Answer: Ken Barlow
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: Weatherfield
One of Britain's longest-running soaps, 'Corrie' has graced our screens ever since 1960. 'Coronation Street' was originally going to be called 'Florizel Street' but creator Tony Warren changed it after being told it sounded like a washing powder!
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Plane Crash
In December 1993 "Emmerdale" featured a plane crashing into the village, leaving most of it in ruins and four villagers dead. It was aimed at increasing viewing figures, a ploy that worked as some eighteen million people tuned in to watch. Prior to this viewing figures had been so low that the programme was close to cancellation. The story line was not without controversy. Many people complained to ITV because of the proximity of the screening date to the fifth anniversary of the Lockerbie tragedy.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Spain
Den and Chrissie met in 1998 in Spain and were married in 1999.
Information can be found on the "Eastenders" website @ www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Lisa Shaw
Lucy Benjamin, and Steve McFadden, who play Lisa and Phil, have an off-screen relationship and live together. Lucy has just left the show.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Eric Pollard
Eric Pollard was played by Chris Chittell and first appeared in the Yorkshire-based "Emmerdale Farm" on September 30, 1986.
He went on to become the longest-present character in the soap.
Pollard was at times a businessman, particularly dealing in antiques, chef and owner of a bed & breakfast business.
Many of his practices were dodgy and he often treated women badly - particularly abandoning one who was pregnant. Their son turned up years later and they became family.
In later years, Pollard mellowed and he settled into a stormy relationship with a new wife, Valerie Blackstock. She was to die after a helicopter crashed onto the village hall, mirroring the death of his second 'wife', Elizabeth when an airliner crashed down on the village. (Pollard was still married when he tied the knot with Elizabeth.)
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: A dead body
Set in the fictional E20 borough of Walford, 'EastEnders' has lasted for over 25 years. The first episode opened with the body of Reg Cox dead in his armchair, murdered by nasty Nick Cotton.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Ken Barlow
Ken Barlow, played by William Roach, has been in "Coronation Street" since the very beginning. He has been married three times. His first wife was hairdresser Valerie Tatlock. She lost her life in 1971 when she was electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer. A couple of years later he married Janet Reid, but that marriage lasted only a few months. He then married divorcee Deirdre Langton. They split up when he had an affair, but later re-married.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Sarah Platt
Sarah Platt is one of those characters who has a perpetually bad life. She became pregnant at the age of 12 and gave birth to a baby daughter, Bethany, at the tender age of just 13. She also had to endure the wrath of Richard Hillman, one of the most infamous characters ever to arrive on the street. He was responsible for the murder of many characters including Maxine Peacock.
So, when she found out that her boyfriend was gay, she must have thought her life couldn't get any worse. Her marriage was off, she was now a single parent again and would have to move back to her mother's home. However, this was not the end as her baby, Billy, died due to an abruption in the placenta.
From Quiz: Homosexuality in British Soap Opera
Answer: Greg Robinson
Ben Jones plays the character, Greg Robinson. Greg works as a doctor at Riverside. When Greg first appeared, Ollie and receptionist Carolina both fancied him.
Information can be found on the "Doctors" website @ www.bbc.co.uk/doctors/
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Beth
Beth Jordache, played by Anna Friel, was an infamous character in British soap. She is best known for killing her violent father and burying him under the garden patio. Beth was also famous for having the first lesbian kiss in a pre-watershed programme.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Ian Beale
Ian Beale was played by Adam Woodyatt and first appeared in episode one of "EastEnders" on February 19, 1985. He went on to become the show's longest-running character.
From an early age, Beale was passionate about cooking and ran several catering businesses. He was also passionate about women, marrying four of them - one on two occasions. He also had several other relationships.
In 2001, Beale was was voted one of the top five television characters "we most love to hate" in a Channel 4 poll.
