The Soap Show Blog

Brookside fans campaign for DVD release (update)

2008-09-22T09:21:00.000+01:00

An update from the Brookside DVD campaign reveals that 3231 fans have signed the online petition to demand a DVD release of the defunct soap. New plans in the pipeline for the campaign include an official website, advertisements and a Liverpool-wide leaflet drop. The campaign organiser, Lee Brady, recently attended a screening of new Scouse sit com Terry Across the Mersey, with former Brookie stars Dean Sullivan, Suzanne Collins, Ann-Marie Davis, Phillip Olivier and Louis Emerik.
www. myspace. com/brooksideofficialfansite
www. petitiononline. com/brooky07/petition. html

Dirty Sexy Money tower "built" in LA and NYC

2008-09-22T09:20:00.002+01:00

ABC is promoting the upcoming season of Dirty Sexy Money by “building” Darling Tower in both LA (Olympic and La Cienega) and NYC (2nd Ave. and 30th St.). You can experience the vision, view the amenities, meet the architect, and much more at http://www.darlingtower.com.

Barbara Windsor talks about EastEnders

2008-09-22T09:19:00.000+01:00

EastEnders' Barbara Windsor has been talking to the official BBC website about her role as Peggy Mitchell and life on the top soap.

She revealed that she wasn't yet sure about Peggy's new look but loves working with new co-star Larry Lamb, who plays love interest Archie. She told the BBC: "Well, all my life I should work with lovely people like Larry. I've been a fan of his for many, many years. We've got a lot in common and we cover the same ground. He's really Charlie Charm and everything you want in a leading man."

Barlow returns to Coronation Street

2008-09-22T09:18:00.000+01:00

Bigamist Peter Barlow is making a return to the cobbles in Coronation Street. The Sun newspaper reports that Ken's shady son makes a come-back after his wife dies of cancer and he is left literally holding the baby.

Barlow was last seen in Weatherfield for his sister's murder trial at the beginning of this year.

Louisa Lytton quits The Bill

2008-09-01T16:39:00.001+01:00

Louisa Lytton has confirmed to The People newspaper that she will be leaving The Bill in October, when her current contract expires.

The young actress, who first made a name for herself as Ruby in EastEnders, is set to appear in the Eurovision Dance Contest in September.

Cassidy would return to EastEnders

2008-09-01T16:38:00.002+01:00

The Sun newspaper reports that former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy is keen to return to the show that made her a household name.

Natalie had great success with her weight loss DVD but TV and film roles have not been as forthcoming.Now that Bianca has returned to Albert Square could this be the time for the younger Jackson sister to also make a reappearance?

Home and Away star finds new TV home

2008-09-01T16:38:00.001+01:00

Indiana Evans has found a new role following her exit from Home and Away. Indiana's final scenes in Summer Bay will be seen on Five this week, but the actress has wasted no time in securing a new TV deal.Indiana will play Bella, a mermaid, in the hit kids' show H2O: Just Add Water.

Despite being axed from Home and Away it has been a good year for the young star. As well as her new acting role, she is dating former co-star Lincoln Lewis (Geoff) and was recently announced Queen Teen at the 2008 Dolly Teen Choice Awards.

Soap Actors and their sons for Five reality show

2008-09-01T16:37:00.001+01:00

Former EastEnders stars Martin Kemp and Todd Carty are to appear in a Five reality show aimed at exploring the "unique relationship between boys and their fathers". Adventures for Boys is based on the bestselling book Dangerous Book for Boys.

Other celebrity dads taking part include ex Corrie star Bradley Walsh.The celebs and their sons undertake Boy's Own-style journeys of "adventure and self-discovery".

The six-part series is part of Five's new autumn schedule.

Soap Stars Galore In This Year's Strictly

2008-09-01T16:36:00.000+01:00

A host of soap stars are to take to the dancefloor for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Three former EastEnders will be appearing in the line-up - Phil Daniels, Jessie Wallace and Gillian Taylforth. They will be joined by Holby City star Tom Chambers.

Other TV favourites to star this year include GMTV's Andrew Castle, singer Rachel Stevens and One Show presenter Christine Bleakley.

Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC1 in late September.

Out of the Blue Australian soap

2008-04-28T15:29:00.001+01:00

New Aussie soap Out of the Blue has debuted on BBC1 this afternoon and The Soap Show already has a podcast review of this very first episode with Soap Show host Ian and TV critic Martin Mcdowell.We also have character and cast biogs, pictures and an episode guide. Check out our website for more! www.thesoapshow.com

Home and Away star loving life in the Bay

2008-02-04T15:50:00.000Z

Getting a role on Home and Away was a dream come true for Lincoln Lewis, who plays Geoff Campbell. Since he was a young child his ambition was to become an actor and star in one of the Australian soaps. Having previously auditioned for the roles of both Ric (Mark Furze) and Drew (Bobby Morley) Lincoln was thrilled to finally get the part of Geoff.

