Hollyoaks is safe!

[Scarlett.]

I hope the woman decides to keep it

HOLLYOAKS is facing the axe because of falling ratings and failed characters, insiders revealed yesterday.

New Channel 4 chief Jay Hunt - who takes up her post next week - is said to have the teen soap in her sights.

Back from the dead ... Warren Fox, aka Jamie Lomas
Back from the dead ... Warren Fox, aka Jamie Lomas

A source told TV Biz last night: "Jay wants to make her mark on the channel when she arrives and Hollyoaks is a definite target for her.

"There has been unease within Channel 4 for a while about the soap's direction."

Panicked chiefs at production company Lime Pictures - which also makes ITV2's The Only Way Is Essex - moved to try to breathe new life into the Chester-based show on Thursday ahead of former BBC1 controller Jay's arrival.

They replaced series producer Paul Marquess, who had been in the job for only a year but had been criticised for axing 11 characters and bringing in new faces who viewers do not like.

Ratings for the show - on air since 1995 - have recently dipped below 1million.

Marquess also brought back villain Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), who fans had been led to think was dead.

The source said: "Lime bosses are panicking that Jay Hunt will axe Hollyoaks as it is the biggest show they make.

"They hope that by changing producers and shaking things up it will give the show a new lease of life and prove to Jay that she should keep it."

Last night a C4 spokeswoman said Marquess had only a 12-month contract - and insisted the soap, also starring Gemma Merna had a future.

She added: "Hollyoaks remains an important part of the Channel 4 schedule."

The Sun

[Shaun]

oh my god please axe it.

[bbfan1991]

NO NO NO:bawling:.

[Iceman]

oh my god please axe it.

This.

It was much better 10 years ago than it is now.

[Scarlett.]

If they get rid of HO, what does C4 have left in terms of flagship content? Countdown? Deal or no Deal? T4?

[bbfan1991]

Hollyoaks is their only flagship soap, and C4 have other things to worry about looking at some of the dross they have on their schedule..

[flemin]

Doubt it's true. Like people have said, what else have Channel 4 got?

[Tom4784]

I don't think it will be axed, HO's young demographic is like goldust to advertisers and It's ratings have been picking up since Lucy Allan's rein. It's all tabloid rumours again.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

:bawling:

[InOne]

There is no way it will get axed. But they do really really need to clean it up. It's getting a mess again but has some good potential

[bbfan1991]

I don't think it will be axed, HO's young demographic is like goldust to advertisers and It's ratings have been picking up since Lucy Allan's rein. It's all tabloid rumours again.

Nixon have just signed a deal because they want to promote their brand to the Hollyoaks demographic mostly teens till about 34-35.

Hope you're right:).

[Visage]

This is sounding very similar to the rumours that were going around over Brookside getting pulled off the air. If I remember correctly these rumours were going around over two years before it was axed.

What worries me is, if they can cancel Brookie they can do the same with Hollyoaks :bawling::bawling:

It's all so crap these days! I miss The Bill and Big Brother, not too fussed over Heartbeat but it was another popular show that was axed.

[Stu]

Hollyoaks has been and always will be a hole of a show anyway. Absoloute brain popcorn full of dodgy acting and terrible storylines. It wont be axed though. It's watched by stupid teenagers. Advertisers just love stupid teenagers.

Bring back Brookie.

[Mystic Mock]

im not surprised as its **** and it cant even get 1 million viewers.

[Patrick]

The only thing I'm worried about is missing Thresea and having no Hollyoalks Babes 2012 calendar tbh.


But on the bright side...
Maybe Jay was a Big Brother fan :amazed:

[Locke.]

They can bring back Brookside

[Patrick]

It's a shame though when soaps like Emmerdale and bloody Doctors stay on air and this doesn't when it's more entertaining than Doctors & Hollyoaks put together!!

