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A nation of soap lovers


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Old 12-11-2005, 11:42
Polly_Perkins
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Why is the UK such a nation of soap lovers? Our soaps have always dominated the TV charts. Eevn old shows like Dallas have a stronger and more loyal fan base than the US.

The top shows in the US seem to shift and change, plus the longevity of 20 plus years doesnt exist outside of daytime.

So what makes the UK such a nation of soap addicts?
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:44
~charlie-lou~
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No idea, but I am a self confessed soap addict. When my friends bore me with their futile tales of what they bought their Granny Eliza for her 79th birthday, I just look at soap spoilers, 50,000 times more compelling!!
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:44
Money Money
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We are all nosy?
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:45
Innocent_fairy
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Maybe it's cos our own lives are so boring, we need the escape for half hour a day to somewhere more exciting and outrageous? (Weatherfield/Ramsay Street for me!!!!)
My theory anyway
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:47
Polly_Perkins
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Maybe we are nosey. Maybe its part of the gossip culture. But there is something very British about loving soaps to the extreme, they are up there with the Royal Family and Wimbledon.

Can you imagine life without the soaps?
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:50
Innocent_fairy
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Nope
I cry when I miss an episode of Corrie, I'd probabaly have a nervous breakdown if it wasn't on at all
But people who don't watch soaps probably wouldn't miss them all that much.
You can't miss what you don't know can you?
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:51
carl:)
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Maybe because our parents/grandparents used to watch them ?
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Old 12-11-2005, 11:54
Innocent_fairy
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Ahhh, now there's a point. My Nanna is a loyal follower of Corrie!
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Old 12-11-2005, 12:09
DenWatts
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I think there's a lot to be said for the 'nosey' idea. Soaps represent real life, to an extent - although exaggerated and the pacing is different to real life (i.e. a family like the Slaters - in real life - wouldn't go through anywhere near as much as they did in their first year on-screen.)

People want to watch more than just Mike having a pint in the Rovers, or Pauline doing a service wash. Soaps allow artistic licence and things like affairs, murders etc. can be explored with much more melodrama than in real life (not that those things aren't serious in real life, of course.)

The other thing that springs to mind is that soaps have only really been considered to be serious drama in the last 15-20 years or so, in my opinion. Before that, soaps or 'kitchen sink dramas' were always considered the poor relation to 'proper' drama i.e. Bleak House. (Strangely enough, Dickens is generally considered the equivalent of a soap writer for his time.)

One of the reasons that drives me to watch soap is that it's an escape for 30 minutes, both from real life and from the endless 'reality' and 'celeb' shows which seem to dominate the schedules these days.

Give me some decent drama and escapism anyday.
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