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: Liverpool
'Brookside' made household names of Claire Sweeney and The Royle Family couple Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston. The soap centred on a cul-de-sac and the ups and down of the many families there.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Brookside
Set in Liverpool, "Brookside" became noted for plot lines featuring subjects not normally referred to on other soap operas. Patricide, incest, the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss, a religious cult suicide pact, all made an appearance. In a long running story line Jimmy Corkhill, played by Dean Sullivan, descended into cocaine addiction, eventually crashing his car. One person was killed immediately, and another left so seriously injured that he also died some time later. Eventually the story lines became too outrageous and the programme was cancelled in 2003 after a 21 year run.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Nurse
Karl Foster, played by Chris Finch, was a nurse who threw Todd's mind into an incomprehensible whirl of mixed emotions and feelings. Todd had an affair with Karl whilst being in a relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Sarah Platt. Todd was indecisive and did not know what he wanted from life and was still confused as to whether he was straight or if he was indeed gay.
This storyline is indicative of the struggle many young people go through in an attempt to discover their real self. Furthermore, it portrays the moral dilemma and the way society views homosexuality. Todd eventually found the strength to admit his sexuality, initially, to a somewhat hostile reception.
From Quiz: Homosexuality in British Soap Opera
Answer: Three
Sarah Louise has been played by a total of three people. Sarah Louise was played by a set of twins (Leah and Lyndsay). Sarah Louise was mainly played by Leah King as the actress who plays Gail Platt (Helen Worth) thought Lyndsay was too small and was scared to hold her. Unfortunately Leah died a few months after she was born so her sister took over until she left in October 1999. They both started the show in 1985. Tina O'Brian started in the year 1999 (within the 20th century) and is still there now in 2004.
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: An ashtray
One of the best stories in 'Eastenders', this plot led to the wrong man, Matthew Rose, being found guilty for the murder. Steve was tried but found not guilty. Martin Kemp, who played Steve, left the soap recently, when Steve's car exploded into a fireball, killing its inhabitant.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Gail Rodwell
Killed; divorced; drowned; drowned; and left to die unaided from a heart attack were the fates of her husbands
Helen Worth played Gail Tilsley-Platt-Hillman-McIntyre-Rodwell (née Roberts) in "Coronation Street" from April 1974.
Gail did not have an easy life. Her first mother-in-law hated her, and her first husband was knifed to death in a street fight. She then married a younger man and they had a daughter, who herself became a mother at the age of 13.
After divorcing her second husband, she married a man who turned out to be a serial killer and who drowned while trying to kill her and other family members by driving into the canal.
Husband number three was a conman, who set out fake his own suicide, but only managed to drown himself as Gaile watched on helplessly.
Husband number four was a gentle man, but unfortunately one who had a weak heart and who got on the wrong side of the local baddie. In a confrontation, he had a heart attack and the baddie watched him die, rather than get help.
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: Stacey Branning
Evil Archie (played by Larry Lamb) got his comeuppance by being whacked with the bust of Queen Victoria in the Queen Vic pub. Everyone thought Bradley Branning had committed the crime as he fell to his death running from the police, but at the very end of the live episode Stacey confessed to Max.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Death of his wife and children
Adam Okaro, played by Cyril Nri, joined Sunhill Police Station as Chief Superintendent after the death by suicide of the previous occupant of the job. Portrayed as a strong character he quickly gained the respect of all ranks. In a very harrowing episode his wife and children were in a car accident. As the episode unfolded they all died from their injuries. The driver of the other car later admitted to briefly falling asleep at the wheel. Adam Okaro was eventually promoted to Borough Commander and left the series in 2006. The series itself ended in August 2010 having run since 1984.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Canal Street
Aptly enough, the first kiss between two gay men on 'Coronation Street' was in Canal Street. Canal Street is well known for a wide selection of gay clubs and bars and is also a centre of gay culture in England and also the United Kingdom as a whole.
