015, 21:00
Harlowe
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I am enjoying Hollyoaks at present, but I think storylines need to be followed through, we need an aftermath when things happen. When somebody has died they are forgotten with in a fortnight and everybody is ok and carries on as though it had not happened.

I think they need to ditch the hospital and bring back the college more. They have a good set of characters, they just need to get back to basics really and remember what Hollyoaks is about and what Phil Redmond created, The ingredients are all there, we just need a chef who can put them all together. Daran Little would make a great Oaks EP.
This, I've started watch Hollyoaks again after a long break, I still think it needs a major overhaul but it has a good set of core characters (along with some dodgy one granted) but it's all over the place with storylines, he seems to be doing a new issued based story every week and then it's forgotten the week after no middle or end to theses plots and the 'gangsters' are just shite, Grace is a panto queen if I've ever seen one,

I do not get the point of the hospital this isn't Holby City is so why the frick is it so prominent and in every episode, they need to bring back the college and you're correct strip back to basics and focus on storytelling in real time, not having a explosion and someone dying every week it completely deplete the point of a soap, BK is well over due the boot, he just turn it in to a shadow of itself and is keeping it from what it could be, it's still hard to believe this guy was behind one of it's most successful period, when looking at it now.
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Old 31-05-2015, 21:25
mattlamb
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The soap is a joke nowadays. Characters frequently totally change just to see a plot. And the plots rarely make sense anyway. Most characters seem to be cheating on their other half every other week too. I think hollyoaks tries to be controversial for controversy's sake.
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Old 01-06-2015, 00:09
Hankshaw
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The soap is a joke nowadays. Characters frequently totally change just to see a plot. And the plots rarely make sense anyway. Most characters seem to be cheating on their other half every other week too. I think hollyoaks tries to be controversial for controversy's sake.
Examples of characters changing and plots not making sense, please.
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Old 01-06-2015, 00:16
Robbo19
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Hollyoaks just needs to get back to it's roots with storylines mainly focused on 5/6 freshers at uni and their progression throughout the year. Ok still feature families and occasional characters but bring back the halls, su bar and get the show back to what it once was.

Agree that the hospital needs to go and the constant cheating/murder/school/kidnap/psycho/gangster storylines need phasing out, I'm still a fan of the show but no harm in wanting the good old days back.
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Old 01-06-2015, 00:32
Eastenderstreet
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They need to get rid of Kirkwood and kill Silas off screen. I think we need to draw a line under the past and focus on the future and clinging on to the hope that Silas will return is hopeless.

They need to focus on relationships and stop splitting couples up every week.

If they need to have a villain then they should make believable villains. We need a reason / storyline as to why they are so nasty. Panto villains like Grace and Freddie are hopeless. No reason as to why they are the mess they are.

Maybe get rid of Nancy. She just seems to settle for a week or two then has an affair. Maybe have Nancy leave to join her mum.

They need to stop relying on making characters gay so that John Paul and Ste can have a storyline. People don't just turn gay at the click of their fingers. I think they need to give Ste a really long break and stop giving him pointless storyline after pointless storyline all relating to his sexuality. His storylines are all relating to his sexuality.

While I agree with most of what you here theres two small things

I don't see how killing of Silas offscreen would be improve the show! I get some people are always holding out for a Silas return which I doubt will ever happen! but that doesn't mean he should be killed off either, I like the air of mystery around his exit and the fact that he seems to have fallen off the radar onscreen but is still out there somewhere, I dont really see how he needs to come into this discussion on how to improve the show (also just a quick point back during his first stint on the show Silas was diagnosed with cancer and was given months to live so realistically he should be well dead by now, but hey Hollyoaks never cared about realism)

also just a correction here but Nancy's mum actually died offscreen after her marriage to Darren, but I don't she should leave but I certainly don't like the direction BK has taken her in, its feel like we have lost the old Nancy that we loved and the character is only a shadow of the character that she used to be especially with all this Robbie crap coming up! its basically just Becca and Justin 2.0. and really is silly that they are doing with Nancy after already doing it with Becca a few years back
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Old 01-06-2015, 05:16
Goosebee
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I think as much as I love the majority of the characters in the show they really need to take stock and just say do you know what this isn't working. I sometimes watch the show and feel like they have literally just picked two characters out of a hat and said they can become a couple or this person can do that. It simply doesn't work. There issue based storylines are poorly researched and often over sensational with poor acting too as cited numerous times Hollyoaks should be about students not a hospital.