"Everyone in the cast is great," Lincoln told The Soap Show. "We love what we do and to have people watch the show and tell us they enjoy it is great."

One thing that would make Lincoln even happier is for young Geoff to get a girlfriend. He reveals: "In all the jobs I have done so far I have never had an on-screen kiss."

Exciting news for fans of Prisoner Cell Block H

2008-01-28T13:34:00.000Z

Fans of 80s soap Prisoner Cell Block H are in for a treat thanks to the show's official fan club. The club is offering the chance to join the Aussie bad girls in "isolation" - the home of a pile of Prisoner goodies available only to paid subscribers who support the running of the fan club with a membership fee.

Some of the features of "Isolation" include: Exclusive and unreleased online cast interviews (including Debra Lawrance, Maggie Millar, Genevieve Lemon and Lois Collinder), quality resolution online photographs from the series (downloadable to PC for personal use), access to Prisoner out-take clips online, discount prices for official merchandise and a message board.
Members also get a personalised 'officer style' membership card and everyone who signs up before the end of January will be entered into a prize draw to win AN ORIGINAL PRISONER INMATE'S UNIFORM!

What's more Australian fans have a chance to meet members of the cast at a special Melbourne party in February - more info from roz@partnersincrime.com.au. And listen out for an exclusive interview with Maxine Klibingaitis (Bobbie) on The Soap Show in early February.

Coronation Street viewers choose Vera's best moments

2008-01-28T13:32:00.000Z

ITV.com, the revamped online entertainment platform from ITV, has announced the results of the nationwide online poll in honour of Corrie’s larger than life icon Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn). The poll coincides with her poignant and emotional exit from the popular soap as Liz Dawn has decided to retire after 34 years.

Over 1,000 soap enthusiasts were asked to vote for their favourite “Vera moment” at itv.com/soaps from a range of action packed storylines spanning the 34 years Liz has devoted to the street. Some of the top storylines include when Vera and Jack bought the Rovers and proudly put their names above the door, to a young Vera rowing with Hilda Ogden over a holiday won on the Bingo. The runaway outstanding moment as voted by ITV.com viewers with 21.2% of the vote is the recent 50th wedding anniversary of Vera and Jack. The long suffering couple have faced many highs and lows but fans have enjoyed every second and were obviously pleased to see them reach this milestone in their onscreen relationship. In second place with 14.3% is Jack joining a dating company but when Vera finds out she makes sure it’s the last time he thinks about that! Close behind in third place is the prestigious moment when Vera with acknowledged by the Queen with 11.7%.

Top ten moments as voted by fans:

50th wedding anniversary (21.2%): Jack goes all soppy when he tells the whole Street why he fell in love with Vera
The "blind" date (14.3%): With the help of Bet, Vera dupes Jack into meeting her on a "blind" date in the Rovers
A card from the Queen (11.7%): Vera's astounded when the Queen acknowledges their 'relationship'
Vera's stone cladding (9.5%): Vera defends her new brick work when Percy Sugden calls it a "monstrosity"
Vera vs Hilda (9.1%): Hilda accuses Vera of being a liar after she wins a holiday playing bingo
Buying the Rovers (8.8%): Jack and Vera look on proudly as the Duckworth name is put above the door
Terry sells Tommy (7.8%): A distraught Vera bursts into tears when she learns Terry has sold Tommy to his in-laws
Vera in hospital (7.3%): Jack is by Vera's side when she wakes from an operation to remove a kidney for Paul
Norris dancing (5.5%): Vera and Norris try a spot of Latin American dancing and end up winning a competition
Vera's sex appeal (4.8%): After learning of Jack's philandering ways, Vera tells Ivy and Shirley
she's quite a catch

Vera departed from the Street on Friday 18th January.

Home and Away has plenty to Shout about

2008-01-28T13:31:00.000Z

Home and Away actor Tim Campbell (Dan Baker) is wowing audiences with his portrayal of Aussie music legend Johnny O'Keefe in Shout The Musical.

