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Should Children "soaps be brought back?


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Old 11-10-2016, 18:04
Scrabbler
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Okay do they are not technically soaps, but when I was a young lad there were some long running series aimed at children that focused on topical issues. Without a doubt the most successful was Grange Hill, but there was also Byker Grove and Children's Ward.

Unless I'm mistaken, there's nothing really like these shows for the youth of today any more.

The thing is, they were actually really useful. There are a few soap actors today who actually learned the ropes by working on these shows. They were a great way for young actors to get experience. Not just the actors, there are writers such as Russell T Davies and Gaynor Faye's mom who started out writing for children shows.

So would it be beneficial if some of these shows were brought back or if they introduced new shows under a similar format?
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Old 11-10-2016, 18:07
Harlowe
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Loved Byker Grove and Grange Hill, such a shame they was axed, I think once they moved CBBC over to its own channel and abandon the 3-5 slot they use to have that was it, the shows become to grown up for a children's channel.

I don't know if they do anything like what they did in the back 90s/00s but think it probably be to un PC for today's telly.
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Old 11-10-2016, 18:10
Scrabbler
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Loved Byker Grove and Grange Hill, such a shame they was axed, I think once they moved CBBC over to its own channel and abandon the 3-5 slot they use to have that was it, the shows become to grown up for a children's channel.

I don't know if they do anything like what they did in the back 90s/00s but think it probably be to un PC for today's telly.
Yes no doubt some over protective mummys would have breakdowns that their precious children were watching serious issues.

I used to watch them all
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Old 11-10-2016, 18:52
Ben96
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Since Waterloo Road there hasn't been anything really, however Channel 4 have recently comissioned a secondary school drama called 'The ABC' which is set to launch next year and is aimed at 11 - 15 year olds I think.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/f...ilmed-10052457
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Old 11-10-2016, 19:08
Kell_Free
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I guess you could say that the Dumping Ground (I'm sure you've heard of it but just in case you haven't it's a comedy/drama that follows the lives and stories of children in a childrens home) would class as one, as it's a continuing programme and has an ensemble of different characters.
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Old 11-10-2016, 19:11
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Used to love Children's Ward. Rewatched a lot of them on Youtube last year.
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:12
Adam_Manneh1
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The Dumping Ground is a soap for kids technically. It has been running since the early 00's but use to be focussed around Tracey Beaker.
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:34
little-monster
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They should do another soap similar to waterloo road
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:52
soap-lea
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Okay do they are not technically soaps, but when I was a young lad there were some long running series aimed at children that focused on topical issues. Without a doubt the most successful was Grange Hill, but there was also Byker Grove and Children's Ward.

Unless I'm mistaken, there's nothing really like these shows for the youth of today any more.

The thing is, they were actually really useful. There are a few soap actors today who actually learned the ropes by working on these shows. They were a great way for young actors to get experience. Not just the actors, there are writers such as Russell T Davies and Gaynor Faye's mom who started out writing for children shows.

So would it be beneficial if some of these shows were brought back or if they introduced new shows under a similar format?
I remember those shows. Do they not still have kids series on the kids channels (if they still exist)

As someone mentioned the dumping ground is still going which originally started off as Tracey beaker. Interestingly Danni Hartman who played Tracey Beaker never seemed to break out of the kids to role
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:57
Harlowe
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Tracey Beaker, I remember briefly.

I think Byker and GH got a bit to dark with stabbings, rapes etc it tried to go lighter but I think the move for Grange Hill ultimately killed it, after it moved to Liverpool it just wasn't the same.

I use to love UGETME and Queen's Nose, very teen orientated.
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Old 11-10-2016, 21:04
Kell_Free
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I remember those shows. Do they not still have kids series on the kids channels (if they still exist)

As someone mentioned the dumping ground is still going which originally started off as Tracey beaker. Interestingly Danni Hartman who played Tracey Beaker never seemed to break out of the kids to role
I actually really like the Dumping Ground, even though I'm in my 20s. I try to tune it whenever it's on. It has some quite gritty storylines such as the one where Lily had that accident on the roof but obviously it has to have lots of lightheartedness as well.
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Old 11-10-2016, 21:07
soap-lea
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I actually really like the Dumping Ground, even though I'm in my 20s. I try to tune it whenever it's on. It has some quite gritty storylines such as the one where Lily had that accident on the roof but obviously it has to have lots of lightheartedness as well.
Iv not watched it but see it high up on iPlayer all the time so it seems to be popular
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Old 11-10-2016, 21:16
CardioCortez
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Okay do they are not technically soaps, but when I was a young lad there were some long running series aimed at children that focused on topical issues. Without a doubt the most successful was Grange Hill, but there was also Byker Grove and Children's Ward.

Unless I'm mistaken, there's nothing really like these shows for the youth of today any more.

The thing is, they were actually really useful. There are a few soap actors today who actually learned the ropes by working on these shows. They were a great way for young actors to get experience. Not just the actors, there are writers such as Russell T Davies and Gaynor Faye's mom who started out writing for children shows.

So would it be beneficial if some of these shows were brought back or if they introduced new shows under a similar format?
I think they're important for kids growing up and cover serious issues that children need to be aware of.
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Old 11-10-2016, 22:18
jazzydrury3
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Loved Children's Ward, The Ward, Byker Grove and Grange Hill.

Children's Ward, the Ward, helped out the ITV Soaps. Grange Hill the BBC Soaps.

These programmes wouldnt work these days, as all the Children's Channels, are mainly aimed for the 7/12 age market.

It was changing the age the programmes had to be aimed at, killed Grange Hill.

Grange Hill, for me finished when it moved from Elstree to Liverpool.

The epsiode when the school blew up on Mr Robsons reception killed it.
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Old 12-10-2016, 00:08
GracieL
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Used to love Children's Ward. Rewatched a lot of them on Youtube last year.
I loved Children's Ward too, I've rewatched some as well and it's weird seeing all the very young ED / CS actors on it before they became soap stars
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Old 12-10-2016, 12:56
Harlowe
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A few cast members from the dumping ground has appeared in EE, like the others use to be a good platform for young actors.
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Old 12-10-2016, 13:29
Alex_Sullivan
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I remember when Noddy came on to Gary in 'Byker Grove', everyone was talking about it the next day. We were quite immature about it, but to get a load of kids to talk about
gay attraction in a Catholic school* in suburban Cheshire - Talk about the power of television.
I like to think it made at least a few people think that one of their mates might be gay and might need to know they could be open about it - That it might convince someone to be a bit more sensitive about these things. You can lose sight of how much has changed in 20 years.

Although I was more likely to watch 'Grange Hill' at the time - Looking back, I think 'Byker Grove' might have been the better show. The cast were less obviously stage school kids, for one thing. 'Grange Hill' was ground-breaking, but at a certain point it got a bit too preachy and hung up on it's social responsibility. 'Byker Grove' could raise serious matters without getting too po-faced about it - There was always that North-East ability to deflate pomposity within the show. Also 'Byker Grove' was better at integrating grown-up characters.
Although some of the teachers are fondly remembered, 'Grange Hill' had a tendency to portray parents, whenever they appeared, in a rather two-dimensional way.

*I should add, the school was not anti-gay, as such. It was more a case of not mentioning
homosexuality, at all. I remember in the sex education classes, there was not even a hint that two people of the same sex might become involved with each other.
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