The Soap Show Blog

Knots Landing fans celebrate DVD release of Series 2

2008-09-29T08:29:00.000+01:00

Knots Landing fans are celebrating after a long running campaign to get Series 2 of the soap released on DVD has finally paid off.

Knots lovers on fan forum soapchat.net have been petitioning Warner Home Video to release further DVDs after disappointing sales of Series 1.

Knots Landing, Series 2, which includes the entrance of scheming Abby Cunningham (Donna Mills) into the show, will be available from early next year. For now though, it seems it will only be on sale in the US, in Region 1 format.

Brookside fans campaign for DVD release (update)

2008-09-22T09:21:00.000+01:00

An update from the Brookside DVD campaign reveals that 3231 fans have signed the online petition to demand a DVD release of the defunct soap. New plans in the pipeline for the campaign include an official website, advertisements and a Liverpool-wide leaflet drop. The campaign organiser, Lee Brady, recently attended a screening of new Scouse sit com Terry Across the Mersey, with former Brookie stars Dean Sullivan, Suzanne Collins, Ann-Marie Davis, Phillip Olivier and Louis Emerik.
www. myspace. com/brooksideofficialfansite
www. petitiononline. com/brooky07/petition. html

Dirty Sexy Money tower "built" in LA and NYC

2008-09-22T09:20:00.002+01:00

ABC is promoting the upcoming season of Dirty Sexy Money by “building” Darling Tower in both LA (Olympic and La Cienega) and NYC (2nd Ave. and 30th St.). You can experience the vision, view the amenities, meet the architect, and much more at http://www.darlingtower.com.

Barbara Windsor talks about EastEnders

2008-09-22T09:19:00.000+01:00

EastEnders' Barbara Windsor has been talking to the official BBC website about her role as Peggy Mitchell and life on the top soap.

She revealed that she wasn't yet sure about Peggy's new look but loves working with new co-star Larry Lamb, who plays love interest Archie. She told the BBC: "Well, all my life I should work with lovely people like Larry. I've been a fan of his for many, many years. We've got a lot in common and we cover the same ground. He's really Charlie Charm and everything you want in a leading man."

Barlow returns to Coronation Street

2008-09-22T09:18:00.000+01:00

Bigamist Peter Barlow is making a return to the cobbles in Coronation Street. The Sun newspaper reports that Ken's shady son makes a come-back after his wife dies of cancer and he is left literally holding the baby.

Barlow was last seen in Weatherfield for his sister's murder trial at the beginning of this year.

Louisa Lytton quits The Bill

2008-09-01T16:39:00.001+01:00

Louisa Lytton has confirmed to The People newspaper that she will be leaving The Bill in October, when her current contract expires.

The young actress, who first made a name for herself as Ruby in EastEnders, is set to appear in the Eurovision Dance Contest in September.

Cassidy would return to EastEnders

2008-09-01T16:38:00.002+01:00

The Sun newspaper reports that former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy is keen to return to the show that made her a household name.

Natalie had great success with her weight loss DVD but TV and film roles have not been as forthcoming.Now that Bianca has returned to Albert Square could this be the time for the younger Jackson sister to also make a reappearance?

Home and Away star finds new TV home

2008-09-01T16:38:00.001+01:00

Indiana Evans has found a new role following her exit from Home and Away. Indiana's final scenes in Summer Bay will be seen on Five this week, but the actress has wasted no time in securing a new TV deal.Indiana will play Bella, a mermaid, in the hit kids' show H2O: Just Add Water.

Despite being axed from Home and Away it has been a good year for the young star. As well as her new acting role, she is dating former co-star Lincoln Lewis (Geoff) and was recently announced Queen Teen at the 2008 Dolly Teen Choice Awards.

Soap Actors and their sons for Five reality show

2008-09-01T16:37:00.001+01:00

Former EastEnders stars Martin Kemp and Todd Carty are to appear in a Five reality show aimed at exploring the "unique relationship between boys and their fathers". Adventures for Boys is based on the bestselling book Dangerous Book for Boys.