Talking about the role, Tim told The Soap Show: "It's an actor's dream, I've got the best role in the world. I get to portray this icon of music." Hear the whole interview on this week's Soap Show at www.thesoapshow.com

More show information at www.shoutthemusical.com.au

Leah Bracknell swaps Emmerdale for Aidan's Royal Free

2008-01-18T16:44:00.000Z

Former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell (Zoe Tate) has swapped the farmyard for the wards of St Aidan’s Royal Free Hospital. She plays glamorous Matron Jenny Carrington in ITV1's new daily soap The Royal Today. But Leah reveals her real experience of hospitals is less than appealing: "20 years ago I worked as a nurse's assistant on a geriatrics ward which was basically wiping people’s bottoms and taking them to the toilet, making beds and feeding people."

Jason Donovan thanks reality TV for television acting revival

2008-01-18T16:43:00.000Z

Jason Donovan is the first to admit that appearing on I'm A Celebrity has helped revive his television career. Despite successes in theatre, TV roles were thin on the ground before he agreed to the reality show. Jason says: "It worked well and I got back into people’s hearts and minds." With a successful concert tour and the launch of his autobiography under his belt, Jason is back on our screens this week as Daniel Marrack in the Cornish soap Echo Beach (Fri, ITV1).

EastEnders Kat paying the Rent

2008-01-18T16:39:00.000Z

EastEnders fans still have time to catch Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) treading the boards in Rent:Remixed in London's West End. Jessie plays a bisexual performance artist in the show, having taken over the role from Denise Van Outen. Another soap actor in the cast is Leon Lopez. Leon starred in Brookside and Hollyoaks In The City, as well as competing in the last series of Soapstar Superstar. The musical, directed by Kylie's Creative Director William Baker, runs until February 2nd.

Crossroads fans can check back into motel life

2008-01-07T08:55:00.000Z

Crossroads fans had better start making room on their shelves as Network DVD has announced it will be releasing every remaining episode of the motel melodrama on DVD!

The company will release 16 episodes every month, starting in January 2008. Most of the recordings of the show were wiped by the production company at the time, so that the videotape could be reused, but out of over 4,500 episodes around a quarter are still rumoured to exist - so that's still quite a collection of DVDs!

soap news and soapstar interviews: www.thesoapshow.com

Neighbours comings and goings in Ramsay Street

2008-01-07T08:54:00.000Z

While Neighbours is losing some popular characters, the return of old favourites should help pacify fans of the Aussie soap.

Show veteran Ian Smith (Harold) recently announced his semi-retirement from the show and at least five of the younger cast members are set to leave in the coming months, having already filmed their final scenes.

Softening the blow for viewers are the much anticipated returns of two well loved characters - Joan Sydney as Valda and Kym Valentine as Libby.

Neighbours also moves home next month. After twenty years on BBC1 the show makes its highly publicised move to five.

When it was first announced that five had bought the UK rights to screen Neighbours some TV insiders claimed it would lead to a fall in viewers for the Aussie soap, but a recent poll on The Soap Show website indicates that the vast majority of fans plan to follow the show to its new home.

The BBC may have lost a long-running staple of its daytime line-up but there is good news for the channel too. Medical drama Doctors is settling into Neighbours old afternoon slot on BBC1, and the Beeb's newly commissioned Aussie soap Out of the Blue, which starts filming in Australia this month, is keenly anticipated by viewers looking forward to another Antipodean serial to get hooked on.

soap news and soapstar interviews at www.thesoapshow.com

2008 a great year for Aussie drama

2008-01-07T08:52:00.000Z

2008 is going to be a great year for fans of Aussie TV drama.

New series to screen this year include Canal Road, starring former Neighbours actor Brooke Satchwell (Anne Wilkinson), and Packed to the Rafters, a new comedy drama that will follow the Rafter family, headed by Rebecca Gibney and Erik Thomson. Michael Caton (The Castle, The Sullivans) co-stars.

Filming is also set to start on the BBC commissioned Out of the Blue, it's not yet known whether it will also air on an Australian channel.

The Nine Network and Fremantle Media announced they are to resuscitate the popular 70s soap The Young Doctors. To be called simply Young Doctors, it will be a modern take on the original and is being billed as a cross between Grey's Anatomy and Secret Life of Us.

Last year, new dramas City Homicide and Sea Patrol performed very well in the ratings Down Under, and UK viewers are hoping these and the other new series will be picked up by a British terrestrial or digital channel.

Soap news and star interviews at www.thesoapshow.com

Coronation Street's Ken grants an audience

2008-01-07T08:51:00.000Z

Corrie fans will have the chance to come face to face with The Street's longest serving resident later this month, when William Roache appears at a London theatre for a special "An Audience with..." Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap began in 1960, will be talking to fans about his time on the show and what goes on behind the scenes.
More info: http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=words&eventid=639

Eric Braeden Victor Newman of The Young and the Restless Audio interview

2007-12-24T13:21:00.000Z

The Christmas and New Year Special of The Soap Show has an exclusive interview with Eric Braeden, who for 27 years has played Victor Newman on The Young and The Restless.

