Y&RWorldTurner

Someone just told me that last Friday marked the 10th anniversary of Baby One More Time's (the song itself, not the album) release in North America (It was released in February 1999 in the rest of the world, and it was a major international hit). Where has the time gone? I can't believe Britney's marked her 10th official year in the music industry this month. Also, last week, "Womanizer" became her first #1 single in the US since Baby One More Time ascended to the pole position in early 1999, though the song fell this week.

Mylène Farmer - Dégénération

I liked the scenes on Thursday's episode where Mercedes and Kris go to The Dog to collect their wages and they find that the place is closed down.

Kris: So much for getting my wages out of them.

Mercedes: (with the look of disgust on her face) Jack and Darren have probably buried them in a field somewhere.

I want Mercedes and Cindy to interact. I can see good bitch chemistry with those two.

http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?A...mp;in_a_source=

A new McQueen in town

Friday, October 24, 2008

Claire Cooper says there will be some 'fantastic' scenes at Christmas Hollyoaks' McQueen clan have just had to suffer losing Tina, but their lives are about to be turned upside down once again with the arrival of a new McQueen on the scene.

Claire Cooper, who plays Jacqui McQueen, revealed that the arrival of a female relative next month causes even more chaos for the family.

"There's going to be more chaos for Jacqui, it's not going to be smooth-running unfortunately. There's going to be a new McQueen joining the show and it causes a few problems - especially for Jacqui," she said.

Claire added that things will be getting worse for her character.

"There will be (some hope) but we have to show all this darkness and pain that she's feeling which is great for me to play, I really enjoy it, but it's hard on the audience I think," she said - adding that she knew her character really splits the audience.

Claire said viewers will also be treated to edge-of-the-seat scenes at Christmas.

"There's some fantastic Christmas stuff that we're filming at the moment. I can't say anything about it yet but it's going to be really exciting," she said.

Hollyoaks has been nominated for a National TV Award. To vote go to www.nationaltvawards.com.

What about "slapper"?

The same thing, a slut/whore.

How did Mercedes became HIV positive? The guy had it but he never told her?

We don't know if she's HIV+ yet, but Malachy continued to sleep with her even after he found out he was HIV+.

Malachy is the first guy Mercedes has really "loved." She's a sex addict who's screwed just about every man in town. She's slept with Russ, Warren, Tony, Rhys, Danny, Kris, and of course Malachy.

Malachy was also a man whore before he and Mercedes got serious, so those two finding each other kind of made sense.

Ohh....so Jacqui knew Russ was the father? Can't wait for that to come out! I hope Tony and Russ give her hell for keeping that secret.

Yes, Jacqui was so obsessed with having a child, and sort of begged/forced Tina into being her surrogate. Everyone seemed to look passed it but Mercedes. Mercedes made Jacqui feel like s-hit a lot the time and always tried to make Tina back out of it. Jacqui originally wanted Mercedes' child (with Tony), but she had an abortion of course.

There were a few moments earlier in the year where Jacqui would be so happy that Tina was her "surrogate" and then Mercedes would intentionally say something to bring her down and dampen the mood.

Jaqui took the baby because at one point she was supposed to be Max's mother. Tina was supposed to give her and Tony the child, but then she changed her mind after letting him live with them for a few weeks. So she's taking him back.

That was before Russ found out he was the father of Max, which changes everything. Russ wants to take care of Max, but Myra rudely told him in the hospital that she wants to do that and it's what, "Tina would've wanted." That kid belongs with Russ. Jacqui knew he was Russ' child but kept that a secret from Tony during the whole surrogacy fiasco. She let Tony and eveyone believe that Tina was carrying a child via Tony's sperm sample.

Yeah, Jacqui is going nuts, and I really felt bad for Carmel when Jacqui went off on her for not being upset with Myra for choosing them to die. Carmel might be the comedic "dumb blonde" of the bunch, but she's the McQueen with the purest heart and the best of intentions. Jacqui is the tough family oriented one, Mercedes is the unapologetic bitch, Michaela is the free-spirited one, and Tina was the book smart one.

Oh, and Niall won't be back for now, but that was a great cliffhanger at the end of Tuesday's episode when Carmel answered the phone and was told that Niall's body wasn't recovered and that he's still out there.

Niall will be on the late night Hollyoaks spin-off though, which will be premiering in November. After that, unless he comes back, he's gone for good.

That's Lauren, she's been on for a little over a year now. She's Calvin's half-sister. She's Leo Valentine's illegitimate child, who Clavin and Sasha didn't know about until she (along with her brother and Leo's other child Danny, whose gone now) showed up.

Did my lovely Zak really sleep with Michaela?

