History of soap operas

Soap operas first started in the 1930 by being broadcasted over the radio. Soap operas were being sponsored by all types of household cleaning products; hence the reason for it being a soap and the opera part came around because it refers to the dilemma’s faced by everyone on a day to day basis. The radio dramas were usually aired in 15 minute segments each day Soap Opera were broadcasted through radio stations from 1930 to 1950 when it first became televised. The Archers is the longest running soap opera. However, the soap opera Guiding light first started in 1937 when the Archers started in 1951 and became televised in 1952 but the final episode of Guiding Light was broadcast on 18 September 2009, with a total of 15,762 episodes whereas The Archers is stilling being broadcasted on BBC radio 4 with over 16,000 episodes been shown. Then came the early television serial The Grove Family on the BBC in 1954. 148 episodes were produced between 1954 to 1957 and the series was broadcast live. In the 1960s Coronation Street revolutionized UK television and quickly became a British institution, there was competition from other new soaps but Crossroads was Coronation street’s main rival; daily serial that began in 1964 and was broadcast by ITV in the early evening. However, because of the criticism of bad acting and low technical standards, Crossroads was axed in 1988 as the ratings during the 1980’s were declining and several attempts to revamp the series throughout the decade by cast changes and later, expanding the focus from the motel to the surrounding community, were unsuccessful. In 1972, a new rival for Coronation Street came along first named Emmerdale Farm then changed to Emmerdale. As the viewing figures were increasing throughout the years, in the 1980’s Emmerdale was moved to the primetime slots. In 1985, the BBC's London based soap opera Eastenders debuted and was a near instant success with viewers and critics alike, with the first episode attracting over 17 million viewers. Critics believed that there would be a downfall of Coronation Street because of the popularity of the new soap opera Eastenders, but Coronation Street continued successfully. In 1994 when the two serials were scheduled opposite each other and Coronation Street won the slot. For the better part of ten years. In 1995 Channel 4 introduced the soap opera Hollyoaks, a soap opera with a youth focus (16-24 year olds). Several Hollyoaks late night episodes have been made and a short lived spin off series Hollyoaks: Let Loose was shown in early 2006. A new subsidiary show was expected in the next few months, to be called Hollyoaks: In The City. On the 28th September 2009, they introduced another spin off called Hollyoaks later; this was to be shown over the period of one week.

A couple of viewing figures for coronation street are as followed; 7.7million viewers carried on watching coronation street when it changed from wednesday night to thursday night. Other viewing figures for other soaps:

June 07-13 2010
Eastenders, Monday 9.38 million
Coronation Street, Monday 10.07 million
Emmerdale. Monday 7.04 million
Hollyoaks Monday 1.34 million

Between soap operas and TV dramas, soap operas viewing figures overall are greater than TV dramas as they are always in the top 30 for that week. In some cases, soaps are at the top of the list although for channel 4, hollyoaks is close to the bottom. The top TV dramas listed in this week are Father & Son, Monday 5.91 million (ITV1) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Tuesday, 2.56 million (Channel 5). One reason why soap opera's are so popular is due to the relation with everyday lives of everyday people and their problems, big or small which they can relate to and possibly help them; using the theory verisimilitude.