Y&RWorldTurner

Max and OB were going to leave sooner or later though, as Matt and Darren wanted to move on. I wonder how much longer Carly Stenson will linger on. But Hollyoaks is a such a youth-centered show, I don't think it really matters to have a core, especially one that would probably be written out or sidelined once it got "too old" anyway. The show needs to concentrate on building better characters and telling more interesting stories. It should be interesting to see what Marquess does with the show and how well-received his new additions are and the stories that involve them.

I don't think Hollyoaks has ever particularly had a strong identity other than being "the soap for young people." Its never really had the strong identity that Corrie and EastEnders have. Hollyoaks, even though it's only existed for 15 years, has had so many different identity changes and so many massive cast culls over the years. This really isn't the first time. I think more than the other soaps, its the most adaptable soap. Though, of course, the writing has to be there. I don't think there's been a "core" per se for years on the show. Part of that has to do with how youth-oriented this show skews.

I hope Marquess gets rid of Bronagh Waugh (Cheryl) when he gets the chance, she's not pretty and the character absolutely sucks.

In the UK way of soap, it's nothing new though. I can't even begin to count how many "new families" Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale have brought on during the years, while longer standing (albeit, most were probably dead wood by that point) characters were written out.

UK Law's assumption that Marquess would be creating TWO families turned out to be right. He needs to post more around these parts. Sounds like Rachel Shenton's character will be Louise 2.0. Shenton is VERY PRETTY, so I guess she'll be the new eye candy on the show. Toups should be happy.

Marquess also created a family by the name of Costello on Family Affair...

Should be interesting, I'll give it a try when it starts airing. I just hope they don't bite off more than they can chew. Hollyaoks, like most of the UK soaps, has been reinvented a number of times though with some massive culls and new additions. We'll see how this one goes.

Oh dear. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a213676/hermaphrodite-plot-for-hollyoaks.html

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I think the problems on EastEnders are very fixable if the time, attention, and development are devoted to them. More or less, it's the execution of these stories and characters that's the big problem. Unlike Santer, Kirkwood's background is in storylining, so I'm interested in seeing what he does with the show from a story development standpoint. Also, I wonder how he'll execute all of the Santer storylines he'll be taking over from, since Santer's stories don't run out until September, well into Kirkwood's administration. I guess we'll have to wait until September to really judge Kirkwoood's initial stages of material though.

I hated what Santer and Collins did with Clare, Gemma Bissix was totally wasted and ended up leaving on her own. I don't know where the room can be made for her on the show right now though. But if anyone would bring Gemma back to EastEnders, it would be Kirkwood, given their history and friendship at Hollyoaks. Then again, Kirkwood may not want to bring her back at the risk of begin accused of giving preferential treatment to his favourites at the expense of other characters/actors.

Isn't Devon the original child Billie though? I guess they figured they would go with the original actor in the role. Maybe Kirkwood will fire him a second time. I guess they had nothing planned for Carol outside of Billie and didn't think they could bring her back without him.

Actually, doesn't Sharon still own The Bookies, but Pat just takes care of certain matters? The references were hilarious, these two are so fun together. But it looks like Ryan is trying to reform, but Janine just can't shake her destructive ways. I can already see some cracks there, especially when they're both working at The Bookies, and Janine is encouraging him to do something mischievous, but he relents. I loved how Janine teased Ryan all day about that damn tie. Yeah, the Billie/Carol stuff is getting old, so obvious they don't know what to do with these characters right now. He can't even do an evil grin properly. I hope Ronnie kills him when it all comes out. Zainab was hilarious yesterday - "IT'S LIKE MY NIGHTMARE IS HAVING A NIGHTMARE!" I wish Christian/Syed/Amira would just be written off already. Such a botched story and there's just no chemistry there between Syed and Christian.

Jack Duckworth is leaving Corrie. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7570332/Jack-Duckworth-actor-Bill-Tarmey-to-quit-Coronation-Street.html

Well, at least someone came out and said it in print. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/04/08/m-i-a-blasts-lady-gaga-shes-a-good-mimic/

I wonder if they'll phase this new group into the real show. I'm guess no, or not so soon. since they still have the old group and too many characters at the moment. Hopefully, this cast is better than the first cast.