Eric talks about his early life in Germany, moving to America to pursue his career and his thoughts on daytime drama, religion, acting and politics among another things. He also tells us about his new film, The Man Who Came Back, which is released in early 2008.

The interview will be available throughout the Christmas period.

www.thesoapshow.com

The Young Doctors to give new life to Aussie soap Neighbours?

2007-11-05T13:17:00.000Z

A report in an Australian newspaper this weekend suggests that Channel Ten is considering bringing back the 1970s medical soap The Young Doctors. A hit throughout the late 70s and early 80s The Young Doctors made stars of many of its cast, including Alan Dale who went on to play Jim Robinson in Neighbours before moving to the US where he now stars in Ugly Betty.

The report says that Ten are in talks with Grundy, the company behind both Neighbours and The Young Docs, to resuscitate the classic soap as a 6 o'clock lead in to Neighbours. The Ramsay Street soap is still suffering from poor ratings despite a high profile revamp, and the latest news that show stalwart Ian Smith, who has played Harold Bishop on and off for two decades, is to quit can only add to the soap's woes.

Would you like to see the doctors and nurses of the Albert Memorial back on our screens? Could the original magic be recreated now that so many of the show's stars - Gwen Plumb, Alfred Sandor, Michael Beecher and others - have sadly passed on? Let us know your thoughts!

CBS daytime soaps online

2007-10-09T13:35:00.000+01:00

Episodes of CBS show including daytime soaps The Guiding Light, As The World Turns and The Restless Years are now available to view online thanks to a deal between MSN and CBS.

For more information: www.thesoapshow.com/ussoaps/daytimeanytime.htm

Sons and Daughters producer and composer on The Soap Show

2007-10-09T13:29:00.000+01:00

Don Battye, the producer of 1980s Australian soap Sons and Daughters, and the man who co-wrote the show's unforgettable theme tune, recently talked to The Soap Show about his time on the programme - how the original cast were chosen, his inspiration for the theme tune and why he thinks the soap eventually ended.

It's a fascinating and amusing interview and a must for all fans of Sons and Daughters. You can hear it now at www.thesoapshow.com

"Shell Dockley" likes being a Bad Girl

2007-10-09T13:26:00.000+01:00

Nicole Faraday, who played Snowball Merriman in the TV series Bad Girls is now appearing as Snowball's enemy Shell Dockley in Bad Girls The Musical, at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End. Interviewed this week on The Soap Show, Nicole reveals how she loves to play a bad girl, and finds "baddie" characters like Snowball and Shell more fun to play than the "goodies".

You can hear the interview now at www.thesoapshow.com

EastEnders stars call the football phone-in

2007-10-09T13:24:00.000+01:00

Eastenders stars Phil Daniels who plays Kevin Wicks and Jo Swash who plays Mickey Miller will appear with Tim Lovejoy in a special 606 phone- in on Radio 5 live on October 10.

Chelsea mad Daniels and Arsenal fan Swash will vent their spleen on the footballing issues of the day chatting to callers and host Tim Lovejoy on the biggest phone in and online community in Britain and the BBC's most visited messageboard at www.bbc.co.uk/606.

Previous guest stars on 606 have included former Premier Tony Blair who appeared during the World Cup in Germany and David Beckham, speaking just before his return to the International fold in May this year.

You can call 606 on 0500 909 693
Call the rantline line on 08700 100500
E mail the show via the website or download the podcast www.bbc.co.uk/606.
606 is also on Radio 5 live on Saturdays with Alan Green 6.06pm Sundays 7-8 with Spoony

Holly Brisley (Amanda) returns to Home and Away

2007-09-18T18:36:00.000+01:00

Australian newspaper The Herald Sun reported today that Home & Away favourite Holly Brisley will be returning to Summer Bay next month! Holly has just completed a trip around the world which included some time in England, when she spoke to The Soap Show about her time on the top soap. You can read a transcript of the interview here:

http://www.thesoapshow.com/interviews/hollybrisley.htm

Let's hope we see Holly as Amanda back on our screens soon. And, if she's back, will she be returning to the Bay alone?

Bad Girls Sylvia Hollamby: Helen Fraser interview

2007-09-17T10:54:00.000+01:00

This week's guest on The Soap Show is Helen Fraser, who played Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby for all eight series of ITV1's prison drama Bad Girls, and who is now reprising the role for the West End stage.

