RealismSoap operas from the United Kingdom tend to focus on more everyday

characters and situations, and are frequently set in working class environments rather than the typically attractive, seductive, glamorous

and wealthy characters shown in American daytime soaps.Lots of UK soap operas explore social realist storylines such as

family discord, marriage breakdown, or financial problems.

UK soaps also tend to embrace their location as a large factor of the program, playing to stereotypes such as accent, occupations and

costume. EastEnders focuses on the tough, grim life in London's east endCoronation Street is set in Manchester and its characters exhibit the

stereotypical characteristic of "Northern straight talking".

Eastenders•EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985•EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London.•The series was originally screened as two half-hour episodes per week. Since August 2001, four episodes are broadcast each week on BBC One, with each episode being repeated on BBC Three at 22:30 and an omnibus edition on BBC One at weekends.•It is one of the UK's highest-rated programmes, often appearing near or at the top of the week's BARB ratings

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aipV-TwEjA

Den’s return to Walford in 2003.

Stereotypes of RealismRealism soaps such as Coronation Street and Eastenders always have similar stereotypical characters. The

characters are used for many reasons such as, so the audience forms an opinion on them, whether it be good or bad, it will still keep audiences watching the soap as they want to see what happens to the character. Another reason is the soap is full of people of different ages so the soap appeals to a wide audience.

A big stereotypical character used is characters that come across ‘larger than life’, so audiences will either love them or hate them. There is usually enough characters to populate the rotating plotlines. For example Kat Moon in Eastenders who has been the main character in many storylines.

A ‘scheming villainess’ also appears in these soap operas, a woman who presents herself as a victim but only does so get what she wants. For example Tracy Barlow in Coronation Street.

The ‘long suffering woman’ this stereotype is used so, many viewers identify with the character and regard her as almost a friend.

A handsome young male is another stereotype for realism soap operas. The character is often rebellious and available, and appeals to a teenage audience.

The most stereotypical character of soap is the ‘villain’, who appears to always planning to do something to ruin his rivals, but always ends up punished in the end. However soaps such as Eastenders tend to bring back the villain on some occasions to boost viewers or to put a twist on a story line. For example when Eastenders brought back ‘Dirty Den’. Den left the soap 1989, then after believing that he had been killed by ‘The Firm’ he came back into Eastenders in 2003.

Coronation Street• Coronation Street is a British television soap opera set in Wethersfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford.

• Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The show has been on the air for over 51 years. Coronation Street is produced by ITV Granada Television under ITV Studios and shown in all ITV regions.

• Since first being aired, it has been one of the most financially lucrative programmes on British commercial television, underpinning the success of its broadcaster ITV and its franchise Granada Television. On 17 September 2010, it became the world's longest-running TV soap opera in production, after the United States soap opera As the World Turns ended

• Ken Barlow is Coronation Streets longest actor

By 1984, Ken Barlow was the only character from the original cast who remained in the soap.

He became the only original character to remain with the show continuously into 2010, its 50th year.

• Emmerdale, known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994).

• Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. It is produced by Yorkshire Television, now part of ITV Studios, and has been filmed at their Yorkshire Studios since its inception.

• It has since been shown in all regions of ITV almost throughout its existence. It is the UK's second oldest soap opera and the third most popular behind Coronation Street and EastEnders

Emmerdale

• Neighbours• Home and Away• Hollyoaks• Doctors

Other Realism Soaps

Popular storylines have also seen an increase in viewer numbers, such as the jailing of Deirdre Rachid in 1998 as well as large media coverage, such as the sacking of Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough) in 1983. Some storylines are seen as having caused controversy among viewers and in the media due to the sudden sacking of an actor by the programme's producer or as a result of a topic or theme that openly shocked viewers or was seen as taboo.

Deirdre Rachid jailedOn the 29 March 1998, Deirdre Rachid was sent to prison after a former lover implicated her in a bank fraud scheme. A campaign led by tabloid newspapers and the occasional graffiti artist, with the slogan of "Free the Weatherfield One!", petitioned the Home Secretary to become involved on Deirdre's behalf. Even Tony Blair called for Deirdre to be freed. After three weeks, Deirdre was released from prison and four different newspapers claimed victory for themselves and their readers. However, the producers of the programme had planned the entire time for Deirdre to stay in prison for three weeks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/71934.stm

POPULAR STORY LINES

Soap Opera Clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgUf9hlTnnU&feature=fvstFamous and shocking scenes as Kat Slater, played by Jesse Wallace, reveals she is really the mother of 'sister' Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan. Classic moment from smash hit BBC soap opera, EastEnders

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