I think Lucy Allan was tampering with a lot of Kirkwood's material at Hollyoaks during the last year of his material airing. I think he admitted it in an interview. Let me find the quote. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a137978/bryan-kirkwood-producer-hollyoaks.html It makes sense, because I don't think that final year at Hollyoaks really gelled with the rest of his stable tenure there. But there was a lot of actors leaving by that time as well... I think if they worked hard to find a place for most of these characters, they can be saved. I think the potential is there, but they have to try. I think Stacey will remain over-exposed with Kirkwood there. She seems like the type of character he'll love. I can also see why he's bringing Kat back, and why he cast Zoe Lucker. I think he'll like Janine as well, and that character could use some better development. We'll probably see stronger women on the show with Kirkwood. The villains will probably be more fun and properly executed, too. You mean Santer? Didn't he get rid of Honey?

I should add, right now, it feels like the show is comprised of 95% mini-storylines that have no long-term ramifications whatsoever. There's nothing that seems long-term or planned fully. The show, overall, feels half-baked. Hopefully, the story development changes once Kirkwood fully immerses himself with this show.

I guess it depends on where Kirkwood leans and what type of story directions he goes for. He knows EastEnders is a different annal than Hollyoaks or Corrie, so I'm going into his EastEnders tenure with some optimism. He's a really hands-on story producer that's present at all the story conferences, and his background is as a storyliner, a postilion he worked at Corrie for close to a decade. Santer doesn't have the storylining background that Kirkwood has, so in this case, Kirkwood could be very beneficial for the show. We'll only really know Kirkwood's mark on this show when Kat and Alfie return and Zoe Lucker's character, Vanessa, is introduced. Those are his first big plans for EastEnders, so I think if we notice any differences, it will most likely be obvious to us around August and September, when Santer's material will be running dry. Until then, all he can do is tweak Santer's material and gradually lay the ground work for his own material. I think Santer wasted weeks prepping for the live episode that he forgot there was an entire show that needed to be planned out. And sadly, now, we're seeing the effects of it on this show. He basically admitted this in one of his exit interviews. We'll have to wait and see how Collins meshes with Kirkwood's vision for the show. Maybe it will be a stark difference from the Santer/Collins relationship. It depends on what ideas Kirkwood goes for from Collins and if he's good at balancing out the worst tendencies from Collins. Then again, they might not even get along and Kirkwood could in fact replace Collins, as Sylph pointed out. When there's a regime change, Story Producers are often the first to go. But Collins has gotten so much praise, so he may have it "made" at this show for quite a while more.

Some on the Digital Spy board are saying next week is the last week Santer's name will be in the credits, though his final set of storylines will be playing out until September. I guess we'll find out in the credits two weeks from now. It will take like two months anyway after Kirkwood is credited before his stamp is really felt on this show.

LOL! I can't wait to see how Kat gets on with the Mitchell sisters! I don't think she'll like them at all. I hope we get some classic Kat zingers in there.

I hope Alfie gets to run The Vic again when he returns, and Roxy loses control of it or something. With Peggy leaving at the end of the year, I just cannot imagine people wanting to go there to be greeted by Roxy.

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a212913/hollyoaks-stars-fear-show-faces-axe.html

And Carl, aren't you just riveted as to who sent that Chocolate Bunny to Zsa Zsa? :lol:

The actors look related. Their facial features are so similar. I hate seeing the elderly scolded, and Carol was screaming like a man woman, she sort of made it everyone's business by that point. Billie needs to go play in traffic, he basically admitted he wanted to do all this at the end to get away from Carol, which probably ment he wanted more attention. His face does look messed up and is that a stain on his face or is it a mole? They tried to mask it by Peggy being a supporter of the troops thanks to Grant serving in the Falklands war. I loved when Carol threw it in her face how disturbed Grant was and how that could be an effect of his war experience.