Other celebrity dads taking part include ex Corrie star Bradley Walsh.The celebs and their sons undertake Boy's Own-style journeys of "adventure and self-discovery".

The six-part series is part of Five's new autumn schedule.

Soap Stars Galore In This Year's Strictly

2008-09-01T16:36:00.000+01:00

A host of soap stars are to take to the dancefloor for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Three former EastEnders will be appearing in the line-up - Phil Daniels, Jessie Wallace and Gillian Taylforth. They will be joined by Holby City star Tom Chambers.

Other TV favourites to star this year include GMTV's Andrew Castle, singer Rachel Stevens and One Show presenter Christine Bleakley.

Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC1 in late September.

Out of the Blue Australian soap

2008-04-28T15:29:00.001+01:00

New Aussie soap Out of the Blue has debuted on BBC1 this afternoon and The Soap Show already has a podcast review of this very first episode with Soap Show host Ian and TV critic Martin Mcdowell.We also have character and cast biogs, pictures and an episode guide. Check out our website for more! www.thesoapshow.com

Home and Away star loving life in the Bay

2008-02-04T15:50:00.000Z

Getting a role on Home and Away was a dream come true for Lincoln Lewis, who plays Geoff Campbell. Since he was a young child his ambition was to become an actor and star in one of the Australian soaps. Having previously auditioned for the roles of both Ric (Mark Furze) and Drew (Bobby Morley) Lincoln was thrilled to finally get the part of Geoff.

"Everyone in the cast is great," Lincoln told The Soap Show. "We love what we do and to have people watch the show and tell us they enjoy it is great."

One thing that would make Lincoln even happier is for young Geoff to get a girlfriend. He reveals: "In all the jobs I have done so far I have never had an on-screen kiss."

Exciting news for fans of Prisoner Cell Block H

2008-01-28T13:34:00.000Z

Fans of 80s soap Prisoner Cell Block H are in for a treat thanks to the show's official fan club. The club is offering the chance to join the Aussie bad girls in "isolation" - the home of a pile of Prisoner goodies available only to paid subscribers who support the running of the fan club with a membership fee.

Some of the features of "Isolation" include: Exclusive and unreleased online cast interviews (including Debra Lawrance, Maggie Millar, Genevieve Lemon and Lois Collinder), quality resolution online photographs from the series (downloadable to PC for personal use), access to Prisoner out-take clips online, discount prices for official merchandise and a message board.
Members also get a personalised 'officer style' membership card and everyone who signs up before the end of January will be entered into a prize draw to win AN ORIGINAL PRISONER INMATE'S UNIFORM!

What's more Australian fans have a chance to meet members of the cast at a special Melbourne party in February - more info from roz@partnersincrime.com.au. And listen out for an exclusive interview with Maxine Klibingaitis (Bobbie) on The Soap Show in early February.

Coronation Street viewers choose Vera's best moments

2008-01-28T13:32:00.000Z

ITV.com, the revamped online entertainment platform from ITV, has announced the results of the nationwide online poll in honour of Corrie’s larger than life icon Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn). The poll coincides with her poignant and emotional exit from the popular soap as Liz Dawn has decided to retire after 34 years.

Over 1,000 soap enthusiasts were asked to vote for their favourite “Vera moment” at itv.com/soaps from a range of action packed storylines spanning the 34 years Liz has devoted to the street. Some of the top storylines include when Vera and Jack bought the Rovers and proudly put their names above the door, to a young Vera rowing with Hilda Ogden over a holiday won on the Bingo. The runaway outstanding moment as voted by ITV.com viewers with 21.2% of the vote is the recent 50th wedding anniversary of Vera and Jack. The long suffering couple have faced many highs and lows but fans have enjoyed every second and were obviously pleased to see them reach this milestone in their onscreen relationship. In second place with 14.3% is Jack joining a dating company but when Vera finds out she makes sure it’s the last time he thinks about that! Close behind in third place is the prestigious moment when Vera with acknowledged by the Queen with 11.7%.

