BBC plans to set new soap North of England

[LondonScribe]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a37702336/waterloo-road-return-bbc-one-new-episodes-axed/
 

This appears to be one of the ‘new’ northern set soap/drama series Holby City was axed for.

To be fair, it was wildly popular for a period of time, and even possibly slightly contributed to the demise of The Bill.

But most of the characters that made it popular have been killed off. So it’ll be interesting to see if the production team can craft characters as captivating as those before.

 

[wingwalker]

I'm not surprised. Almost everything gets rebooted, re-imagined, or sequalized. This is going to have instant brand name over a new show. It will be interesting to see if any past characters come back, how they handle the Scotland era that was mostly hated, and what the quality and tone will be. 

 

 

[Taoboi]

I like the fact that someone in this day and era still feels soaps are worth being created. 

 

LOVE.

[AMCOLTLLover]

i wish i could feel happy about it but that they cancel my Holby City for it is something i can't get over it. I won't support this

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Holby City will end after 23 seasons/series for a new show no one asked for. Even some Holby story may be a bit dragging and annoying it still has a great cast and could bounce back.

[Forever8]

Looks like this is one of the soaps BBC would be debuting soon. 

From the synopsis it gives me Red Rock vibes which Duncan Lindsay confirmed he saw the first episode and concurs with the statement. 

 

[AMCOLTLLover]

And Holby City has to end FOR THIS? The name of that show sounds like a 16 year old trying to write his own fan fiction or something.

 

[LondonScribe]

If I remember correctly, without watching it, I think this is from the production company run by Paul Marquess? 
 

For someone who ruined so many soaps, he’s clearly got the inside track on what gets them commissioned in the first place. Plus, he’s found his niche with police-based dramas.

[I Am A Swede]

Why do they have to cancel one show to start another? Why not simply cut back on episodes for Holby City and EastEnders instead? (Something I wish ITV would do with Emmerdale)

[vetsoapfan]

How many episodes a week does Emmerdale produce these days?

[DRW50]

6. Until the cast and crew strain got to them they even tried to expand to 7.

[vetsoapfan]

Six? That's insane. No wonder the quality is said to be suffering. At least it's still a 30-minute show!

[DRW50]

Yes. I used to say that Emmerdale of all the soaps was the one that managed to still have relatively decent quality with 6 (they've had since for 10+ years), but the bottom of the show has really fallen out over the last 5 years. I don't believe any UK soap should have more than 4 episodes a week, and even that is pushing it. 

[vetsoapfan]

I'd say three eps a week would suffice for the UK soaps. I wish the American shows had returned to a 30-minute format a long time ago. It would be strange to have them airing only three days a week, perhaps, but even chopping the running time in half might force them to eliminate all the dead wood from their casts, and maybe allow them to focus on quality over quantity.

[I Am A Swede]

Being a 30-minute show hasn't done that for Emmerdale. According to the cast list on Wikipedia Emmerdale currently has 61 (!) regular characters, and 25 recurring characters.

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I know that Wikipedia might not be absolutely correct, but at least it gives an indication.

[BetterForgotten]

The broadcast scheduling is always a bit puzzling in the UK. Earlier this year, Coronation Street moved to 3 hour long episodes a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8pm). This was also a timeslot change as Corrie’s historical timeslot (for the most part) was 7:30pm.