By James V. Ruocco
What's so exciting about all those continuing primetime soaps on BBC One, Channel 4, ITV, S4C, RTE One and Channel 5?
"Plenty" judging from the weekly ratings, the fan sites, the soap magazines, the spoilers, the exits and entrances, the comebacks, the day-to-day reactions from dedicated viewers on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram and all those soap message boards that drive fans crazy posting their thoughts about their favorite characters, favorite storylines, secret crushes and their up-to-the-minute predictions about upcoming episodes.
Heightened drama.
Long-holding family feuds.
Fist fights. Cat fights. Mud fights.
Workplace showdowns.
Revenge.
Insane and topical storylines.
Prison Sentences.
Romance.
Bed hopping.
Romance.
Bed hopping.
Extra-marital affairs.
Straight sex.
Straight sex.
Gay sex.
Transgender sex.
Bisexuality.
Pregnancy.
Rape.
Murder.
Disrupted weddings.
Threats.
Paternity tests.
Backstabbing.
Paternity tests.
Backstabbing.
Discoveries.
Deaths.
Secrets revealed.
Secrets revealed.
Babies left on doorsteps.
Arrivals.Returns.
Triage and casualty mishaps.
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 current stories about the Dingles, the Slaters, the Taylors, the Robinsons, the Murdochs, the Llywelyns, the 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 sometimes on demand.
"Emmerdale"
"Hollyoaks"
"Coronation Street"
"Eastenders"
"Fair City"
"Pobol y cym"
"Home and Away"
"Home and Away"
"Doctors"
"River City"
"Neighbours"
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.
Point taken, 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 2021 are as follows:
"EASTENDERS" (BBC ONE)
"HOLLYOAKS" (CHANNEL 4)
"HOME AND AWAY" (CHANNEL 5)
"EMMERDALE" (ITV)
"CORONATION STREET" (ITV)
"RIVER CITY" (BBC ONE/BBC SCOTLAND)
"POBOL Y CYM" (S4C/WALES)
"NEIGHBOURS" (CHANNEL 5)
"DOCTORS" (BBC ONE)
"FAIR CITY" (RTE ONE/IRELAND)
