survey results for soap opera project

1. What I learnt: Most people have seen either of these programmes (or both) meaning they
are well watched by many age groups.

2. • ‘Loved the first few series as it was good
family viewing but speed watching after
that as the appetites got ridiculous’
• ‘Entertaining, relatable, dramatic’
• ‘tom clarkson was a treat to look at good
drama’ – Tom Clarkson was one of the
characters in Waterloo Road, played by
Jason Done who was casted as a teacher.
• ‘the characters were relatable and loveable
and most of the storylines were relatable or
realistic’
• ‘Was really good’
• ‘Light entertainment, easy watching’
• ‘Bare dramas’
• ‘constant drama and different storylines
that were interesting’
• ‘unusual to find soaps purely based in a
school other than grange hill’
• ‘I could relate to the characters at specific
points’
• ‘Not very interested in soap operas’
• ‘they killed off my fave character’
• ‘Didn't care’
• ‘Don't watch tv’
• ‘It isn't good’
• ‘Didn't interest me’
• ‘Never appealed to me’
• ‘Eventually went down hill’
• ‘The advertising didn't appeal to me so I never chose to watch it.’
What I learnt: Most people say
they liked the drama aspect of
Waterloo Road. Nearly a third said
they overall loved the programme.

3. • The characters seemed relatable and the script
sounded engaging
• 7/10 controversial at times, general story subjects
(sex, drugs) made it a different kind of show
completely when it came out
• At the time it was a popular TV show for my
generation, and was about people around my age.
Which perhaps made some of us feel like we could
relate to the characters. Although not realistic in
many ways, there was something fun about it. It
made you want to try the things the characters did
etc.
• characters were so so good
• It had exciting characters and storylines.
• It's so in touch with what you go through as a
teenager
• Very different to Waterloo Road, a bit more
relatable for later teens.
• I like Sid - Sid Jenkins was one of the main
characters played by Mike Bailey, he was in series 1
and 2, also episode 1 of series 3
• Was very different to anything else at the time
• Iconic
• very real problems and had a vintage feel
• Effy was hot – Effy Stonem was a character in series
1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 played by Kaya Scodelario.
• Too many seasons
• seemed proper mainstream
and couldn't commit to a
new tv series
• Got a bit repetitive
• Bit unrealistic
• Too annoying, dislike like of
the character types
What I learnt: Most people say
they liked the characters and
how real the teen problems
were. Nearly half thought it was
at least alright.

4. What I learnt: Nobody said ‘Definitely not’ meaning everybody was accepting, if not excited,
by the idea of a new soap of this description.

5. What I learnt: The main people want is good storylines by a long way, next is drama and
then reliability of the characters. This means I need to have big storyline(s) to attract people
to my soap straight away.

6. What I learnt: Many people remember EastEnders adverts more than any other.
Specific storylines just as who killed Lucy Beale and Peggy Mitchell’s death are also
more remembered.
• ‘eastenders – Bobby the killer of
lucy’
• ‘Peggy Mitchell dying’
• ‘EastEnders adverts’
• ‘Eastenders and Neighbours
advertising themselves’
• ‘Eastenders – Who Killed Lucy
Beale? promo trailers Hollyoaks –
wedding trailer (?)’
• ‘Ones for eastenders or Corrie etc
and hollyoaks, the ones which
showed big events like car
accidents etc’
• ‘Eastenders – who killed lucy’
• ‘I love the Holby season trailers!
(and last week’s preview advert
for Fletch’s storyline’
• ‘Any hollyoaks one, it’s all hyper dramatic stuff’
• ‘Casualty, a helicopter crash was hinted at when the characters are acting happy until the the advert
becomes slow motion and they all look up in fear as sparks and general destruction ensues…’

7. What I learnt: Many people do not buy TV listings magazines. It’s rare for people to buy the
magazines because of the Soaps featured on the front.

8. What I learnt: Posters are nor commonly used for advertising soap operas so mine needs to
be eye catching and clear.

9. What I learnt: I cannot learn from this question but it helps see that this wasn’t conducted
equally and that most people who answered my survey were female.

10. What I learnt: I am glad at least one person answered from most age groups. This shows a
range of views on soaps but as my TA is are between 16-24 it is good the most people
answered from this section.