why are the soaps so popular?

[R1Geezer]

I mean every time I turn one on acidentally all I can stand is about 2 minutes of the doom and gloom, appalling sh1te What does it say about society when the masses watch this sort of thing? It's not as if they approach any form of daily life portrayal I mean take Albert square, there's beed just about every form of crime/accident times N over the years, who would live in an unlucky place like that. Before you ask how I know this, the kin newspapers report the sh1te as if it's bleeding newsFFS!

[Androcles]

What d'yer mean? It's the closest to real life yer'll get, innit!

[craft1948]

I don't watch East Enders......if you were depressed to start with it could make you slash your wrists. I don't mind Emmerdale every now and then but some of the acting leaves a lot to be desired.
I love Coronation Street simply for the humour in it......very good scriptwriting........

[Davethedog]

I don't watch soaps - When I was brought up we had to watch Coronation Street religiously - I haven't watched a soap since I left home.

But the thing is there is always someone in them worse off than you and people revel in that.

[daffy654]

My house is a soap opera free zone. We only watch comedy panel/quiz shows,Top Gear,Time Team,news and documentaries here.

[daffy654]

and The Simpsons and Family Guy.....and maybe the odd film.lol

[Ankou]

"who would live in an unlucky place like that"

people who have sold up and moved out of midsomer maybe ?

[Philtaz]

I'd rather hack my tadger off with a blunt, rusty pen knife than watch a soap so I fully agree with the sentiments of the OP.
I find it very sad that such sh1te is given prime time viewing with an omnibus programme at weekends, yet brilliant programmes such as David Attenborough's Life are shown at 9 o'clock, when younger children who'd benefit from them are in bed.
Then to make matters worse, the actors playing nasty characters get attacked in the street by the likes of what I can only call Jeremy Kyle-esque studio 'guests' who don't understand that the actors are playing a role.
All in all, a sad indictment on the state of terrestrial viewing (and indeed society) in this country.

Rant over!

[tonymclark]

I don't watch any TV soaps as I would never be able to keep up with them. Besides, I'm just not interested.
But I do love The Archers on BBC radio 4, I have listened to that since the early 1980s. I like the characters and stories in a way that maybe fans of the TV soaps do.

[another-view]

It's a sad state of affairs but basically people like to watch people less fortunate than themselves. Hence the popularity of soaps and programmes like "You've Been Framed".

[Ankou]

a formula that also works on x factor, hence the sad stories that always pop up.

[lankeela]

Ah, the Archers, now thats a nice, pleasant little distraction from every day life. Affairs, gay relationships, fraud, imprisonment, illegitimate children, dementia, family feuds, inter religion marriage, ...... and thats just this week's storylines!

[LoftyLottie]

Corrie has a humour all of it's own and some really brilliant comedy actors. I enjoy it. Can't stand any of the others though.

[wendilla]

Well I like the soaps but I bet you like watching rubbish like the x factor where none of them are any good and the jungle crap with a load of has beens. Don't knock the soaps at least most of the actors have been there for years.

[R1Geezer]

nope don't watch any of the reality TV sh1te either.

[ummmm]

You can't help it Doc...it's in the papers all the time. You don't need to watch anything just tune into Good Morning...Tells you everything there.