Iconic axed soaps and drama-filled life of stars - murder to Hollywood stardom
"Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours," as the show's famous theme song goes and it appears this is true because the hit Aussie soap, which began in 1985, is back on air after being dramatically axed last year.
The much-loved series set on Ramsay Street returned this week with a bang as fans were shocked to see Terese and Toadfish's nuptials in the first episode streaming on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US, and Network 10 in Australia. Neighbours' return will likely be a relief for fans, many of whom were devastated when the show was cancelled in July 2022 after it failed to find a new broadcasting partner following Channel 5's decision to pull funding.
However, there are many other British soaps that have come and gone over the years, for instance ITV's Families, which aired between 1990 to 1993, and was set in both Sydney, Australia and in Cheshire, UK. Although you may not remember it, you will know one of its stars for it serves as Hollywood actor Jude Law's first big break. This is just one of many nuggets of soap history to recall, so let’s take a flick through the channels of time…
Neighbours has made its long-awaited return with huge wedding twist (Amazon Freevee)Brookside, Channel 4, 1982-2003
When Brookside first aired it served as a fantastic alternative to the major mainstream soaps, and by the mid-eighties soon became Channel 4’s highest rated show. The programme, which followed the lives of residents of a cul-de-sac in Liverpool, was responsible for some iconic storylines such as the famed armed siege at number 7 and the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss between Margaret Clemence, played by Nicola Stephenson, and Beth Jordache, played by Marcella star Anna Friel.
The kiss, aired in 1995, was an iconic moment because it was pre-watershed (Channel 4)Aside for Anna's success many of the other cast members have gone on to have stellar careers since appearing on the show. Michael Starke who played Thomas "Sinbad" Sweeney, appeared in many programmes including 2022 hit The Responder, and even played a policeman opposite Samuel L Jackson in The 51st State. Additionally, Bobby Grant actor Ricky Tomlinson went on to star in The Royle Family among other things, and Lindsey Stanlow actress Claire Sweeney became a star of Westend theatre.
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Ray Quinn, who featured in the show as a youngster and was crowned runner up on X Factor in 2006, and Jennifer Ellison, who played Emily Shadwick, also transitioned into a successful pop career. However, not all the actors have enjoyed success since the show finished including Brian Regan, who played Terry Sullivan from 1982 to 1997, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for his role in the killing of Iranian doorman Bahman Faraji back in February 2011. He was not the murderer but was charged with perverting the course of justice after lying to police, but has served his time and appeared in an episode of Moving On back in 2019.
Night and Day, ITV, 2001-2003
Night and Day was a soap that was set in Greenwich, South London (Press Association)Night and Day was a middle class soap that followed the lives of six different families in Greenwich, South London. It starred actors including Glynis Barber, Lysette Anthony and Joe McGann. While the show was a hit with the critics and was nominated for many awards, it didn't land as well with the viewers and was soon moved from teatime to late nights before disappearing forever. Beat The Chasers presenter Bradley Walsh actually had a recurring role on the show, playing Eddie 'Woody' Dexter, as did Eastenders star Shane Richie.
Crossroads, ITV, 1964 to 1988 then 2001 - 2003
Crossroads was set in a fictional hotel in the Midlands, and ran for 24 years before being axed. It starred Noele Gordon, Meg Richardson and Roger Tonge, who played disabled character Sandy Richardson, while the actor himself was suffering from Hodgkin's Disease.
Noele Gordon as Meg Mortimer and John Bentley as Hugh Mortimer at their wedding on Crossroads in 1970 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)It was then relaunched in the noughties for two years, with a very bizarre ending - the whole final series was revealed to be a dream of supermarket worker Angela Sampson, played by Jane Asher. Hiring Jane, who dated Sir Paul McCartney from 1963 to 1968, was a coup for the show considering she had starred in hits such as the 1966 film Alfie, but unfortunately this was not enough to secure ratings.