The biggest issue for me begins with the fact that there are few if any believeable relationships and friendships on the show. Maxine and Nancy had potential but is only evident when the plot requires it, Robbie and Jason should be but they rarely have scenes together- in fact the whole roscoe clan feel like five random strangers that live in a house together- despite how many times they hamper on about being brothers.

The issue storylines are poor, there's no subtlety in them. Cindys behaviour is moronic and cheesy (forgive me if I'm being ignorant about bipolar buts done little to educate me as a viewer). Did she really need to become a hyper sexualised bigamist praying on her daughters boyfriend?

Jason's story was very quick. Yes there was build up in screen but as someone who has grappled with an eating disorder the recovery speed has been ludicrous- only mentioned again when it suits the plot. An eating disorder even one less extreme than being in a clinic results in signs for a long period afterwards. I also didn't really see the point of five minute Leon- other than to force a speedy recovery for jason which in truth would not be that quick. Don't get me wrong there were some good scenes within this when he broke down on Joe for example, and Rik trying to force feed him but other than that the storyline was poor with none of the brothers seeming to care.

Harry's sexuality is currently mostly being handed well. Though some of the choices are questionable. Would he really have gone to a gay bar that close to the village. Would he really steal exam papers in such a way. I generally like the way this has been handled I just pray they don't mess it up and that he comes out and Tony actually supports him. Making Cleo pregnant is really not what needs to happen.

The domestic violence story had so much potential and fair play to the actors involved that they are all strong but again it has gaping plot holes. One minute Maxine is in love with Dodger then Patrick then Dodger then Darren and let's be honest regardless of what he had done to help her I do not believe for one second that she would have forgiven Darren for losing her Minnie. Again for me it just doesn't work.

Everything in the show also seems cliched and obvious. For example Teegan dropping her bracelet after hitting Cameron and Celine dropping her bracelet after visiting Mariams house.

Plot wise stories are either unbelievable (Phoebe not bleeding to death overnight, most of the Roscoe and Lomax dramas or too pointless to keep up with Diane/Lockie). Everything just needs a rethink.

Personally I don't think the axe is the way forward but it definitely needs a shakeup. I would lose some characters and flesh out others- see below.

To go:- ( Patrick, Sienna, Nico, Maxine, Sa'vage, Kim, Theresa, Ziggy, Leela, Teegan, Scott, Diane, Sinead) most of these actors I actually like but I feel the show literally needs to bite the bullet and say do we really need them.

Next on the agenda would be to lose the hospital and make it an offscreen place of work, tie up the GHK storyline and introduce some teachers and a new group of students).

Then it would be to repair undo and build on who we have left. I think all the Roscoes (Freddie and Lindsey included) could work away from gangster storylines. I'd possibly kill Ziggy off to unite them all, including Darren and bring them together as a family with Joe and Darren and Robbie and Jason particularly becoming friends and proper brotherly units. In time is have Joe forgive Freddie and Lindsey- not necessarily have them live together but repair the damage which all have created and is try to again make Freddie and Lindsey move in a new direction.

I'd personally like to explore the Harry and Tony unit. Have Harry come out properly and be supported- coming to terms with his sexuality. Make Tony likeable again.

The Lovedays work for me- they haven't been there long enough to be ruined.

The Lomaxes would depart leaving Peri with Cameron and showing him being a dad. I'd also work on him and Lockie as brothers they have potential of BK acted fast.

Grace Trevor Esther and Dylan would stay as a unit but I'd move them entirely away from crime. Focus on the surrogacy and the parenting. Find Esther a proper friendship within the new students and have the baby go to Grace and Trevor.

The Mcqueens would need some work. JP needs to grow a backbone back. Mercedes Cleo and Celine need development and Porshe and Nana would roughly stay as they are. Again Id look at uniting them as friends as well as siblings and moving the characters forward.

