Have soaps run their course?
With the axing of Holby City and Neighbours in the space of a few months, and viewers declining across the board, is it the end of the road for soaps?
The end of both Holby City and Neighbours in the space of a few months suggests that something is wrong in the world of soaps. Viewers have been declining for years as soaps face competition from structured reality shows, streaming services and social media content. But millions still sit down every evening to see the ups and downs of the lives in Walford, Weatherfield and beyond, and EastEnders remains one of the most watched programmes on 91热爆 iPlayer.
So what role do soaps play in media landscape today? Should we expect the Queen Vic to be pulling its last pint, or are there many more births, deaths, marriages and everything in between still to come in the unpredictable world of soap operas?
Sir Phil Redmond is the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks. Charles Collingwood has played Brian in The Archers since 1975. Emma Bullimore is a TV critic and soap fan. Daniel Kilkelly is soaps editor for entertainment news website Digital Spy.
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Tim Bano
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 17 Aug 2022 16:3091热爆 Radio 4
- Wed 17 Aug 2022 21:3091热爆 Radio 4
Podcast
-
![]()
The Media Show
This is the programme about a revolution in media.
