The UK is famous for its 'soaps'. Some of them have run for decades, covering all sorts of contemporary social evolutions, and are well-known parts of British culture! Soaps are usually characterised by not-so-realistic storylines, being easy to watch/listen to (quite addictive!), and often broadcast during family viewing/listening times.
Most British soaps are based in working-class communities. And they often clumsily try to weave topical social issues (divorce, homosexuality, racial issues, bullying, homelessness etc) into their storylines. In later years, a lot of soaps also started to introduce ridiculous plots (murders etc!) to get higher ratings. Soaps are often broadcast on several days each week.
A classic UK trend during my childhood was to eat a 'TV dinner'. This means eating your evening family meal (often on trays on your laps) while watching a soap together. The main shows were screened at about 7pm = dinner time!
Tbh, I haven't watched any soaps since I was a teen - but here are some well-known UK ones. If you are not British, note the regional accents...
1. Coronation Street (known as 'Corrie') - TV
This series is set in the North of England, in a fictional town called Weatherfield. The series has been running since 1960! It covers the lives of local residents, who often congregate at a pub called the Rovers Return. There are elements of humour in Coronation Street, but on the whole the storylines tend to be depressing to watch (this is a trend with UK soaps!)
2. Eastenders - TV
This soap began in 1985. It is focused on a fictional place in the East End of London, called Albert Square. It features the lives of local cockney residents, who often congregate at a pub called the Queen Vic. (Seeing any similarities here? ^^) This show also has lots of depressing storylines, and some of the most miserable are traditionally screened at Christmas! (Happy happy!)
3. Emmerdale - TV
This one is set in a fictional, rural farming community in the North of England. It used to be called 'Emmerdale Farm' but in the late 80s, it got a trendy makeover to boost ratings. Suddenly it became a lot more 'racy' and glamorous! And while sleepy Emmerdale Farm was screened on weekday afternoons, the new version has a later, peak broadcast time. Emmerdale Farm started in 1972.
4. The Archers - Radio
Is set in a farming community in the English Midlands. The first episodes were broadcast in 1950, and it is the world's longest-running soap. The storylines cover (clumsily portrayed!) topical social aspects, farming, and the relationships of residents of a fictional, rural town called Ambridge, where the Archer family lives. The storylines are more lighthearted than those of Corrie or Eastenders! The show features characters of all classes.
The Archers was first introduced to encourage farming after WWII, when Britain needed to boost agriculture. It's just a regular drama now, though I think it might appeal to older generations than some of the other UK soaps!
My grandmother and mother used to listen to The Archers. In our household, the weekend Omnibus edition would often be on the radio while traditional Sunday lunches were being prepared :)
Listen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr/episodes/player
Honourable Mentions: The Aussie Soaps
Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home & Away were HUGELY popular in the UK during the 80s and 90s. I am not sure if they're still being broadcast there? These soaps were altogether more sunny and cheerful than the UK ones, and were screened at about 5pm. They were an absolute must-view for housewives, and most University students!
Other Classic UK Soaps
- Hollyoaks (1995-present) - unrealistic lives of a group of plastic young people in a fictional town near Chester in England.
- Brookside (1982-2003) - depressing drama featuring the residents of fictional Brookside Close in Liverpool. The close (a group of houses) was actually built in real life, and the series was filmed there.
- Crossroads (1964-1988 - resurrected briefly in the 90s) - low-quality drama set around the fictional Crossroads Hotel in the North of England.
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