The difference between soap opera from other countries such as the USA and Australia is that British Soap operas are much more realistic. These soap operas use romantic storylines as their main focus and are heavily influenced by glamour whereas; British soap operas are based around working class communities and have a balance of happy and traumatic storylines. This is commonly thought to be one of the reasons that British soap operas have been running the longest, such as Coronation Street.
Although radio soap operas originated in Britain from the BBC the first televised, true soap opera was created by ITV in the 1960’s. Coronation Street was as still is a massive hit, from its first broadcast it has retained high viewing figures and a loyal audience. Coronation Street is a soap opera set in the fictional setting of Weatherfield in Manchester; influenced by the Manchester community Coronation Street is based around a close-knit working community. From the opening credits the aerial view of the street automatically triggers an indexical reference to the stereotypical traditional, happy, terrace-house communities, well known from the 60’s onwards. ITV is also home to another well-loved British soap, Emmerdale Farm created in 1972. Emmerdale, as it was later re-named, differs from other soaps by offering their audience a realistic view on life living in a small village in Yorkshire; the soap’s setting is heavily influenced by the stereotypical British village with forums such as the pub, vets and village green.
ITV is a company similar to the BBC, the main difference being that they are an independent television authority. Whereas, the BBC is paid by taxes and other funding ITV earns a lot of its money through commercials. Initially set-up to rival the BBC, ITV offers the same genre of programs – sports, news, children programmes, documentaries, drama’s, reality shows and its well-known soap operas. ITV is known for its drama’s, offering a wide variety of fresh and new controversial series, spin-offs and drama’s that can last for as little as two days. Unlike the BBC they have more freedom as to what they broadcast because they are an independent company. The BBC is not ‘allowed’ to discriminate or be prejudice; and these rules most also apply within their soap operas.
Throughout its time the BBC has broadcast a few soap operas, although now only one remains. Eastenders created in 1985 is one of Britain’s most famous soap’s and has also remained popular since its first episode. This differs from Coronation Street by offering its audience an insight into a working class community close to the countries capital, London. The fictional setting, Waltford, portrays a realistic view into a working class community, the city influence comes from its faster pace and more urbanised lifestyle than Coronation Street. El Dorado, Doctors, Silver Street were three of the other soap operas produced by the BBC that later became defunct due to poor viewing figures.
Channel Four is yet another independent channel which makes most of its money through commercials. Channel four is well known for being the most ‘modern’ and ‘controversial’ channel, famous for its documentaries on illness’s, discrimination, disfigurement and different cultures. This is also shown through its two soap operas. Brookside was created in 1982 and its last episode shown in 2003, many people believe Brookside is no longer around because it was based around a middle class community and its cast where more wealthy and glamorous in comparison to cast from Eastenders or Coronation Street. Not only did people find it hard to relate to because of those factors but its storylines became increasingly far-fetched and unrealistic, losing the viewer’s interest quickly. However, Channel Four’s Hollyoaks was created in 1995 and is hugely popular amongst the country. The later date of its creation is evident as the majority of the soaps cast is from a younger generation and their stereotypes more modern and ‘superficial’, yet this big difference is what most of its viewers find to be the main interest.
We felt that our soap would fit in best with the broadcasting institution, Channel Four. Our Soap Opera is different from the others as it is based around a seaside town and the majority of its cast is from a younger generation (16-35) due to one of the main forums being the town’s college. We felt that this cast, and in turn the storylines associated with them, would fit in better with Channel Four as their target audience would already be familiar with a younger based soap such as Hollyoaks.
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