Helen is starring in Bad Girls The Musical at the Garrick Theatre and the show gives fans the chance to see Sylvia as they have never seen her before! The gritty musical contains some light moments, including a "Fred and Ginger" style number with Sylvia and Fenner, and a hot shoe shuffle!

Hear Helen talk about the show, playing Sylvia, and her 40 year career on The Soap Show from the 17th September.

http://www.thesoapshow.com/

Neighbours stars hit West End

2007-09-17T10:50:00.001+01:00

Former Neighbours stars Blair McDonough (Stuart) and Jonathon Dutton (Tad) can currently be seen in the hit Australian comedy The Vegemite Tales.

THE VEGEMITE TALES, which has been described as the Antipodean’s answer to Friends, delves into the lives of a group of young Antipodeans colonising a West London flat, capturing what it’s like to 'up sticks’ and move to the other side of the world - Sam's thinking about going home, Maddie's thinking about Dan, Dan's thinking with the wrong head and Eddie's not really thinking at all, Gemma's facing the biggest decision of her stay in London and Jane just wants the toilet bowl to be clean.

Reprising his role as Dan is BLAIR McDONOUGH who played Stuart Parker in Neighbours for over four years after coming second in the original Australian Big Brother. Blair is also well known from appearances in Safari School and Sky One’s The Match.

Joining him, and making his West End debut, is JONATHON DUTTON as Eddie. Jonathon played Tad Reeves in Neighbours for four years before landing the role of David in two series of the BBC’s Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps.

Cast also includes JESSICA GERGER, ANDY LEONARD, ANDREW ROBB, ANNA SKELLERN and JOSEPHINE TAYLOR.

Listen out for a sneak preview of our interview with Jonathon Dutton on this week's soap show at http://www.thesoapshow.com/ and for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see the show!

E Street DVD The Best of Mr Bad Volume 1

2007-09-17T10:36:00.000+01:00

The Soap Show and Umbrella Entertainment are offering fans of the cult 1990's Aussie soap E Street the chance to win a copy of "E Street: The Best of Mr Bad Volume 1". This fantastic DVD box set contains twenty back to back episodes of the classic soap opera, featuring the infamous Mr Bad storyline.

Starring soap favourites like Tony Martin (Rev. Bob), Diane Craig (Ellie), Kate Raison (Sheridan), Marcus Graham (Wheels), Alyssa Jane Cook (Lisa) and current Neighbours star Joan Sydney (Mary) this is a thrilling serial killer plot which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

To win a copy of the DVD send your answer to the following question to info @ thesoapshow.com (anti-spam measure - you'll have to copy the address and close the gap either side of the @ symbol): "Vince Martin played Mr Bad in E Street, but what was the name of the psychiatrist he played in Sons & Daughters?" Entries must be received by Friday 21st September 2007.

Bad Girls The Musical

2007-09-17T10:09:00.000+01:00

Following rave reviews and a hugely successful season at the West Yorkshire Playhouse last year, the inmates of HMP Larkhall are breaking out once again as Bad Girls The Musical serves time in London’s West End.

The production has now opened at the Garrick Theatre on Charing Cross Road.

Written by the creators of the award-winning TV series; Bad Girls The Musical features many of the original inhabitants of G-Wing, including Jim Fenner, Bodybag, Shell Dockley, Nikki Wade, The Two Julies and embattled new Wing Governor Helen Stewart. Never shying from the darker side of prison life, Bad Girls celebrates the warmth, compassion and defiant sense of humour that can sometimes triumph even behind bars.

The original musical score reflects the characteristic blend of hard-hitting drama and heart-warming comedy with a fresh mix of funny and moving songs from ballads to showtime including All Banged Up, One Moment, Jailcraft and Freedom Road.

Bad Girls the Musical will feature David Burt as Jim Fenner, Sally Dexter as Yvonne Atkins, Nicole Faraday as Shell Dockely, Laura Rogers as Helen Stewart and Helen Fraser as Sylvia Hollamby.

Nicole Faraday will be familiar to fans of the Bad Girls TV programme for her portrayal of Snowball Merriman, while Laura Rogers, who reprises the role of Helen from the West Yorkshire Playhouse musical, was Sheena in season 7 of the TV show.

Helen Fraser of course needs no introduction - she played Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby, the screw that fans loved to hate, for all eight series of Bad Girls on ITV1.

