Hollyoaks

Next generation of TV writers in peril

“Crisis? What crisis?” This was the 1979 tabloid headline that encapsulated the Callaghan Government’s apparent blissful ignorance of the proliferating emergencies surging towards it.

Shortly afterwards, James Callaghan was ousted and Margaret Thatcher was elected. Then followed the long and bitter miners’ strike. And we all know the consequences of that.

The best way to work with writers

A woman sits with her head on a desk, next to scrunched up bits of paper

“Next time I produce a play – no author,” yells Max Bialystock, the producer of Springtime for Hitler in Mel Brooks’s The Producers. To be fair, the unhinged writer, a former Nazi, does shoot Max.

And did you hear the one about the real-life writer whose producers blocked him from attending the Baftas? He later “liberated” the award from their trophy cabinet.

Then there are the apocryphal tales of 1970s writer-producer duos whose relationships were more Burton and Taylor than Liz and Dick themselves.

How TV is tackling our mental health

Hollyoaks character Diane Hutchinson (credit: Channel 4)

John, who uses gender neutral pronouns, had previously phoned the station to share how they had been struggling during the lockdown of 2020, to the point where they had planned to end their life. Then they happened to sit down and watch an episode of Hollyoaks, coincidentally the traumatic conclusion of a depression storyline featuring two characters Kyle and Darren.

Hollyoaks to celebrate 25th birthday with new series Hollyoaks@25

Hollyoaks@25 will showcase one week for every five years, each chosen for the significance and popularity of its storylines.

The first era will look at the years 1995-2000, specifically the year 1999, when the soap’s first ever major stunt was performed.

A young Tony, Lewis, Ruth and Lucy are desperate to escape the water tank in which they are being held captive by a vengeful Rob Hawthorne, the soap’s first ever villain.

Jane Turton discusses her new role as Chair of the RTS and her love of television

From her first days working in television as a founder member of Meridian, the South of England regional ITV company, Jane Turton knew that she’d landed in exactly the right place professionally.

“I’ve always loved being in TV. It’s full of interesting people,” she says. “TV is always exciting. The product – if we’re allowed to call it that – is fascinating – part manufacturing business, part creative, part art, part commerce. TV brings all that stuff together in a way that is challenging and interesting.”

RTS North West celebrate on and off-screen talent at 2019 awards

The crew and cast of Years and Years (Credit: Andrew F Photography)

The BBC One series, made by the Red Production Company, bagged three awards at the ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester. Years and Years was named Best Drama, while the acting gongs went to Rory Kinnear and Jessica Hynes.

Granada Reports also picked up three awards on the night. The ITV News programme won the Best Regional News Programme award for its investigation into the North West’s high suicide rate and the prize for Best Digital Content. Sports correspondent Chris Hall was named Best Regional News Journalist.

Celebs Go Dating series eight singletons revealed

Amy Childs, Malique Thomson, Olivia Bentley, Dean Gaffney, Amy Hart, James Lock (Credit: Channel 4)

This year’s singletons ready to play the dating game includes Love Island star Amy Hart, who recently had her heart broken by fellow Love Island star Curtis Pritchard before dramatically leaving the villa in response to the breakup, former The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs, who after a recent split is hoping this will be her chance to meet Mr Right, and Made in Chelsea’s Olivia Bentley, who will be ditching the Chelsea dating scene in the hopes of finding a connection.

TV producers discuss the importance of locally produced drama in Dublin

Zoe (Amy Manson) in Raw (Credit: RTÉ, Ecosse Films & Octagon Films)

Remaining “local” in terms of story, themes and talent was key. In fact, Paul Marquess – MD of PGM TV and a veteran of soaps including Brookside and Hollyoaks – argued that what worked, in his experience, was being “very local”. 

Marquess said: “It is much harder to build a franchise with global appeal… but there is a huge appetite for quality English-speaking drama.” He called for more locally produced drama in Dublin, adding: “This is a cool place!”

Tackling far right extremism - Hollyoaks Screening

Tackling far right extremism - hosted by Nihal Arthanayake.

Panellists will include:
Hollyoaks Executive Producer - Bryan Kirkwood
Hollyoaks Writer - Jayshree Patel
Prevent Representative 
Hollyoaks actors - Harvey Virdi (Misbah), Kieron Richardson (Ste) and Rishi Nair (Sami)

Join us on Monday 16th September at the University of Salford, MediaCityUK, DPL Lecture theatre from 6pm with a 6:30 screening.