Best Primetime UK Soaps 2018: Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Home and Away, Neighbours

By James V. Ruocco 

What's so exciting about all those continuing primetime soaps on BBC One, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5?

"Plenty" judging from the weekly ratings, the fan sites, the soap magazines, the day-to-day trending on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and all soap message boards that drive viewers mad posting their thoughts about their favorite characters, favorite storylines and upcoming episodes. 

Heightened drama.

Long-holding family feuds.

Fist fights. Cat fights.

Workplace showdowns.

Insane and topical storylines.

Romance.
Bed hopping.

Extra-marital affairs.
Straight sex.

Gay sex.

Transgender sex.

Pregnancy.

Murder.
Disrupted weddings.

Arrivals.

Exits.

Long lost relatives no one has ever mentioned.
The pub where characters from every soap meet two, three and four times a week.

And that's just the beginning.

In short, audiences worldwide simply cannot get enough of the latest stories about the Dingles, the Bartons, the McQueens, the Osbornes, the Barlows, the Connors, the Slaters, the Brannings, the Stewarts, the Morgans, the Rebecchis, the Robinsons and the Brennans.

I'm guilty as well.

I watch them daily, weekly and on demand.

"Emmerdale"

"Hollyoaks"

"Coronation Street"

"Eastenders"

"Home and Away"

"Neighbours"

Sometimes, in order. Sometimes, out of sequence.

Or just one full day of playing "catch up."

I've been doing it for years.

That said, let's get back to business.

No tenterhooks, here.

No long paragraphs or ramblings. 
Things are straight and to the point.
Just my picks for what I believe to be the best of the best, ranked from top to bottom.

Daunting?

Hardly.

Fun?

Oh, yes.

My choices for the Best Primetime UK Soaps of 2018 are as follows:

EMMERDALE (ITV)

HOLLYOAKS (CHANNEL 4)

CORONATION STREET ( ITV)

EASTENDERS (BBC One)

HOME AND AWAY (CHANNEL 5)

NEIGHBOURS (CHANNEL 5)

And that's a wrap.