Top ten moments as voted by fans:

50th wedding anniversary (21.2%): Jack goes all soppy when he tells the whole Street why he fell in love with Vera
The "blind" date (14.3%): With the help of Bet, Vera dupes Jack into meeting her on a "blind" date in the Rovers
A card from the Queen (11.7%): Vera's astounded when the Queen acknowledges their 'relationship'
Vera's stone cladding (9.5%): Vera defends her new brick work when Percy Sugden calls it a "monstrosity"
Vera vs Hilda (9.1%): Hilda accuses Vera of being a liar after she wins a holiday playing bingo
Buying the Rovers (8.8%): Jack and Vera look on proudly as the Duckworth name is put above the door
Terry sells Tommy (7.8%): A distraught Vera bursts into tears when she learns Terry has sold Tommy to his in-laws
Vera in hospital (7.3%): Jack is by Vera's side when she wakes from an operation to remove a kidney for Paul
Norris dancing (5.5%): Vera and Norris try a spot of Latin American dancing and end up winning a competition
Vera's sex appeal (4.8%): After learning of Jack's philandering ways, Vera tells Ivy and Shirley
she's quite a catch

Vera departed from the Street on Friday 18th January.

Home and Away has plenty to Shout about

2008-01-28T13:31:00.000Z

Home and Away actor Tim Campbell (Dan Baker) is wowing audiences with his portrayal of Aussie music legend Johnny O'Keefe in Shout The Musical.

Talking about the role, Tim told The Soap Show: "It's an actor's dream, I've got the best role in the world. I get to portray this icon of music." Hear the whole interview on this week's Soap Show at www.thesoapshow.com

More show information at www.shoutthemusical.com.au

Leah Bracknell swaps Emmerdale for Aidan's Royal Free

2008-01-18T16:44:00.000Z

Former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell (Zoe Tate) has swapped the farmyard for the wards of St Aidan’s Royal Free Hospital. She plays glamorous Matron Jenny Carrington in ITV1's new daily soap The Royal Today. But Leah reveals her real experience of hospitals is less than appealing: "20 years ago I worked as a nurse's assistant on a geriatrics ward which was basically wiping people’s bottoms and taking them to the toilet, making beds and feeding people."

Jason Donovan thanks reality TV for television acting revival

2008-01-18T16:43:00.000Z

Jason Donovan is the first to admit that appearing on I'm A Celebrity has helped revive his television career. Despite successes in theatre, TV roles were thin on the ground before he agreed to the reality show. Jason says: "It worked well and I got back into people’s hearts and minds." With a successful concert tour and the launch of his autobiography under his belt, Jason is back on our screens this week as Daniel Marrack in the Cornish soap Echo Beach (Fri, ITV1).

EastEnders Kat paying the Rent

2008-01-18T16:39:00.000Z

EastEnders fans still have time to catch Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) treading the boards in Rent:Remixed in London's West End. Jessie plays a bisexual performance artist in the show, having taken over the role from Denise Van Outen. Another soap actor in the cast is Leon Lopez. Leon starred in Brookside and Hollyoaks In The City, as well as competing in the last series of Soapstar Superstar. The musical, directed by Kylie's Creative Director William Baker, runs until February 2nd.

Crossroads fans can check back into motel life

2008-01-07T08:55:00.000Z

Crossroads fans had better start making room on their shelves as Network DVD has announced it will be releasing every remaining episode of the motel melodrama on DVD!

The company will release 16 episodes every month, starting in January 2008. Most of the recordings of the show were wiped by the production company at the time, so that the videotape could be reused, but out of over 4,500 episodes around a quarter are still rumoured to exist - so that's still quite a collection of DVDs!

soap news and soapstar interviews: www.thesoapshow.com

Neighbours comings and goings in Ramsay Street

2008-01-07T08:54:00.000Z

While Neighbours is losing some popular characters, the return of old favourites should help pacify fans of the Aussie soap.

Show veteran Ian Smith (Harold) recently announced his semi-retirement from the show and at least five of the younger cast members are set to leave in the coming months, having already filmed their final scenes.

