Out of the Blue Australian soap

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

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

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.

Neighbours comings and goings in Ramsay Street

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 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