[Mystic Mock]

It's a shame though when soaps like Emmerdale and bloody Doctors stay on air and this doesn't when it's more entertaining than Doctors & Hollyoaks put together!!

a typo towards the end patrick.;)

[Stu]

They can bring back Brookside
They better. It did everything first. It practically invented the type of soap EastEnders is trying to be today.

[Patrick]

And what exactly is that Stu?

[Scarlett.]

Hollyoaks has been and always will be a hole of a show anyway. Absoloute brain popcorn full of dodgy acting and terrible storylines. It wont be axed though. It's watched by stupid teenagers. Advertisers just love stupid teenagers.

Bring back Brookie.

I agree, apparently HO/Brookie creator Phil Redmond is planning something for it's anniversary

It's a shame though when soaps like Emmerdale and bloody Doctors stay on air and this doesn't when it's more entertaining than Doctors & Hollyoaks put together!!

Emmerdale production values > The rest of the soaps
Plus Emmerdale gets 8/9m viewers

[Patrick]

I agree, apparently HO/Brookie creator Phil Redmond is planning something for it's anniversary



Emmerdale production values > The rest of the soaps
Plus Emmerdale gets 8/9m viewers

What exactly does that mean? [The part I put in bold :p]

And it doesn't really matter, well obviously it does in the sense that's why it's staying on but they're nothing special.

Compared to the other two soaps, Emmerdale is a wanna-be.

Corrie and EastEnders have a much wider audience, Hollyoaks is aimed at teens and Emmerdale is clearly aimed at women in their 40s and above.

[Scarlett.]

What exactly does that mean? [The part I put in bold :p]

And it doesn't really matter, well obviously it does in the sense that's why it's staying on but they're nothing special.

Compared to the other two soaps, Emmerdale is a wanna-be.

Corrie and EastEnders have a much wider audience, Hollyoaks is aimed at teens and Emmerdale is clearly aimed at women in their 40s and above.

The bulk of Emmerdale's actors are fantastic, the scripts are tight, the direction is good and it's all very beleivable

Corrie has quite a number of duff actors, who need ditching, but the direction and scripts are good

[Barbie]

Hollyoaks is aimed at teens, but im 19 and tried to watch it about a year ago. I couldnt watch for more than 2 weeks it was just so awful, i cant describe what it was lacking because i think it was lacking in all areas!

[Jords]

Noooooooooooooooo Hollyoaks is getting better and better imo!

[Jords]

There are a few 'floater' characters they could do with getting rid of.

['Conor]

hollyoaks better not be axed !

1st Big Brother now this, dont think i can handle it

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

axe seth

he has the worst accent :bawling:

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

and like, nobody else in his family talks like that....

where did that accent come from 0_o

['Conor]

http://twitition.com/vr3jj

sign the petition to save HO!!!

[Stu]

And what exactly is that Stu?
Car crash TV, highly controversial storylines involving drugs and sexual issues, shark jumping storylines involving outlandish things like burying bodies, grittyness ... Brookie done it all first.

[Jords]

Brookie sounds good!

[Brekkie]

Always interesting to see who else picks the story up - and this is one most people haven't bothered re-reporting. That says a lot. It is just yet another story where they print the headline, make up a load of rubbish and end it with one line where the actual source as the channel involved completely denies it.

Could you imagine this happening on the TV news - "Queen and PM having affair". Then reports from commentators and unnamed sources claiming this, that and the other, only for 10 minutes later for it to end with statements from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street saying it's rubbish.

Hollyoaks is aimed at teens, but im 19 and tried to watch it about a year ago. I couldnt watch for more than 2 weeks it was just so awful, i cant describe what it was lacking because i think it was lacking in all areas!
A year ago though it was awful, hence why they axed the boss and got Paul Marquess in to rejuvenate it, which he has certainly done. Unfortunately it seems he came in to revamp it and not look after it beyond that - and really the should could do with him at the helm for another six months, but anyone watching can see how improved the show is now and how PM is leaving it in a far better state than he left it.

