UK Soap Press Clippings Thread

[Carrie Fairchild]

UK soaps never really went in for print ads in the same way as their US counterparts did but in the spirit of the US daytime and primetime print ad threads, this thread is for press and TV magazine clippings about the UK soaps over the years. I’ve gleaned some of these from old TV mag scans and some from X including from great accounts like @TVDidYouSee @russty_russ and @AdamNostalgia If you’re on X, give them a follow for UK TV memories and other ephemera

I’m kicking off with some Brookside and a long running storyline that was playing out its final stages, this time 29 years ago. For many, this is remembered as peak Brookside but for long term viewers, the show’s imperial phase had well passed by the time this storyline came around and the bloom was well and truly off the rose.

 

[AndyB2008]

Bryan Murray at one point had to get personal protection as he was getting threats due to his role as Trevor Jordache.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Bryan Murray at one point had to get personal protection as he was getting threats due to his role as Trevor Jordache.

Which is quite extraordinary when you consider that Trevor was only in the show for two months.

 

[James from London]

Which is quite extraordinary when you consider that Trevor was only in the show for two months.

Gosh. In that case, I'm surprised Enders' equivalent Trevor, aka Alex Ferns (all 118 episodes of him), didn't need to go into the witness protection programme.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Gosh. In that case, I'm surprised Enders' equivalent Trevor, aka Alex Ferns (all 118 episodes of him), didn't need to go into the witness protection programme.

I think because the whole storyline ran for over two years from Bryan Murray’s first appearance in 1993 to Anna Friel’s departure in 1995 (which kind of marked the end of the whole saga) that people presume he was around much longer but Trevor Jordache only actually appeared in 24 episodes.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

 

[AndyB2008]

View attachment 53694

Looks like the article is from 1976, as Pat Phoenix had left in 1973 and was to return. (She would leave permanently in January 1984)

The actor playing Elsie's husband Alan Howard was played by Pat's real life husband Alan Browning, who died in 1979. (Browning's character had left in 1974, and he didn't return, hence Elsie's return was explained by her divorce from Alan Howard).

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Looks like the article is from 1976, as Pat Phoenix had left in 1973 and was to return. (She would leave permanently in January 1984)

Yes, it’s from the April 3rd - 9th issue of TV Times. It included a five page article on her return (see below) and she appeared onscreen that Monday 5th.

 

[James from London]

View attachment 53694

I was very young, probably too young to even watch Coronation Street, but for some reason I still remember the Daily Mirror quoting Elsie's opening line on their TV listings page for that episode: "Ena Sharples. By 'eck, Elsie, you're home." This made no sense to me until I saw it in context twenty-odd years later when Granada Plus repeated the ep.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

When you think of British soaps, most people think of the primetime big guns like EastEnders and Coronation Street but for a lengthy period stretching from the 60’s to the late 00’s, ITV did something of a steady trade in daytime soaps. Some went on to transition to primetime success (Emmerdale and Take The High Road) while others are long lost and forgotten. Like today’s soap Castle Haven. It was created by Kevin Laffan (who’d go on to create Emmerdale Farm) and is probably best remembered (if at all) for starring a number of future soap legends including Roy Barraclough (Corrie’s Alec Gilroy), Kathy Staff (Crossroads’ Ms Luke), Gretchen Franklin (EE’s Ethel) and Jill Summers (Corrie’s Phyllis). Apparently only 15 minutes of the show survives today (from a recording of a YTV screening) as the show’s tapes were wiped after transmission.

