I forget if this was mentioned elsewhere, but since it really seems to be happening I thought I'd start a thread about it. A new Irish soap opera is upon us and will premiere sometime in 2015. Here's the announcement that Irish channel TV3 was looking around for a new soap ...

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s95/fair-city/news/a509603/new-irish-soap-launch-in-2015-fair-city-actors-to-star.html

Further news came out this week which revealed John Yorke (formerly of EastEnders) will be heading up the production team for the new soap!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a555305/former-eastenders-executive-producer-to-head-up-new-irish-soap-for-tv3.html#~oDTko2NfgiUMMN

I find this all to be pretty exciting. I'm happy to read the show will only be two episodes a week to start.

What is John Yorke's reputation at EastEnders? Can anyone tell me what he was responsible for, good and/or bad?

Edited May 10, 201411 yr by Bright Eyes

A working title and some new details!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a569488/new-irish-soap-gets-working-title-red-rock.html#~oDTnS7zi3qnG5A

Very happily surprised that the show is expected to start airing in January. I really hope it's going to be a success.

Edited May 10, 201411 yr by Bright Eyes

What is John Yorke's reputation at EastEnders? Can anyone tell me what he was responsible for, good and/or bad?

From what I hear, John Yorke is usually received well by hardcore EE fans. He wrote from EE 2000-02 where he created the Slater clan, paired Dot & Jim, devised the well received "Who Shot Phil," the Trevor Morgan saga, and was behind the Kat & Zoe mother/daughter reveal. Plus, I recast Sam with a better actress, Kim Medcalf.

Overall, I think he might do some good for "Red Rock" if it's anything like he did for EE during 00-02. Having seen a lot of work on YT (before they deleted a lot of it), his version of EE is twenty times better than what DTC, Santer, Kirkwood, and Newman did.

Thanks for answering. It just ups the potential for success and my excitement. I've never watched a soap from the very beginning before (as it was happening) so this all new for me.

Edited May 10, 201411 yr by Bright Eyes

I hope they make some sort of deal to run eps on Hulu or another, similar platform. It'd be great to see how this turns out.

Mikey, how could you not know about Yorke's era at EastEnders? It's usually regarded as the show's last true golden era. The show was huge from both a ratings and press standpoint during that era. He had a long history with EE even before he became EP in 2000.

However, during his time as head of drama at the BBC, many would say he had mixed results across the shows he oversaw as a network executive (EastEnders included).

Edited May 11, 201411 yr by BetterForgotten

That's because all those names end up running together for me. Aw, but you calling me Mikey, Alvin, reminded me of when we would have those chats on the DR with Rick, Manny and others. Good times.

He's slso written a book about storylining called Into The Woods.

I'm looking forward to this, hoping it'll be easier for me to watch than Fair City ( hard to find online haha)

Intresting to see if any familiar faces from Fair City or even Ros na Run will be cast

Some information revealed on the type of stories that will be told on Red Rock.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/red-rock-soap-could-prove-to-be-a-slow-burner-for-tv3-1.1795411

The thought of mini arcs isn't something that makes me want to watch at all. Hopefully, they'll only be using them in beginning to establish the show and original characters. If this show is less a soap opera and more a continuing serial like Doctors, Casualty, etc..., my viewership won't be lasting very long. I still have high hopes though.

The very first casting announcements came out today. Jane McGrath, who played a minor character on Game of Thrones (http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Sissy) and Adam Weafer, who seems to be a newcomer.

http://www.tv3.ie/entertainment_article.php?locID=1.803.813&article=143916

This is starting to get exciting. I hope it all goes well.

I agree with not being too, too interested in it if it's more in the vein of Casualty, Doctors, etc. I was hoping this would be a more traditional soap (maybe rural-based?), so when I saw that it would focus on police stuff, my interest level plummeted. Still, I hope it's a hit.

AMS, other articles have stated there will also be two main families in the show, so maybe it will be a healthy balance?

A third casting was announced yesterday, actor Paul Roe. Obviously, we probably won't know much about any of these actors, but I just find it fascinating being able to see a soap come together from infancy. http://www.dailyedge.ie/red-rock-tv3-soap-cast-1640734-Aug2014/

Yes, it's fascinating watching a soap being born!

I'll definitely be checking this out if I can find it.

I might be interested in this, as might my mother. I imagine it'd be hard to find to watch though.