The only issue now is getting the ratings up - and that's down to C4 to get beind the show and promote it. If Jay Hunt did come in and used Hollyoaks as a scapegoat to make her mark on the channel she would be completely failing in her job. C4 has much bigger issues to address in primetime than Hollyoaks - and after the loss of Big Brother the channel simply can not afford to lose another of it's big brands.


P.S. It's also worth noting that despite only having a fifth of it's audience, Hollyoaks often has more 16-34 year olds watching it than watch Emmerdale - so it's clearly hitting it's target audience.

[Visage]

Brookie sounds good!

Oh it was.......:elephant::elephant:

[Scarlett.]

Rumours that Hollyoaks is "facing the axe" have today been rubbished by the teen soap's production company and Channel 4.

Earlier today, a newspaper claimed that Channel 4's new chief creative officer Jay Hunt - who takes office at the network next week - has plans to scrap the serial following its 15-year stint on the air.

The report suggested that the recent departure of Hollyoaks' series producer Paul Marquess and appointment of Gareth Philips as acting producer came as part of a plan to "breathe new life" into the programme amid fears over Hunt's arrival.

However, a spokesperson for Hollyoaks' production firm Lime Pictures told Digital Spy this afternoon: "There is no link between Paul Marquess's departure and Jay Hunt's arrival. Paul Marquess agreed to a 12-month term and in that time he has done a great job of delivering dynamic storylines and exciting new characters.

"The show is still the only nightly drama for young people and remains hugely popular with audiences. Hollyoaks is currently enjoying consistent viewing figures and the show's success is reflected in Channel 4's increased investment in Hollyoaks' brand extension - programming includes another series of Hollyoaks Later, the Hollyoaks Music Show and a number of multi-platform initiatives for E4.com. There have been no discussions of the show being axed."

Camilla Campbell, Head of Channel 4 Drama, added: "Channel 4 have absolutely no plans to axe Hollyoaks. It's a crucial part of the schedule. Soaps are ever evolving and with some exciting new storylines coming up, we look forward to seeing the exciting new journeys Gareth Philips will take us and the Hollyoaks fans on in the future."

Hollyoaks recently secured a seven-figure sponsorship deal with camera manufacturer Nikon, which will see the company's branding accompany the soap's airings on Channel 4 and E4 for the next 12 months.

Show sources also noted that Hollyoaks' regular slots on both channels - including first-look screenings, catch-up episodes and omnibus editions - make the programme a key and prominent part of Channel 4 and E4's drama output.

[Scarlett.]

Rumours that Hollyoaks is "facing the axe" have today been rubbished by the teen soap's production company and Channel 4.

Earlier today, a newspaper claimed that Channel 4's new chief creative officer Jay Hunt - who takes office at the network next week - has plans to scrap the serial following its 15-year stint on the air.

The report suggested that the recent departure of Hollyoaks' series producer Paul Marquess and appointment of Gareth Philips as acting producer came as part of a plan to "breathe new life" into the programme amid fears over Hunt's arrival.

However, a spokesperson for Hollyoaks' production firm Lime Pictures told Digital Spy this afternoon: "There is no link between Paul Marquess's departure and Jay Hunt's arrival. Paul Marquess agreed to a 12-month term and in that time he has done a great job of delivering dynamic storylines and exciting new characters.

"The show is still the only nightly drama for young people and remains hugely popular with audiences. Hollyoaks is currently enjoying consistent viewing figures and the show's success is reflected in Channel 4's increased investment in Hollyoaks' brand extension - programming includes another series of Hollyoaks Later, the Hollyoaks Music Show and a number of multi-platform initiatives for E4.com. There have been no discussions of the show being axed."

Camilla Campbell, Head of Channel 4 Drama, added: "Channel 4 have absolutely no plans to axe Hollyoaks. It's a crucial part of the schedule. Soaps are ever evolving and with some exciting new storylines coming up, we look forward to seeing the exciting new journeys Gareth Philips will take us and the Hollyoaks fans on in the future."