Overall a lot of the new characters would need to be embedded with the cast we have to build an ensemble that works. So do I think the show needs axing- definitely not. Does it need work and fast- hell yes.
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Old 01-06-2015, 05:20
dee123
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Casting Zoe Lucker was a clever move.
Yes but for every step forward we seem to go two steps back.

Sadly the show needs another huge clean out both on screen & off like Paul Marquess did. Starting with Kirkwood.
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Old 01-06-2015, 07:24
Soapfan678
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No, that would be a terrible idea. Some people prefer to watch it at 7pm.
Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Doctors do not have first look episodes, so why do Holloaks need this?
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Old 01-06-2015, 08:34
lady_xanax
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They need to integrate characters into the village more. Louis is the deputy of the school so he should be pretty well known now but we've only just had him talk to Patrick. Why not show their working relationship?

Kirkwood actively seems to be going for a so bad it's good feel with all the OTT stuff.
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Old 01-06-2015, 10:20
elliecat
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They need to get rid of Kirkwood and kill Silas off screen. I think we need to draw a line under the past and focus on the future and clinging on to the hope that Silas will return is hopeless.

They need to focus on relationships and stop splitting couples up every week.

If they need to have a villain then they should make believable villains. We need a reason / storyline as to why they are so nasty. Panto villains like Grace and Freddie are hopeless. No reason as to why they are the mess they are.

Maybe get rid of Nancy. She just seems to settle for a week or two then has an affair. Maybe have Nancy leave to join her mum.

They need to stop relying on making characters gay so that John Paul and Ste can have a storyline. People don't just turn gay at the click of their fingers. I think they need to give Ste a really long break and stop giving him pointless storyline after pointless storyline all relating to his sexuality. His storylines are all relating to his sexuality.
We know why Grace and Trevor are the way they are, it's not difficult to understand that in Grace's case having a gangster as your Dad having your sister murdered and then having your father murdered and in Trevor's case having your Dad murdered then seeing another gangster as your father figure will mess you up just a little. Claire was hardly a nice person either so really it is a family trait.
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Old 01-06-2015, 10:23
Hankshaw
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Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Doctors do not have first look episodes, so why do Holloaks need this?
EastEnders, Corrie and Emmerdale all have repeats and omnibuses. It's not as if they go out once and are never seen again.
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Old 01-06-2015, 10:25
Hankshaw
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So many opinions and so little evidence.
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Old 01-06-2015, 10:38
Hankshaw
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If they need to have a villain then they should make believable villains. We need a reason / storyline as to why they are so nasty. Panto villains like Grace and Freddie are hopeless. No reason as to why they are the mess they are.
What exactly do you want out of a villain? A back story on how they became the way they are? For what purpose? It's soap. Villains come in to cause drama. Grace grew up as a gangsters daughter. Her sister and father were both murdered. She has a grudge. That's her motivation. Freddie is a selfish, cowardly jerk. That's his motivation. Neither are unbelievable or panto or a mess. Neither are villains though.

They need to stop relying on making characters gay so that John Paul and Ste can have a storyline. People don't just turn gay at the click of their fingers. I think they need to give Ste a really long break and stop giving him pointless storyline after pointless storyline all relating to his sexuality. His storylines are all relating to his sexuality.
Nobody has turned gay at the click of their fingers. Who are you talking about? Scott is openly gay. Harry is in the closet. Lockie is bisexual. Grace is bisexual. John Paul and Ste had their coming out storylines.

What are all these pointless stories about Ste's sexuality you speak of? I can only think of him marrying John Paul and being victim of a homophobic attack.
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Old 01-06-2015, 11:07
Chiltons Cane
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I've already stopped watching except for the Patrick stuff. Once hes gone i'm out for good.
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Old 01-06-2015, 12:47
Living4Love
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I agree about Zoe Lucker. She is the only thing worth tuning in for right now. This serial killer storyline is beginning to drag and did we really need another one? it seems Hollyoaks has a serial murderer on the loose every year now. Its too repetitive.
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