Kath Gotts (music and lyrics) is well acquainted with the inmates of Larkhall, having co-written the theme and incidental music for four series of Bad Girls. A former Vivien Ellis Prize finalist, she is currently writing songs for the fictional school musical Parkside Story, to be featured within the next series of Waterloo Road on BBC1.

Maggie Norris (director) has worked as a director, writer and actress and is also Executive Producer on the forthcoming feature film Mrs Ratcliffe’s Revolution starring Iain Glen and Catherine Tate. She most recently directed Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys at WYP.

Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus (book), writers of Bad Girls The Musical, are also the creative team behind Bad Girls and Footballers’ Wives on ITV and the current hit BBC drama Waterloo Road, as well as the much-anticipated Rock Rivals for ITV. After meeting on Coronation Street in 1998 they set up Shed Productions with colleagues Brian Park and Eileen Gallagher.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Monday to Saturday 7:30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees at 3.00pm
Tickets priced from £25.00 to £55.00
All preview performance prices reduced by £10.00
Box Office Telephone Number: 0870 890 1104 /0870 040 0083 Garrick Theatre

Australian television news

2007-09-17T10:03:00.000+01:00

Aussie Drama Rates its Way to the Top

After years of reality television and infotainment shows, it looks like Australian drama is finally heading back to the top of the ratings! With Sea Patrol and City Homicide both proving successful in the ratings and other dramas improving their viewing figures, things are looking pretty good at the moment. So what exactly are the viewing figures like? Here’s the rundown:

Sea Patrol debuted in early July with a massive 1.971 million viewers. It was the highest rated show of the night for its first eight weeks and despite some criticism for simplistic storylines and wooden acting, no-one can dispute the fact it is doing well for Channel Nine. Though ratings have since fallen by about a third, this is normal for any new show and it continues to be Nine’s best rating show on Thursdays. A second series has been confirmed.

City Homicide has had an equally impressive start on Seven, proving that there is indeed an appetite out there for well made Aussie drama. It has received generally good reviews and debuted with a two-hour special episode that gained it 1.648m viewers. Unusually for a new show the ratings actually improved for the following episode to 1.717m, though this is probably explainable by the timeslot. As the rating are an average of the show’s viewing figures over its time on air, City Homicide’s 2hr opener kept the show on air into the 9.30-10.30pm slot, a time when ratings are generally lower. In spite of this the high rating for week two shows that viewers obviously liked what they saw and came back for more. Could City Homicide end up lasting as long as its predecessors Blue Heelers and Homicide?

All Saints can do no wrong at the moment. Ratings have been on the increase this year and a show that was sitting comfortably around 1.2m is now regularly attracting audience figures of nearer to 1.4m on a regular basis. No doubt the show was helped along earlier in the year by being scheduled after Dancing with the Stars but nevertheless the show has continued to perform well. Its best rating episode in 2007 (so far) was on 10 April when it attracted a very healthy 1.609m.

Home and Away has also been a strong performer this year ratings-wise. A recent wedding storyline has made good ratings even better with an episode on Monday 3 September rating 1.508m. Figures remained high for the rest of the week with the show out-rating its more expensive local competition - Sea Patrol, McLeods Daughters and All Saints.

One show that isn’t so buoyant in the ratings is McLeod’s Daughters which seems to have received a bit of a battering this year. The loss of a number of high profile (and much loved) cast members has combined with increasingly fanciful storylines to hit the show right where it hurts. A show which should be attracting around 1.3./1.2m has dipped since the departure of Aaron Jeffrey in June with one episode (29 August) even setting a new all-time low of 0.989m. Unimpressive ratings do not bode well for McLeod’s future and though an eighth series has already been commissioned for 2008, this could be the show’s last unless ratings pick up considerably.

Another looser in the ratings is poor old Neighbours. A recent, much publicised, revamp only provided a temporary reprieve in the ratings and it has since slipped back down to worrying levels. With station bosses hoping the show will attract in excess of 1m per night, ratings around the 0.7/0.8m level just aren’t good enough. Neighbours does have one thing in its favour though – with its solid fan base in the UK and its recent sale to Channel 5, the show is guaranteed to be in production for at least another three years.

Comedy also a winner

Drama isn’t the only thing that Australian audiences can’t get enough of as homegrown comedy is also finding plenty of support out there. Kath and Kim’s move to commercial television has been an out-and-out success so far. It’s debut on 19 August set new records at 2.521m and though ratings had decreased two weeks later, they were still sitting at a very satisfactory 1.767m.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s new sitcom Summer Heights High debuted on 5 September with 1.220m viewers tuning in. With the ABC’s ratings generally being lower than the commercial channels, this is certainly a good start. Thank God You’re Here continues to draw in the crowds for Ten – with the third series debuting at 1.771m, every episode since has improved on that very healthy figure. Its success peaked on 22 August with an incredible 2.050m, breaking the much hailed 2m barrier.