They woke up together, but I really don't know.

That's cute! Where has Amy's hair gone?

Ste started abusing Amy, one day he held her down with a pair of scissors and chopped off most of her hair.

Last week's episodes broke all sorts of records for E4 in the UK in terms of ratings this year. Looks like the storyline paid off very well.

I watched the following on YouTube - I freaking love them all!

Max's death & funeral - OMG, Sarah's(I think that was her name) speech was so go

That's Steph.

Though Steph's brother, Craig, was dating Sarah when he was screwing his best friend John Paul.

Mandy's trial - So she's the teacher who had sex with her student? Awesome storyline. LOL.

That's Becca. LOL

Hey Toups, Fabtasticalicious on YouTube has a playlist with Clare's 2007 storyline. It's stuff mainly from the middle of 2007 though, but I'm sure she'll be adding more soon.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E4...4907&page=1

She also has some stuff from as far back as 2005.

Wow, she's only 29, so young!

Bryan Kirkwood is only 31, and was 28 when he took over!

That's the thing with the UK soap industry, they're always on the look out for fresh blood.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/10..._the_baton.html

Hollyoaks producer passes on the baton

Published: 17 October 2008 12:24 Author: Robin Parker More by this Author Last Updated: 17 October 2008 12:24 Reader Responses

Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood is to step down at the end of the year after three years at the helm of the teen soap.

Lucy Allan, the show's deputy producer and one of this year's Broadcast Hot Shots, will take over from January. Kirkwood has described her as a "force of nature".

Kirkwood will continue to work for Lime and will develop potential new projects for the company.

Creative director Tony Wood paid tribute to Kirkwood's time in the role. "Bryan has created a legacy of success and award winning television which everyone at Lime Pictures is immensely proud of," he said.

Under Kirkwood's leadership, Hollyoaks was the runaway winner at this year's British Soap Awards with six gongs.

Kirkwood and Allan worked closely on the development of Late Night Hollyoaks, a stripped week of spin-off episodes on E4 in November, to be produced by Allan.

Lime's chief executive Carolyn Reynolds said: "Hollyoaks demands a producer with real flair, creativity and drive. I believe Lucy consistently demonstrates these qualities and will bring with her a strong appetite for success and innovation."

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/hotshotsprod...9_producer.html

Lucy Allan, 29, producer

Lucy Allan

"Despite disagreeing with me on a daily basis, it's clear that Lucy's priority is always the show and never her ego," says Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood of his talented deputy.

Praise indeed, given the pressures of delivering the teen soap year-round.

Allan's tenacious approach - "she's a force of nature", says Kirkwood - and her boundless enthusiasm and dedication to problem-solving have made her a key creative driver on the Lime Pictures' show.

"Lucy has an instinctive way with the world of telly," Kirkwood reflects.

Allan has been rewarded for her input on Hollyoaks' ambitious Andrew Lloyd Webber storyline with five late-night specials, which she'll produce in November.

If anyone can juggle the logistics of two shows at once, it's her. "Lucy is at her most valuable when the chips are down," says Kirkwood.

"She has never walked away from a problem and is always at the heart of the solution."

So Jacqui wanted Mercedes' baby, but she didn't know that Tony was the father

Yeah, Jacqui didn't know Tony was the father.

And that is why Jacqui was upset/shocked with Mercedes revealing that she slept with Tony?

She was initially upset when Mercedes told her about sleeping with Tony, but on Monday's show, Mercedes also tells her that she was pregnant and had an abortion from that one night stand with Tony.

Were Tony/Jacqui together when Tony slept with Mercedes?

Yes.

I totally share this view. I'm so not a die-hard fan like Y&RWorldTurner, but I really appreciate how he (Bryan) turned it from an idiotic soap into something truly watchable and worth someone's time.

Hollyoaks has been very consistent over the past two and a half years, and the show has always been youth-centered though, that was its original premise - a soap about youth and adolescence problems. Hollyoaks has always been the lighter, more warmer soap, which is appreciated.

I do enjoy Corrie and EastEnders, but over the past two years, I've gone through the motions with those soaps. Corrie has been boring as hell for a good year now to me, and EastEnders is severely slipping in quality. I've never found Emmerdale watchable, but Hollyoaks has treated me very well in terms of building story and creating a great resolution over the past two and a half years, and as a soap fan, that's all I can ask for.

Bryan Kirkwood joined in January in 2006, but didn't jump straight in. He sat back and waited, though he did work with the previous Series Producer, David Hanson to steer the show to where he wanted it to be when he took over.

Justin and Becca was the work of David Hanson and Previous EP Jo Hallows (who between them nearly destroyed the show in my view).

