Roy and Hayley Cropper

That's a very good point, Ariadne I expect there are quite a few of us on here that had to do exactly that with Shakespeare, Graham Greene et al. If you consider the way that Shakespeare's plays were put on during his lifetime, and the cross section of the public that would have gone to see them, then I suppose it could be argued that todays soaps fill a very similar role.

Not that I watch any of them but I do listen to the Archers.

People (critics, students for example) analyse fictional characters and how they are portrayed, in great depth. In fact, since my first degree is in English, I too have probably spent some time doing just that, and teaching others to do the same, as well as analysing other aspects of the text. So it seems perfectly rational to apply the same thoughts to television fiction, including soap operas.

I did notice that the tabloids were having a field day sensationalising the episode, but, as I said, "The Times" crtic gave a reasoned, intelligent and complimentary response. As did R4.

I watched it and was quite moved. It was beautifully acted. I know it's daft but I shall miss Hayley.

Agree about Carla. Also Tyrone. Talk about irritating.

I don't watch any of the soaps but would have to be living in a cave not to have heard about this. The dying scene was played 4 times on local radio this morning and when I switched to Radio 2 it was being played on there too! I am sure the actors were very good and it was a very moving scene BUT it is just a soap and to have radio stations discussing it as if it were real is very OTT.

There is another thread complaining about the public outpouring of grief when a stranger dies (referring to the little boy whose mother has been charged with his murder), but isn't the discussion on radio about the death of a fictitious character just as OTT. (I don't include this thread in that as anyone can choose whether to join in the discussion or not).

Agree with you, Ariadne...at no time were Hayley's final days "mawkish". Daft thing is, I shall miss her. She was portrayed as one of life's truly good citizens.

Meant to say - it got a superb review in "The Times" today, and rightly so.

I think the whole thing was handled extremely well, a truly delicate but honest touch.

That should be Roy...not Rory.

Carla has such a strident voice. I guess that her arrival took the viewer away from the final moment of Hayley's life. When Rory kissed Hayley on the top of head [earlier in the episode] I though to myself...that's a proper loving kiss. The sort that MacSporran gives me. I get so fed up with the so-called sexy portrayal couples banging each other around and against the furniture...

I agree that Carla barging in struck a jarring note. Poor Anna was put in a very difficult position.

wasn't going to watch it as I thought it might be overplayed but it was very moving (was the music - the lark ascending? ) - the only let down was the arrival of a shrieking Carla (overacted) in what should have been a very moving moment - and where it should have ended.

Same here Soop beautifully done. I was dreaming about it in the night and it was my first thought this morning. I am hoping that the writers leave it at that and do not go the 'Roy charged with assisting suicide' route.