Have people lost interest in soaps?

I was an Archers addict for decades, even going to the Academic Archers conferences which were great fun. But my interest was waning after the overdone story of Rob and Helen and by the intoduction of too many new characters I found irritating; Natasha, Joy, Jakob plus the enduring irritation of the Grundys. The lockdown soliloquy's were the final nail and I stopped listening.

I too only follow the Archers but only dip in and out in the week tend to listen to the Omnibus on Sundays. You can do others things while it's on in the background.
Gave up years ago with TV soaps all ridiculous.

Hi there I haven't watched a soap in over 10 years ...They seemed to gotten more dramatic so each week it has to be top trumped and often the acting isn't great 😂

I don't watch Eastenders got put off when roxy and sister arrived couldn't stand Phil Mitchell and Sharon so boring corrie got worse when the teacher kidnapped someone so turned off but I've always kept up with Emmerdale and home and away the only 2 that I am remotely interested in but who knows that may change

I would love to think so!

There is a whole world of good plays and films, books, music and other forms of culture, when we need a break from the daily grind, or world politics.

Let us have some really good entertainment for the next decade or so, and finally get rid of soaps that mainly cement the idea of a world where all the matters if you are female is to look good, marry a rich man, have two children etc. etc.

TerriBull

I watched Neighbours when I was a new mum, Australian tv sparked my interest once I'd been to Australia, that series coincided with a middle of the day feed. Although, easy viewing, it was rubbish of course. I dipped in and out of Corrie over the years I watched it last when Blanche, Deidre's mother was in it what a brilliant character, all the best lines ! Haven't watched it for years same with S'tenders which I always thought was veering on the side of atrocious, insomuch as everyone was shouting all the time. I recall dumping soaps gave a sense of freedom, no more at their beck and call

Your comment brought back a memory - Neighbours was on at about 1pm and I was also feeding a baby at that time! I seem to remember the storyline was something about one of the Neighbours being a stripper which was regarded as shocking!

I've watched Corrie and Eastenders intermittently over the years, but more or less given up now as the plots are so unrealistic with so many murders, affairs and divorces within such a small area
I'd rather stream a detective mystery or something with a bit more of a story,

I used to watch the soaps but gradually stopped watching when the stories got silly some years back.

I watched the recent Eastenders live episode as the live ones are generally good and there were actors back for the 40th anniversary (I was a big Eastenders fan back when it began.)

I will probably watch an upcoming episode of Eastenders as it is starring Keith Allen (a great actor) alongside Phil and explores mental illness in men, will be interesting how it gets handled.

Aveline

All these opinions on soaps who admit they haven't watched any for years

If you mean me Aveline, I stand by what I’ve said - I haven’t watched soaps for years. However, like many others no doubt, I have seen endless trailers for them whilst having the tv on for other things, and I repeat what I say that all that shouting each other down, screeching, hatred and murder these trailers promote make me realise that I’m not wrong in choosing not to watch them.

I used to be part of the British Audience Research Board and, as I don't watch soaps anymore, I used to wonder if my lack of viewing made any difference. Seems it did.

Ziplok well said👍

I don't watch them these days I used to watch all of them I find them too sensational and unbreakable these days I did watch the EastEnders anniversary week but found it very unbelievable I got confused by who had now had children to who and therefore how everyone was related

Doodledog

I don't think people watch TV in the way they used to. 3 million simultaneous viewers might happen for a big sporting event or even the final of something like Strictly, but otherwise people fit programmes around their lives, rather than the other way round.

I watch Corrie and sometimes Eastenders, but rarely as they are broadcast. I have never discussed them at work, or with other friends, but I do enjoy chatting about them online, so long as people can resist spoiling them by revealing what is going to happen before it goes out (which includes who is leaving or coming back).

I agree… years ago I used to watch all 4 biggies Neighbours, Emmerdale, Eastenders and Corrie. But even those I had never watched from the beginning, too busy bringing up a family. Life was still very busy, but sons left home and I enjoyed the routine of watching ‘friends’ on the TV at certain times every week. I gradually dropped all but Corrie as I got bored with them, but over a year ago I sort of dropped Corrie too…. I used to discuss it with a colleague over the pond in Michigan ( who still watches and is now disappointed she has no one to chat to about it) but as steaming and box sets began to filter in there is so much more choice that other tv and films became priority and I could record or watch on demand, that conventional ‘old style’ tv watching has disappeared. I now watch whatever I want whenever I want … I still miss Corrie but I’m now over a year behind and I doubt I could catch up now.

pascal30

no I don't watch any soaps either.. I much prefer watching series on Walter Presents..

Ditto

I never had any interest in soaps in the first place and I can honestly say I have never watched an episode of any soap, ever.

What counts as a Soap ? I've always watched the medical soaps , Holby City(now defunct RIP) and Casualty. The latter I still watch and thoroughly enjoy.
I used to watch Coronation St a bit in the 1960s/70s ? (when Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner were in it).
I've never watched Eastenders.
Walter Presents dramas are more my thing. I love a good character-driven whodunnit.

My ex-girlfriend watched ALL the soaps in our 30's when we lived in Dublin, transmitted on UTV from NI, later repeated on RTE & various other channels (we had free 12 channel cable), & matinees at weekends. She would not go out anywhere on trips, not even to the toilet while one was on, just sat in front of the box all day, every day in case she missed something which she talked about with her friends who were the same. It got so bad a TV went out the 3rd floor window which was closed at the time, & just missing the surprised caretaker who was walking below.

What counts as soap?

I believe the criterion is having a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline(s) are to be continued in another episode.

I don't watch the medical dramas so can't say if that applies to them.

I have watched Coronation St since Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell were in it, with a couple of 3 year breaks when living abroad.
I still watch it but find some of the storylines rather far fetched and I don't like the bits where they have flashbacks etc.
I hate that they move it when sport is on! They should have a dedicated sport channel for footie fans etc and leave the normal programme times alone!
NB, I notice here are a few dogs, but no cats apart from that (very old by now) ginger one (was that Minnie Caldwells cat?) shown on the opening credits.

That cat was my Bobby Jannipans😺

Lost interest years ago, used to watch Neighbours, Eastenders and Hollyoaks but they re so depressing now and the acting leaves a lot to be desired so I gave them up a long time ago and life is so much better for doing that 😊

I'm trying to learn Welsh so I'm enjoying Pobol y Cwm but I have to follow a lot of it in English. I'm finding it a difficult language to speak - and to write! BUT I shall persevere

I've never watched any of them. Not the slightest bit interested + I don't have a tv anyway!

I've actually had people say ''oh, did you know so-and-so from Emmerdale was jailed? She committed a horrible murder! What a awful character she is!' and I reply ''I've absolutely no idea!'' and then they say ''you know, her with the ginger hair, loads of finger rings!''

Urm.... pass!

Silverbrooks

^What counts as soap?^

I believe the criterion is having a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline(s) are to be continued in another episode.

I don't watch the medical dramas so can't say if that applies to them.

I think that the medical dramas probably are Soaps , then.
There is a broadly stable cast of characters whose public and private lives are tracked across the various plots . The plots mostly are driven by medical incidents as you would expect.Focus moves from one character to another.
Doesn't really matter I suppose provided that one enjoys watching.
Being a drama doesn't preclude a series also being a soap. From the few glimpses I've seen advertising the modern Coronation St and Eastenders they don't lack drama . Some would say melodrama .