The dates escape me, but the week that led up to the Twins Birthday/the reveal of Justin and Becca was Kirkwood's first set of episodes. I believe it was May or June 2006. The next few months that led to the explosion at the pub were what could be classed as a 'transition period' where characters came and left (Warren, The Valentines, McQueens, Kris, Zoe, Will, etc arrived. Olivia, Joe, the Twins, Sam Owen, Jez, etc left) and the stories shifted. The tone of the show also changed.

According to Bryan Kirkwood, one of the first things he did was call a massive story conference, in which he and his storyliners (details might be sketchy, as I'm typing from memory, here) mapped out the show's stories for the next two years. (These included the explosion, Clare's terrorising of Max, Tom and O.B, Clare being pushed, JP and Craig, Hannah's anorexia, the continued McQueen sagas, Will and Zoe, etc).

I'm sad to see Bryan Kirkwood leave, as he clearly has talent as a storyteller (Coronation had problems with their stories around the time he left, which wasn't helped by the fact Steve Frost was an inept producer, but that's another topic). If he is able to adapt his storytelling style, then he will go far. It's not likely going to happen, but imagine if he was given the pen to an American soap. He could be the 'new blood' some have been asking for.

Imagine he and Bevan Lee (Home and Away) being allowed to write a soap in the U.S.

Producers here can vary in role. Usually, they work with all areas of production and writing. They set the tone of the show. They are an amalgimation of the Head Writer and EP. They may not map the specifics, but the direction and outcome generally come from them. Each has their own strengths. For example, Diederick Santer's strengths lie in production (compare it to Edward Scott), whereas Bryan Kirkwood is a storyteller, so he is hands-on in that department.

Thanks for the timeline! Even though she's been working on Hollyoaks for a while, I really a expect a shift in tone when Lucy Allan's episodes as producer starts to air. I really hope she doesn't get rid of any of the storyliners (which is doubtful). Kirkwood always had a clear vision for the show and everything was, for the most part, carefully planned and it showed on screen. That's all we can hope for.

Jac is pissed. Part of me understands her being upset espically when she told Myra to fight when Myra was trying to explain why she chose Jac and Carmel to die. I say she did quite well holding it in espically for her when her mother chose her to die and finding out your sister slept with you husband and had his kid which i think I missed.

Mercedes and Tony only slept together once, a year ago. Mercedes got pregnant, but had an abortion. Jacqui, of course, wanted the child because she can't have any. Anyway, Mercedes thought it would be too painful to have her sister raise her child with the man she cheated with.

Gotta love the whore that Mercedes is. I love "Mercy," she's usually an unapologetic bitch who does things her own way, and she's hot.

Former Hollyoaks SW, Lucy Gough, explains the writing process:

http://www.asax84.dsl.pipex.com/articles/hollyoaks.html

A little bit of soap...

The characters are crucial

Because soap writing is such a collaborative enterprise, it’s a mixture of writing to order whilst slipping in parts of your own voice. “Sometimes you’re working on stories that you don’t know as well or don’t believe in as passionately as other stories. That’s where you need inventiveness: you need to tap into something that you didn’t know you had, to find a way into that story; stand on your head to try and find a new way of looking at something.

“I think you can watch Hollyoaks and you can say who’s written each episode because you can see their voice in there. But at the same time there’s an evenness. The characters control how it’s presented because the integrity of the characters is crucial. There are certain perimeters within which you work: the characters, the profile of the programme, and within that there’s room for your own voice.”

The day to day

Not surprisingly, it involves a lot of meetings. A storylining conference can last two days, with writers, producers and script editors hammering out a series of episodes. A few days later you’re assigned your very own episode.

You get about two weeks to write a first draft, then the producers and script editors read them and invite you in for a day to go through your script with the other writers of the same batch. You go back home with notes for changes and do a second draft. Any third draft problems are dealt with over the phone. Then you go over your script with your director and get a day or two to make final changes. After that you won’t see it again till it’s on TV.

Breaking in

So what does it take to get onto the Hollyoaks writing team?

“There are real opportunities to break in,” says Lucy. “I think my timing was right, and that’s a lot of it, but the other important thing is you have to be good at storylining. They want people who are good at stories, that’s what they’re looking for, so you need to go in there bubbling with ideas.”

To get an interview, you need to have written at least one original script, something to give them an idea of your style, so they can see if it suits their sort of programme.

When Lucy first started on Hollyoaks there were only a few writers, but now there’s an 18-strong team. “They’re always on the look out. The turnover isn’t massive because they’re a good company to work for and people tend to stay, but there is some turnover, and also as more episodes are being needed they have to bring in more writers.