 

[James from London]

I was wondering if the Sally James listed in the credits is the same Sally James off of Tiswas. And it is:

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

General Hospital (unrelated to the US soap of the same name) was ATV’s attempt to replicate the successful formula of Emergency Ward 10, a previous medical soap whose cancellation ATV boss Lew Grade regarded as one of the biggest mistakes of his career. General Hospital was another soap that started out in daytime (1972-75) before graduating to a primetime slot (1975-79). In the episode featured here, future Crossroads lothario Tony Adams (playing series regular Dr. Bywaters) appears to be giving guest star Joanna Lumley a bit of a talking to. Also among the guest cast is Hilary Crane, who’d later spend a year under the soapy sun as Rosemary in Eldorado and Brian Capron, who’d become best known as Corrie serial killer Richard Hillman.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

While some ITV daytime soaps were set in “glitzy” worlds of fashion houses and upper class country estates, others were based in slightly more pedestrian environments. Like Marked Personal, which followed the office staff of the personnel department of a large company. The series, which ran for 90 episodes from 1972-73, is notable for being Stephanie Beacham’s first regular TV role. Heather Chasen (Crossroads Val Pollard) and Glyn Owen (The Brothers, Howards’ Way) also starred. ITV would mine the depths of dreary workplace soaps again a decade later with Miracles Take Longer, a serial set in a citizens advice bureau.

 

[AndyB2008]

While some ITV daytime soaps were set in “glitzy” worlds of fashion houses and upper class country estates, others were based in slightly more pedestrian environments. Like Marked Personal, which followed the office staff of the personnel department of a large company. The series, which ran for 90 episodes from 1972-73, is notable for being Stephanie Beacham’s first regular TV role. Heather Chasen (Crossroads Val Pollard) and Glyn Owen (The Brothers, Howards’ Way) also starred. ITV would mine the depths of dreary workplace soaps again a decade later with Miracles Take Longer, a serial set in a citizens advice bureau.
View attachment 53775

Marked Personal and Miracles Take Longer were made by Thames, nowadays under the control of Fremantle.

Depending on the surviving episodes, maybe Talking Pictures TV could air them as they have shown Thames shows, and did air the soap opera Together.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Marked Personal and Miracles Take Longer were made by Thames, nowadays under the control of Fremantle.

Depending on the surviving episodes, maybe Talking Pictures TV could air them as they have shown Thames shows, and did air the soap opera Together.

I’d actually be curious to see Miracles Take Longer, just to find out how they created drama from such a mundane setting. Marked Personal was included in that Soap Box DVD from years back, so I’m presuming episodes still exists in some form.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

The Cedar Tree is one of my favourite daytime curiosities from ITV. A kind of bargain basement Upstairs, Downstairs, it followed the wealthy Bourne family at their country pile Larkfield Manor, in the 1930’s. The show actually shares a lot of parallels with Downton Abbey. By parallels, I mean, it could be said that it provided a template for the show. There’s the dutiful son, who gave up his legal career in the city to return and manage the family estate where he now lives with his wife and their three daughters - the rebellious one, the independent one and the meek one. There’s the opinionated granny and the single aunt who lives in London and drops in and out, adding a bit of flightiness to proceedings. Granted it probably reflective of the attitudes of the 30’s but some of the dialogue is quite comically “women, know your place” like something from a Harry Enfield sketch.

There is something quite cosy about the show though. The bulk of it takes place in the Bourne’s sitting room with the eponymous cedar tree only ever being mentioned but never seen. In an odd bit of recasting, when Phillip Latham left the role of patriarch Commander Bourne at the end of series 2, the part was taken over by Jack Watling, who’d played a friend of Commander Bourne’s throughout the second series. Originally airing twice a week in 30 minute afternoon episodes, the show was moved to primetime and expanded to 60 minutes once a week for its third and final series. Although based on listings that I’ve seen, some regions like LWT aired the hourlong episodes on Sunday afternoons. The whole series has been released on DVD and in one last bit of trivia, its creator, the late Alfred Shaughnessy, is the father of actor Charles Shaughnessy (Days of Our Lives, The Nanny & General Hospital).

 

[Spells & Karma]

The Cedar Tree is one of my favourite daytime curiosities from ITV.

