My 1996 Soap Catastrophe Premonition
Below is a clip of me on Channel 4's 'Right To Reply', screened in December 1996, which predicted the demise in quality of the UK soaps. How right I was (unfortunately!) #RightToReply #Brookside #EastEnders #Emmerdale #Channel5 #FamilyAffairs #soapopera #deathofsoapopera #decliningviewers

BROOKSIDE: A WARNING FOR MODERN BRITISH SOAP OPERA
This month as UK soap fans well know, a helicopter crashed into Emmerdale causing untold death and destruction, much tabloid media coverage, and a temporary spike in ratings. But whilst the ivory tower ensconced television producers of Emmerdale will no doubt have been celebrating, this sensationalist grab at a summer ratings boost hails yet another nail in the coffin of what was once the great British television soap opera. How do we know? Because ‘Brookside’ – that pioneeri


The Pain Of Watching Modern Day Soaps
I grew up watching and absolutely loving the soaps before they were recognised as big ratings winners, being addicted to Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home & Away and enjoying EastEnders in its early years.
And in my late teens/early twenties I became completely enthralled by Brookside and its body under the patio saga, which to me continues to be the best soap storyline I have ever seen.
Having lived through what was clearly the golden age of TV soaps, it's agonizing to s