“The important thing is if you want to do it, go for it, because it’s not impossible. I would never have dreamt that I could do it, but I am. That’s what people need to realise: if you really want to do something, just stick at it and don’t think that any of these places are citadels that you can’t get into because it’s just not true.”

So as the "Producer" does he produce the show in the sense of the EP does on American soaps? Or does he actually write the storylines making him a "Head Writer" (American soaps) while his storyliners or like Co-HWs? Why are there so many SWs though? Having like 15-20 is a lot!

The producer both produces and comes up with storylines. He doesn't "write" them, the storyliners plot/structure them with his input.

It's common for UK soaps to have 20 or so SW's. It works for them, but the producers and script editor's are very hands-on with the scripts and scriptwriter's. If you notice, there's very little, if any, continuity errors or characters changing their tones from script to script. These scripts are written months in advance, so the producers, storyliners, and editor's can judge them and make adjustments if they want.

Even though everything passes through the producer and he/she can kill storylines if he/she wishes, anyone can contribute a storyline if they wish. Lyn Papadopoulos has done that a lot, and she's probably Hollyoaks' best scriptwriter, or the one most fans seem to love.

When is that airing again?

Somewhere next month, I'll post exact dates when I know exactly when.

What about their writing. I notice that they have like 20 script writers - each writer writing about 1 episode a month. What's the writing team structure like?

The producers and storliners generally come up with the storylines, the characters they want used, and what characters they want introduced. The producer, Bryan Kirkwood in Hollyoaks case (sigh, he'll be missed), comes up with storylines with his storyliners, and they plot them, and come up with something resembling an outline (very different from breakdowns from US soaps). Anyway, the scriptwriters meet with the producers and storyliners and they have to execute the outline they have. The scriptwriters write everything from the dialogue to the scenes themselves. UK soaps are more of a collaborative process as well. Anyone can pitch a story idea, the scriptwriters are always welcomed to contribute. There's no "Head Writer," it's more of a group effort.

There's a script editor as well, who checks for errors in continuity and all the usual stuff script editors do.

Barry Sloane is leaving too? Damn!

I believe he's supposed to be in the limited late night spin-off. I think that spin-off takes place in another universe though, kind of like what Night Shift Season One was to GH. I'm not sure though.

I guess I'll have to hope for his return someday, like Gemma Bissix.

Who's going to be the baddie now?

Everything lately has me wondering if they're planning Clare's return. She's the only one besides Louise and Calvin that knows Warren killed Sean (Louise's ex-husband). She also has a lot to settle with Warren and Justin, and she could still kill Tom if she wants. LOL!

Also, Hollyoaks tends to introduce their villians in the final months of the year. Clare left in September 2007, and Niall popped up not long after that.

So they took six days to shoot Thurs and Friday's eps? That's pretty interesting. Hollyoaks' shooting style is like film right? And that's why they have like the same director for 5 straight episodes.

Yes, they shoot like film, but they shoot their stuff like 2-3 months in advance before it airs.

http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/televi...ed-mcqueen.html

Hollyoaks - What's next for the murdered McQueen?

Friday, 17 October 2008

As Tina dies on Hollyoaks tonight fans of the show are wondering what actress Leah Hackett will be doing now she's not a McQueen.

In an exclusive interview for the official Hollyoaks website Leah has admitted that it was her decision to leave the soap and she is thrilled to have been involved in such an exciting storyline.

She said: "When I found out what the storyline was and who was directing it I was really excited, especially because it involved all of the McQueens.

"It was great to be able to say goodbye to everyone because unless it's a big storyline people tend to leave in the back of a taxi whereas this really was like saying goodbye to my family because we did it all on location, and it was great fun and the scripts were great too."

Tina wants to try something new and doesn't want to play a geek in her next job.

She found filming her death scene quite disturbing: "It's weird to think that I've killed a character because I've chosen to leave, that character no longer exists and it affects all these other characters.

"You can't help but think that if I hadn't decided to leave my character would probably have walked out with a broken arm or something. Everyone worked so hard and I think we will all be pleased with the

final result."

When she was asked which character will be most affected by her death she replied: "I would say Dom and maybe Russ as well because the day when she ends up getting kidnapped they have had a massive argument and she hears him saying that he only slept with her because he felt sorry for her.

"They are his final words to her before she dies so I think maybe he will feel quite remorseful.

"I think Dom because so much has happened I think if you knew that someone was going to die, even if you don't think you are going to be together, you would want to leave on good terms. I suppose the scene where they are in the crypt and she is dying kind of fulfils this so maybe that will be enough for him to move on."