Hollyoaks recently secured a seven-figure sponsorship deal with camera manufacturer Nikon, which will see the company's branding accompany the soap's airings on Channel 4 and E4 for the next 12 months.

Show sources also noted that Hollyoaks' regular slots on both channels - including first-look screenings, catch-up episodes and omnibus editions - make the programme a key and prominent part of Channel 4 and E4's drama output.

[Jords]

Yes! :D

['Conor]

Yay!

[Patrick]

"The show is still the only nightly drama for young people and remains hugely popular with audiences."



:joker::joker::joker::joker:


Hollyoaks is currently enjoying consistent viewing figures.


...of under one million.

['Conor]

:joker::joker::joker::joker:



...of under one million.

hollyoaks hasnt got under 1 million in ages, its been 1.3/1.4 consistently since the new year.

and e4 episodes get like 600k/700k/800k so if you add that on to C4 rating its lik 1.7 million

[flamingGalah!]

They were hardly likely to come out & say "Oh yeah, The Sun was right, we is axing dat sh*t, but we not told all the cast & crew yet..."

I hope they do axe Hollyoaks, it is way beyond rubbish...

[Patrick]

hollyoaks hasnt got under 1 million in ages, its been 1.3/1.4 consistently since the new year.

and e4 episodes get like 600k/700k/800k so if you add that on to C4 rating its lik 1.7 million

Why did the article say it struggles to get above 1 Million?

Either way under at least 6 million is a disgrace for a soap really, I'm not sure if that's to do with the channel though or not.

It's funny though the way they mention 'breathing new life into the show' I mean how many times does a show need to be revamped?

They completely spiced it up and took a risk and made it different last year, Fair Dos I think it looks better, slightly camper but the new theme tune and stuff is quite cool.

And now they want to do it again?
Crazy.

['Conor]

90% of people who are saying Hollyoaks is rubbish have never watched it or just saw one random episode, when its actually really good.

['Conor]

Why did the article say it struggles to get above 1 Million?

Either way under at least 6 million is a disgrace for a soap really, I'm not sure if that's to do with the channel though or not.

It's funny though the way they mention 'breathing new life into the show' I mean how many times does a show need to be revamped?

They completely spiced it up and took a risk and made it different last year, Fair Dos I think it looks better, slightly camper but the new theme tune and stuff is quite cool.

And now they want to do it again?
Crazy.

well if corrie got the hollyoaks ratings it would be horrific, but you have to remember hollyoaks is only on channel 4, like BB got 2.5 million viewers consistently around there, and thats brilliant for channel 4 so, 1.7 is good for channel 4 standards.

I dont think this guy is revamping it, i think hes just a new producer :joker:

[flamingGalah!]

90% of people who are saying Hollyoaks is rubbish have never watched it or just saw one random episode, when its actually really good.

I used to watch it all the time, but stopped as it got so crap. I tried watching it again recently but it was too awful for words... Their biggest problem is that 99% of the cast are employed only for their looks instead of their acting ability...

['Conor]

I used to watch it all the time, but stopped as it got so crap. I tried watching it again recently but it was too awful for words... Their biggest problem is that 99% of the cast are employed only for their looks instead of their acting ability...

well the acting isnt great in fairness, but i have to admit March - June area in Hollyoaks was unwatchable it was terrible July - October was watchable but still not great, November - Present has been amazing ! especially this month so you should give it another go

[bbfan1991]

Woo Hoo!:):D.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

90% of people who are saying Hollyoaks is rubbish have never watched it or just saw one random episode, when its actually really good.

:worship:

[Brekkie]

well if corrie got the hollyoaks ratings it would be horrific, but you have to remember hollyoaks is only on channel 4, like BB got 2.5 million viewers consistently around there, and thats brilliant for channel 4 so, 1.7 is good for channel 4 standards.