The kiss itself was between Todd Grimshaw, played by actor Bruno Langley, and Karl Foster. It was a rather confusing moment for Todd - did it mean anything or not? He later admitted that it did mean something and made his feelings for Karl clear. Todd was nearly caught kissing Karl by his girlfriend Sarah Platt, however, he spotted her in time.
From Quiz: Homosexuality in British Soap Opera
Answer: Aaron
Aaron is the name of Chastity's son and lives in Hotton with his dad Gordon Livesey. Aaron is played by Danny Webb and Chastity is played by Lucy Pargeter.
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Richard Hillman
Richard has also left his colleague to die after a fall. He stole the dying man's wallet of course. He and Gail married in August 2002.
Update: Richard is now also guilty of the murder of Maxine Peacock, and confessed his murders to a stunned Gail before going on the run!
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Tony Hutchinson
Tony Hutchinson was one of the original characters in the Liverpool-based "Hollyoaks".
He was at various times a chef, taxi driver, spa manager and club owner.
He was married three times - "thrice wed" as newspaper headline writers like to put it - and had affairs, including sleeping with an underage girl.
Nick Pickard first appeared as Tony Hutchinson in 1995 and went on to become the longest-running character in "Hollyoaks".
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: 'Emmerdale Farm'
To attract younger viewers, 'Emmerdale' dropped the 'Farm' from it's title in 1989. The first years of the show focused on the Sugdens who were a farming family but once the name change came in, new characters could be introduced.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Cot death
This storyline prompted more than 6,000 complaints to the BBC. When Ronnie Branning lost her baby to cot death she swapped his body for Kat Moon's live baby born at virtually the same time. Over the ensuing months the show portrayed Kat's ongoing grief and Ronnie's feelings of guilt and depression. Eventually she confessed and Kat and Alfie Moon were reunited with their baby son. The complaints received forced the BBC to bring the plot to an end sooner than was originally planned. Samantha Womack, who played Ronnie, left the show shortly after, although she denied that the storyline had anything to do with this.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Law
Zara is played by Kelly Greenwood and is studying Law at Hollyoaks Community College. She has a sister, Beth and two brothers Adam and Luke.
Information can be found on the "Hollyoaks" website @ www.hollyoaks.com
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Eddie Royle
Was murdered in Albert Square. Still, this meant the arrival of the Mitchells, hooray! Grant Mitchell became the new landlord.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Sally Metcalfe
Sally Dynevor first played Sally Metcalf, formerly Webster - twice - and née Seddon in "Coronation Street" in January 1986.
Sally Seddon was a teenager when she arrived on Coronation Street and made a splash on local mechanic, Kevin Webster. They married and had two daughters.
They divorced after 13 year, only to remarry for another 10, before divorcing again.
Sally had ideas above her station and was often brought back to earth with a bump. She went through many difficult times, though, including being the victim of domestic violence, and being diagnosed with breast cancer.
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: Channel 5
Set in the fictional outer London suburb of Charnham, 'Family Affairs' tried to give a modern feel to soap and told of the many interesting interactions of the characters before giving way for the Australian soaps 'Neighbours' and 'Home & Away'.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Sandy Richardson
The original series of "Crossroads" ran from 1964 to 1988. It was noted for cheap production values, indeed quite often if actors were seen leaning against a piece of scenery it was to stop it falling over. Sandy Richardson, played by Roger Tonge, was the son of motel owner, Meg Richardson. In 1972 a plot line had him involved in a car accident which left him wheelchair bound.
The series was revived in 2001. Although production values were much higher it failed to attract a regular audience and was axed in 2003.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Naomi Julien
At the time Sonia, played by actress Natalie Cassidy, was with a long time love Martin. The news that she had left Martin to go and stay with Naomi, played by Petra Letang, was a shock to Albert Square. A huge parallel between the story in this soap and that of examples in real life, is the struggle for acceptance from not just friends but even families. Sonia's grandfather, for a time, refused to speak to her after he found out that she was involved in a lesbian relationship. This happens around the world including in the more liberal countries. Many youngsters get extremely anxious when they discover they are gay and are afraid to tell anybody, leaving themselves to deal with this big personal issue alone. The fears are different for each child in this situation, whether it be because of the religion of an area or even because the family in which they were brought up were socially conservative.