Albion Market, ITV, 1985-1986
This show was launched four months before Corrie had its 25-year anniversary and was set in a covered market in Salford. Due to the setting the series struggled to attract audiences as the characters were stuck with the monotonous business of running their stalls.
ITV show Albion Market was set among market stalls in Salford (ITV Network)To increase viewers bosses bought in singer Helen Shapiro - who had topped the UK charts in 1961 with hits "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness" - and Till Death Us Do Part actor Tony Booth. However, it was soon cancelled after just 100 episodes.
The Grove Family, BBC, 1954 - 57
The Grove Family was the first television soap that was for adults. Set in Hendon, a north London suburb, it covered three generations of a successful builder’s family.
The Grove Family was the first UK soap aimed at adults (ANL/REX/Shutterstock)While of course entertaining it also featured public service announcements and reflected life in post-war Britain. Interestingly the family was named after BBC's Lime Grove studios where the show was filmed. The theme tune was composed by Eric Spear, who went on to create the famous theme song for the the long-running soap, Coronation Street.
Compact, BBC, 1962 - 1965
Set up as a rival to ITV’s Corrie, but not scheduled at the same time, this was a more upmarket show. It was set in the glitzy world of fashion publishing and the cast included Carmen Silvera who went on to star in Allo 'Allo, as well as Crossroads actors Vincent Ball and Ronald Allen and Brookside’s Marcia Ashton. Although it wasn’t critically acclaimed, Compact was well received by viewers.
The Appleyards, BBC, 1952 - 57
Cast of Britain's first soap, The Appleyards, in 1952 (Daily Mirror)This was Britain's first soap opera; it was aimed at children and initially broadcast live. The episodes were released once every two weeks, and it was set in the Home Counties. The show featured two parents and their four children, but unlike the soaps of today when the child actors grew older they were replaced, so the plots stayed stuck in time. For the first year the show was not recorded, and although the subsequent episodes were, the BBC ended up accidentally wiping them so sadly only one episode out of 68 remains - “Family Treats”- and it can be watched on YouTube.
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Take The High Road, STV, 1980 - 2003
John Stahl with Malcolm Hemming in Take The High Road, 2000 (Take The High Road/STV)Take the high road was a Scottish soap which ran for over 20 years. The show aired in the daytime everywhere in the UK apart from Scotland, where it was broadcast at 7pm instead of Emmerdale. Set in the fictional village of Glendarroch, but shot near Loch Lomond, the series covered a mix of people from the villagers to the "Lady laird" Elizabeth Cunningham, played by Edith Macarthur. The programme proved popular and covered issues like parish politics and farming troubles, as well as more salacious scandal including infidelity and drug abuse. The late actor John Stahl played Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr on the show, before finding global fame as Rickard Karstark in HBO hit Game of Thrones, while Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Cumming played Jim Hunter in the show.The Newcomers, BBC 1965 - 1969.
This soap was centred around the Coopers, a London family who moved to the fictional town of Angleton. The scenario was reflective of the time as there were migrations from the Capital to smaller towns in fifties and sixties Britain. The show starred Star Wars actor Jeremy Bulloch as well as Call The Midwife’s Jenny Agutter when she was a youngster, but only during her school holidays.
Castles, BBC, 1995
Unlikely you will recall Castles, as it ran for less than three months with only 24 episodes before it was cancelled. However, this can’t have been because the writers lacked skill as it was created by Sally Wainwright who went on to pen Happy Valley and Peter Whalley who was known for working on Coronation Street. The series followed three generations of a London family and starred Hollyoak's Marian McLoughlin and Emmerdale’s Ray Coulthard.
London Bridge, ITV, 1996 - 1999
Actors Oliver Haden and Simone Lahbib in the 90s soap London Bridge (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
London Bridge started as a late night drama, but was soon moved to twice weekly. The programme revolved around a restaurant called SE1, and the block of flats next door. The cast included Bad Girls actresses Simone Lahbib and Mandana Jones and No Angels star Sunetra Sarker. Although it often beat rival soap Hollyoaks that was shown on Channel 4, it was axed after just three years.
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