I hope you enjoyed that tour round the ratings – next time we’ll take a look at some more new shows coming your way.

MARTIN MCDOWELL

Australian soaps and actors

2007-09-17T09:57:00.000+01:00

Our Aussie TV expert Mac is well known to The Soap Show visitors for his regular column Mac on the Box. In this occasional series, Mac answers some of the questions that our visitors and listeners have put to him over the past few months.

First up this time is one from Felicia who asks:

Do you have any information on defunct 80's soapie, Richmond Hill? Felicia explains that she loved the programme and would like to know whether any distributors have any plans to release the series on DVD.

Richmond Hill was a soap that lasted for 92 episodes in 1988 and starred a number of familiar faces including Maggie Kirkpatrick as Ivy Hackett, Gwen Plumb as Mum Foote, Felicity Soper as Susan Miller and Paula Duncan as Janet Bryant. One thing that fans of this show might not be aware of is that the character of Jill Warner was played by Dina Panozzo, the sister of one of The Soap Show’s favourite guests Oriana Panozzo (who played Susan in Sons & Daughters)!

A number of its cast are still regular faces on television today including Emily Symons who, after appearing here as Anne Costello, went on to find success in both Home & Away and Emmerdale. Amanda Muggleton, who appeared as Connie Ryan, returns to TV soon in a newly recorded episode of City Homicide which will debut in Australia later this year.

Richmond Hill is one of the few soaps that was cancelled unexpectedly at the peak of its popularity, surprising fans all over the world. Shown on Network Ten, it was axed to make way for E Street, an untried new series that struggled for a while to build up a following that was as big as that of its predecessor. In relation to a DVD release, it seems unlikely at the moment but given the popularity of other recent Aussie soap releases, never say never!

Next are three questions from Johanna who writes all the way from Sweden:
I have heard somewhere that Sue Devine, who played Tracey Morris in Prisoner, had appeared in The Sullivans but I can't find any information to confirm it. Do you know if that's true? If she was, do you know her character’s name?

Firstly, I can confirm that Sue Devine played the role of Vonnie, best friend to Kitty Sullivan. She appeared in about fifty episodes in which she was a nurse who got engaged to naval seaman Peter Robinson (but cheated on him with an American serviceman. Vonnie's behaviour came between her and Kitty (who was good friends with Peter) and their friendship ended.

In your Sullivans podcast you mention Olivia Hamnett is dead. Do you know any more about the circumstances? She was one of my favourite actresses.

Olivia died of a brain tumour a few years ago but I do not have any further details. She is survived by her husband Peter Regan, an original cast member of The Box, with whom she emigrated to Australia in the early 1970s.

What is Jodie Yemm (Norman Yemm’s daughter) doing now?

Jodie Yemm has now retired from acting.

Jane asked what Danny Roberts from Sons & Daughters has been up to since leaving his role as Andy Green.

After starring in the daytime soap The Power, The Passion in 1989, Danny dropped out of the acting business for a few years and then returned to it in the mid 1990s. Now going under the name of Daniel, he has guested in a number of shows over the last ten years including Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Fire, Stingers, Big Sky and Home and Away (where he played Ailsa’s brother in 1997). At the time that he filmed his guest role in Blue Heelers he was romantically involved with Tasma Walton, who played Dash in the series and who his character holds hostage for much of the episode! His film roles have included Blackwater Trail and a very small part in Mission Impossible II.

Melanie was wondering if I could find some information on the actor Paul Keane who played Des Clarke in the early days of Neighbours. She really liked his character and found there wasn’t much information about him on the Neighbours website.

After Neighbours, Paul retired from acting and reportedly experienced issues surrounding drug addiction. He was unwilling to return to the show in 2003 to film scenes in which Jamie Clarke returned to Ramsay Street and it seems unlikely that he will return to acting in the future as he was never totally at ease with the media glare that such a career brought into his life. Something else you may not be aware of is that before Neighbours, Paul made a fleeting appearance in the pilot episode of the short-lived 1985 Grundy soap Possession alongside his Neighbours co-star Anne Charleston.

Dip asked what Mark Conroy (Glen) and Haydon Samuels (Tick) from Sons & Daughters are doing now.