Softening the blow for viewers are the much anticipated returns of two well loved characters - Joan Sydney as Valda and Kym Valentine as Libby.

Neighbours also moves home next month. After twenty years on BBC1 the show makes its highly publicised move to five.

When it was first announced that five had bought the UK rights to screen Neighbours some TV insiders claimed it would lead to a fall in viewers for the Aussie soap, but a recent poll on The Soap Show website indicates that the vast majority of fans plan to follow the show to its new home.

The BBC may have lost a long-running staple of its daytime line-up but there is good news for the channel too. Medical drama Doctors is settling into Neighbours old afternoon slot on BBC1, and the Beeb's newly commissioned Aussie soap Out of the Blue, which starts filming in Australia this month, is keenly anticipated by viewers looking forward to another Antipodean serial to get hooked on.

soap news and soapstar interviews at www.thesoapshow.com

2008 a great year for Aussie drama

2008-01-07T08:52:00.000Z

2008 is going to be a great year for fans of Aussie TV drama.

New series to screen this year include Canal Road, starring former Neighbours actor Brooke Satchwell (Anne Wilkinson), and Packed to the Rafters, a new comedy drama that will follow the Rafter family, headed by Rebecca Gibney and Erik Thomson. Michael Caton (The Castle, The Sullivans) co-stars.

Filming is also set to start on the BBC commissioned Out of the Blue, it's not yet known whether it will also air on an Australian channel.

The Nine Network and Fremantle Media announced they are to resuscitate the popular 70s soap The Young Doctors. To be called simply Young Doctors, it will be a modern take on the original and is being billed as a cross between Grey's Anatomy and Secret Life of Us.

Last year, new dramas City Homicide and Sea Patrol performed very well in the ratings Down Under, and UK viewers are hoping these and the other new series will be picked up by a British terrestrial or digital channel.

Soap news and star interviews at www.thesoapshow.com

Coronation Street's Ken grants an audience

2008-01-07T08:51:00.000Z

Corrie fans will have the chance to come face to face with The Street's longest serving resident later this month, when William Roache appears at a London theatre for a special "An Audience with..." Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap began in 1960, will be talking to fans about his time on the show and what goes on behind the scenes.
More info: http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=words&eventid=639

Eric Braeden Victor Newman of The Young and the Restless Audio interview

2007-12-24T13:21:00.000Z

The Christmas and New Year Special of The Soap Show has an exclusive interview with Eric Braeden, who for 27 years has played Victor Newman on The Young and The Restless.

Eric talks about his early life in Germany, moving to America to pursue his career and his thoughts on daytime drama, religion, acting and politics among another things. He also tells us about his new film, The Man Who Came Back, which is released in early 2008.

The interview will be available throughout the Christmas period.

www.thesoapshow.com

The Young Doctors to give new life to Aussie soap Neighbours?

2007-11-05T13:17:00.000Z

A report in an Australian newspaper this weekend suggests that Channel Ten is considering bringing back the 1970s medical soap The Young Doctors. A hit throughout the late 70s and early 80s The Young Doctors made stars of many of its cast, including Alan Dale who went on to play Jim Robinson in Neighbours before moving to the US where he now stars in Ugly Betty.

The report says that Ten are in talks with Grundy, the company behind both Neighbours and The Young Docs, to resuscitate the classic soap as a 6 o'clock lead in to Neighbours. The Ramsay Street soap is still suffering from poor ratings despite a high profile revamp, and the latest news that show stalwart Ian Smith, who has played Harold Bishop on and off for two decades, is to quit can only add to the soap's woes.

Would you like to see the doctors and nurses of the Albert Memorial back on our screens? Could the original magic be recreated now that so many of the show's stars - Gwen Plumb, Alfred Sandor, Michael Beecher and others - have sadly passed on? Let us know your thoughts!

CBS daytime soaps online

2007-10-09T13:35:00.000+01:00

Episodes of CBS show including daytime soaps The Guiding Light, As The World Turns and The Restless Years are now available to view online thanks to a deal between MSN and CBS.

For more information: www.thesoapshow.com/ussoaps/daytimeanytime.htm