You have to remember unlike the big three Hollyoaks is a "teen" soap, and as a teen soap it does very well in it's target demographic of younger adults from 16-34 (OK, that extends the definition of teen somewhat, but in TV terms 16-34 is what the advertisers love).

Now, considering Emmerdale gets 7-8m and Corrie/EE get 8-10m regularly, whilst Hollyoaks gets around 1.5m on C4 and around 0.5m on E4, when you look at the target audience Hollyoaks is much closer to the big three with around 0.8-0.9m viewers. It's slightly ahead of Emmerdale, and Corrie and EE are around the 1.2-1.3m mark. It doesn't matter that the over 50's don't watch Hollyoaks as that is not who it's advertisers are trying to reach.

[Stu]

90% of people who are saying Hollyoaks is rubbish have never watched it or just saw one random episode, when its actually really good.
Despite everyone in the known universe disagreeing and panning it as a poorly acted, poorly writen joke.

No your right they are all delusional. Every one of them.

[bbfan1991]

Despite everyone in the known universe disagreeing and panning it as a poorly acted, poorly writen joke.

No your right they are all delusional. Every one of them.

Some don't even watch the show or just love to slag it off, so personally being a fan of the show I find their criticism invalid but everyone is of course entitled to their opinion;).

It's like i've tried watching Doctor Who but I just couldn't get into it and have found it overrated ever since...

[Tom4784]

Why did the article say it struggles to get above 1 Million?

Either way under at least 6 million is a disgrace for a soap really, I'm not sure if that's to do with the channel though or not.

It's funny though the way they mention 'breathing new life into the show' I mean how many times does a show need to be revamped?

They completely spiced it up and took a risk and made it different last year, Fair Dos I think it looks better, slightly camper but the new theme tune and stuff is quite cool.

And now they want to do it again?
Crazy.

The teatime slot is COMPLETELY different to primetime. NOTHING gets high figures because it's usually dominated by ITV/BBC's news coverage. 1m is good for C4 at that time and plus you got to consider the demographics of the audience watching. Numbers aren't always everything if you have the right demographic.

You can't compare audiences between daytime soaps and primetime soaps because it's a completely different kettle of fish.

[bbfan1991]

The teatime slot is COMPLETELY different to primetime. NOTHING gets high figures because it's usually dominated by ITV/BBC's news coverage. 1m is good for C4 at that time and plus you got to consider the demographics of the audience watching. Numbers aren't always everything if you have the right demographic.

You can't compare audiences between daytime soaps and primetime soaps because it's a completely different kettle of fish.

Neighbours is flopping a lot in Australia and has had to change TV stations as the viewing figures are decreasing rapidly, it's mostly the popularity it has here by getting over a million viewers which is a bonus for them at the moment.

Home and Away is much consistent in Australia and here yet that manages to get over 1 million viewers too.

Doctors also does well on BBC1 for their timeslot:).

[arista]

oh my god please axe it.


No they are giving it more chances
and its on Ch4HD.



No one is Forcing you Shaun
to watch it.

[Tom4784]

The thing with Daytime TV as well is that it's less about viewing figures then it is about demographics, they might not have the largest viewing figures but they develop loyal audiences and that's what the execs want.

Apart from a few exceptions with primetime it's more about the figures because it's a lot more competitive because there's a larger amount and wider range of people watching.

[flamingGalah!]

Neighbours is flopping a lot in Australia and has had to change TV stations as the viewing figures are decreasing...

Actually the reason for Neighbours being moved from Ten to new digtal channel 11 is that it's a channel aimed at younger audiences, much like E4 in the UK. Other higher rating shows are also leaving Ten for 11, including The Simpsons...Infact Neighbours is to be the 'flagship' show on the new channel... The move also enables Ten to have a news hour in Neighbours old time slot to compete with rival networks too...