Same here. The main reason it came onto my horizon was Victoria Wood citing it as a key influence when she created Acorn Antiques (something that's usually forgotten, with Crossroads inevitably being the comparison every time).

I've yet to actually watch it. No matter how much I try to lower my expectations knowing it's a daytime series from the Seventies, I still fear it might disappoint.

A kind of bargain basement Upstairs, Downstairs,

And featuring many of the same creative team, I believe. Alfred Shaughnessy - whose name appears as script editor in the clipping you posted - was also the script editor for UpDown.

I actually watched UpDown for the first time last year and loved it. If I remember correctly, The Cedar Tree got a mention or two in some bonus features.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I've yet to actually watch it. No matter how much I try to lower my expectations knowing it's a daytime series from the Seventies, I still fear it might disappoint.

I’ve only watched a few episodes here and there but I plan to get stuck into it all at some point. As I mentioned, there’s something quite cosy about it. Despite being restrictive set wise, the main set (the high ceilinged living room) is about as grand as you’d expect from a 70’s daytime drama. The dramas themselves are quite gentle. Things like “daughter falls off horse” or “father disapproves of daughter showing midriff at fancy dress party” are the themes of entire episodes but they pull it off well, even if some of the performances (particularly the youngest daughter) seem a bit “stage school” for want of a better description.

The main reason it came onto my horizon was Victoria Wood citing it as a key influence when she creating Acorn Antiques (something that's usually forgotten, with Crossroads inevitably being the comparison every time).

Wow! As you said, Crossroads is the one that always gets a mention and I’ve seen Take the High Road cited as an inspiration too but never The Cedar Tree. I look forward to seeing what elements Victoria Wood mined from it for Acorn Antiques.

 

[Spells & Karma]

As I mentioned, there’s something quite cosy about it. Despite being restrictive set wise, the main set (the high ceilinged living room) is about as grand as you’d expect from a 70’s daytime drama. The dramas themselves are quite gentle. Things like “daughter falls off horse” or “father disapproves of daughter showing midriff at fancy dress party” are the themes of entire episodes but they pull it off well

It sounds right up my street. I don't own the DVD yet, and obviously missed out on the chance to buy it in one of Network's sales (even this soon afterwards, I get nostalgic just thinking about them), but it's on my radar and I do have one eye on buying it at some point (I've got Brookside to keep me busy, along with every single episode of A Country Practice to dive into at some point, so it could be a while).

As you said, Crossroads is the one that always gets a mention and I’ve seen Take the High Road cited as an inspiration too but never The Cedar Tree.

Now, I knew I'd heard it from Vic herself, and was prepared to get into a wormhole of interviews to find it (and a VW interview is only ever a thing of beauty, so I wouldn't have minded).

But I struck paydirt with the first one. It's only mentioned in passing, at the 6 minute mark, but it's interesting to see Vic cite it as a response to the usual "was it based on Crossroads?" question:

(If you haven't seen it, the whole interview is actually worth watching from beginning to end. The researchers on the show must be terrible, so Des and Mel are putting their feet in it right from the start with Celia Imrie's interview. Vic and Julie are having none of it when they come on and there are plenty of teasing little put-downs. The whole naff daytime air is like the very content Vic was so adept at spoofing, so it's quite bizarre to see them actually enter this world for real).

I look forward to seeing what elements Victoria Wood mined from it for Acorn Antiques.

From what you've said about there being one or two stage school performances, I can imagine that would have been something she'd have honed in on and highlighted. But I'd love to know more after you've watched some more.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Last of the week is Together, a Southern Television soap that ran for two series between 1980 and 1981. Set in a block of housing association flats, it’s second series was unusual for the time in that it was broadcast live. Kathleen Byron, star of the classic Black Narcissus, was among its cast while Brookside creator Phil Redmond wrote a few episodes. The closure of Southern TV led to the show’s demise but it has been repeated a number of times on Talking Pictures TV (it is currently airing on Wednesday mornings) and had been released on DVD.