From Quiz: Homosexuality in British Soap Opera
Answer: Natalie Robb
WELL DONE! You spotted the impostors (providing you got it right!). Kim Tiddy plays Honey, Michelle Austin plays Yvonne and Vikie Gates plays Maralyn, so Andrea Dunbar is played by Natalie J. Robb. She plays an undercover journalist working for one of the local newspapers and has had an affair with DI Neil Manson. Natalie has also starred in: "Doctors", "Dream Team" and "London's Burning".
Information can be found on the website for "The Bill" @ www.thebill.com
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Drug dealer
Tony stopped dealing when his sister Sarah accidentally took an Ecstasy tablet. Tony, played by Mark Homer, left Albert Square to go traveling around Europe.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
Answer: Marlon Dingle
The Dingle family were the ne'er-do-wells of the Yorkshire village of Emmerdale. Poaching and thievery were among their fortes.
Marlon was different, Brought up in a far away branch of the family, he arrived in the village as an adult but was quickly subsumed by the passions and intrigues of the rural community and became the chef at a village pub, The Woolpack.
He was a hopeless romantic, loving all three of his wives, although probably never got over the tragic death of his first. He had two children, one born after his second wife left home, and the second in an affair with a woman who went on to marry his best friend - although they all remained best friends - as you do in soapland.
Mark Charnock first appeared as Marlon Dingle in "Emmerdale" in October 1996.
From Quiz: Long Lathering In The Soaps (UK Edition)
Answer: Letherbridge
Letherbridge is said to be on the outskirts of Birmingham in the West Midlands. 'Doctors' centres on a bustling health centre and the lives and loves of the doctors and patients.
From Quiz: UK Soaps Mixture
Answer: Eldorado
Launched in 1992 amidst a fanfare of publicity "Eldorado" was set amongst the expatriate community in Spain. It was hoped it would be a sort of "Eastenders" with sunshine. The problems it had were many. Several of the actors were inexperienced and not equipped to come into a three times a week soap opera. Their acting was heavily criticised as amateur. As it was set in Spain the BBC decided not to use sub-titles for lines spoken in a foreign language. The opening story line of a middle aged man with a seventeen year old bride was seen by viewers as seedy. Although plots and ratings did improve slightly "Eldorado" was axed after only one year.
From Quiz: Nothing Less Than Tragic
Answer: Pam St. Clement
Pam St. Clement declared that she was bisexual and that she is very much in favour of gay rights, actively campaigning against the unpopular and oppressive Article 28. Furthermore, she joined in the protests which wanted the legal age of consent for homosexuals to engage in sex reduced, so that it was brought in to line with the age of consent for heterosexuals. Actor Ian McKellen also took part in these protests as he is a major part of the Stonewall movement.
In 'Eastenders', Pat Evans was one of those characters who was stuck in a time warp. Her clothes were so outdated that it often brought me to hysterics! The decoration of her house was also just as ancient. Pat Evans, was a heterosexual character with many failed romances to her name.
From Quiz: Homosexuality in British Soap Opera
Answer: Taxi Driver
Garry Costello works as a taxi driver, and is married to Chrissy. He is played by Gary Webster and his first appearance was in September of 2002. Gary and Chrissy have two children, Melanie and Chloe.
Information can be found at www.five.tv
Once there you click on programmes and then you just click on "Family Affairs".
From Quiz: Soaps Mania
Answer: Michelle Fowler
He shot her in the arm. Grant's refusal to take Michelle to the hospital nearly cost Sharon her friendship with Michelle.
From Quiz: Soapy Criminals
