By James V. Ruocco
What's so exciting about all those continuing primetime soaps on BBC One, Channel 4, ITV, S4C and Channel 5?
"Plenty" judging from the weekly ratings, the fan sites, the soap magazines, the spoilers, the exits and entrances, the day-to-day reactions from viewers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and all those soap message boards that drive viewers mad posting their thoughts about their favorite characters, favorite storylines and their up-to-the-minute predictions about upcoming episodes.
Heightened drama.
Long-holding family feuds.
Fist fights. Cat fights. Mud fights.
Workplace showdowns.
Insane and topical storylines.
Prison Sentences.
Romance.
Bed hopping.
Romance.
Bed hopping.
Extra-marital affairs.
Straight sex.
Straight sex.
Gwasfeydd yn eu harddegau.
Gay sex.
Gay sex.
Transgender sex.
Pregnancy.
Murder.
Rape.
Disrupted weddings.
Threats.
Paternity tests.
Backstabbing.
Secrets revealed.
Cariadon cyfrinachol.
Babies left on doorsteps.
Arrivals.
Paternity tests.
Backstabbing.
Secrets revealed.
Cariadon cyfrinachol.
Babies left on doorsteps.
Arrivals.
Gamblo arsylwi.
Exits.
Exits.
Long lost relatives no one has ever mentioned.
Surprise appearances.
The pub where characters from every soap meet two, three and four times a week.
And that's just the beginning.
Surprise appearances.
The pub where characters from every soap meet two, three and four times a week.
And that's just the beginning.
No matter how you look at it, audiences worldwide simply cannot get enough of the latest
stories about the Dingles, the Slaters, the Taylors, the Robinsons, the Llywelyns, McQueens, the Morgans, the Barlows, the Connors, the Brannings, the Stewarts, the
Robinsons and the Kennedys.
I'm guilty as well.
I watch them daily, weekly and on demand.
"Emmerdale"
"Hollyoaks"
"Coronation Street"
"Eastenders"
"Pobol y cym"
"Home and Away"
"Neighbours""Home and Away"
Sometimes, in order. Sometimes, out of sequence.
Or just one full day or two 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.
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 2019 are as follows:
EMMERDALE (ITV)
HOME AND AWAY (CHANNEL 5)
HOLLYOAKS (CHANNEL 4)
EASTENDERS (BBC ONE)
CORONATION STREET (ITV)
POBOL Y CWM (S4C/BBC/CYRMU WALES)
NEIGHBOURS (CHANNEL 5)