After a short guest role on Home & Away in 1989, Mark Conroy retired from acting.Haydon Samuels became one of the few to make the successful transition from child actor to adult actor. After Sons & Daughters he appeared in the childrens series Hills End, then featured in a variety of guest roles in leading Australian dramas such as Police Rescue and Wildside. It may be interesting to fans of Haydon to realise that he actually became an actor after winning a successful media hunt across the continent for a young boy who was up to the challenge of the starring role in I Live With Me Dad, a film released by Crawfords Productions in 1985. Though not available on DVD, video copies of this film still appear for sale online from time to time and are well worth keeping an eye out for – Haydon fans will definitely not be disappointed!

Leanne has been frustrated by the appearance of a new character in Emmerdale as she is sure that the actor concerned used to be in Neighbours. She thinks he used to play the character of Mark Gottlieb and wants clarification.

Unfortunately you are only half right on that one Leanne! The actor in question is Richard Grieve who used to play Cheryl Stark’s nephew Sam Kratz in Neighbours. He then moved on to play Dr. Lachlan Fraser in Home & Away for a year. Having now relocated to the UK, he appears regularly in Emmerdale as Jonny Foster (minus the hair dye he used in Neighbours to keep his locks jet black!)

Now for one that I haven’t been able to answer…Jamie asked about the whereabouts of Kaye Chadwick who played Prisoner heavy Bev Cavelli in many episodes without ever managing to speak more than a line or two!

All I can say is that Kaye has continued to keep as low a profile after Prisoner as she did during it with the result that I have been unable to establish any information – sorry! I don’t ever like to admit TOTAL defeat in these matters so I will continue to make enquiries and report back if I uncover any relevant information. I’ve still a few other sources to try on this one…

Soap opera podcasts

2007-09-17T09:55:00.000+01:00

There are millions of viewers around the world who love the glamour and melodrama of US daytime soaps, but did you know that fans can keep up with two of them no matter where they live?!

CBS soaps Guiding Light and As the World Turns are available over the internet as daily podcasts.

You can catch up with each episode, along with an unobtrusive commentary that sets each scene. All episodes have crystal clear sound and are ad-free. For Guiding Light fans there is even the option to listen to a shorter "lite" version of the show.

Produced by Proctor & Gamble, Guiding Light is the longest running drama in the world, ever! It started life as a radio soap in January 1937, before moving to TV in 1952. Set in the fictional city of Springfield, it follows the lives of the Bauer, Spaulding, Lewis, Marler and Cooper families.

As The World Turns is another P&G soap and while not quite as old as Guiding Light, it recently celebrated its golden anniversary! ATWT is set Oakdale, IL, and follows the lives of the Hughes, Montgomery, Ryan, Snyder, Stewart and Walsh families.

For more information and to get the latest episodes, go to http://www.cbs.com/netcast/

Hollywood stars in soaps

2007-09-17T09:47:00.000+01:00

We all have our favourite daytime soap star and many of them have been on screen for so long they are as well known and loved as any Hollywood film star.

In fact, many of Hollywood's A-list got their big break on a daytime soap, and below we take a look at some of those actors and the roles they played.

Before he got Footloose Kevin Bacon had roles in two daytime soaps, as Todd in Search for Tomorrow and Tim in Guiding Light

Early in his career tough guy Robert de Niro had a bit part in Search for Tomorrow

Mark Hamill will be forever associated with Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, but he previously played Kent Murray in General Hospital

David Hasselhoff had hits with Knight Rider and Baywatch and these days is famous just for being "the Hoff", but in the 1970s he played Snapper Foster in The Young & The Restless

Tommy Lee Jones has an illustrious film career, before which, in the early 1970s, he spent four years playing Mark Toland in One Life to Live

These days Demi Moore is as well known for her marriage to a younger man as for her acting roles, but in the early 1980s her fame came from playing Jackie Templeton in General Hospital

To sci-fi fans she is Voyager's Captain Janeaway, but to soap fans of the 1970s, Kate Mulgrew was Mary Ryan in Ryan's Hope

In the early 1980s Meg Ryan spent two years playing Betsy Stewart in As The Word Turns

Veteran actress and campaigner Susan Sarandon had roles in both Search for Tomorrow and A World Apart

Before he was President of the United States (on TV, at least), Martin Sheen appeared in Edge of Night

Nightime soaps have also been a convenient launchpad for the careers of some of the biggest movie stars around:

A young Brad Pitt turned up in Dallas as a boyfriend of Charlie Wade

Alec Baldwin played a wife-beating TV evangelist in Knots Landing

Halle Berry also turned up in Knots Landing as a love interest for Frank Williams

Can you think of any more Hollywood stars that got their break on a soap?