An analysis was conducted of 10 people's soap opera watching habits and preferences. The majority watched at least one soap per week, with the most popular being EastEnders. Murders and arguments were the most interesting storylines, and villains the favorite character type seen in soaps. Most respondents preferred soaps to be set in the suburbs of a city and include characters who are teenagers, down-to-earth people, or in their early 20s.

1. Analysis and Outcomes
By Olivia

2. Gender:
Male- Five Female- Five
Children who are 15 and under were not interviewed
which could show there is only a low percent of people
under 15 year olds who watch soaps. In the other age
groups there was two people in each.
How old are you?
0-10: None
11-15: None
16-20: Two
21-25: Two
26-30: Two
31-40: Two
41-50: Two
51-60: Two
61+: Two
Only two people out of the group interviewed didn’t
watch a soap, 5 people watched a soap at least once a
week (ranging from once a week to 3 times). Although
nobody out of the group watched it 4 times a week, the
last three people watched soaps everyday. So the majority
interviewed watched at least one soap a week.
How often do you watch soaps?
Never- Two
Once a week- One
Twice a week- Two
Three times a week- Two
Four times a week- None
Every week day- three
Only two people out of the group interviewed didn’t watch a soap, 5 people
watched a soap at least once a week (ranging from once a week to 3 times).
Although nobody out of the group watched it 4 times a week, the last three
people watched soaps everyday. So the majority interviewed watched at least one
soap a week.
If you do watch soaps, which is your favourite?
Eastenders: Three
Coronation Street: Two
Emmerdale: One
Hollyoaks: One
Doctors: One
Other: None
The most popular soap was EastEnders, three people said it was their favourite
soap. Then it was Corrination street who had two people saying that it was their
favourite soap. The other 3 remaining soaps each had one person.

3. Sex
Male
Female
Age 0-10
Nov-
15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61+
How often do you watch soaps?
Never
once a week
twice a week
three a week
four a week
every week day
If you do watch soaps which is your
favourite
Eastenders
Coronation street
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Doctors
other

4. Why?
1. Convenient timing.
2. Love the location.
3. I just enjoy watching it the most.
4. Murders, storylines and characters.
5. It’s funny.
6. Great characters, most entertaining.
7. Most entertaining.
8. Love the characters.
There was many reasons for liking these soaps a common reason was characters, this shows this is
a big part of making a good soap to have well thought through and interesting characters developed.
The other reason which was common was it is entertaining, it is important to have clever and exciting
storylines but still keep them realistic that is the important of making a good soap and from the interview
you can see it makes a big impact.
What makes you most interested in soaps?
Plot: None
Characters: One
Location: One
Broadcasting time: None
Murder: Four
Romance: One
Arguments: Three
Affairs: One
The biggest interest from soaps is murders, these are the most popular storylines as they can be complex an interesting
a murder is a good storyline in a soap but could be over used. And arguments are the second most popular as these are
tense and gripping for viewers to watch and this attracts attention so this is also a good storyline to use. The other
options each have one person apart from plot and broadcasting time which didn’t get any.

5. Whats your favourite type of character?
Villian: Six
Hero: Two
Damzel in distress: One
The helper: None
The false hero: One
The donor: None
The dispatcher: None
The princess: None
The princess’ father: None
They were then asked what there favourite type of character was most people went
for villain. The reason for this maybe be they usually have a reason behind there bad
behaviour and attitude, for example have a distressing back story. Which makes
villains quite interesting usually they are the characters more likely to murder and
have disputes with people and that is what the group said makes a soap interesting.
Then the second favourite type of character would be a Hero as these people are
usually the ones who try and stop and help the villains.
Where would you like to see the soap set?
The Countryside (A small village): None
A small town: One
The suburbs of a City: Five
In a large city centre: Three
Other: None
We then asked the group where would you like to see the soap set? Five of them
said that the best place would be the suburbs of a city. This would be a good place
as it’s a good scenery which the viewers can connect with. And it will have a lot of
town houses and shops which is suitable for a soap to portray realistic everyday life.
And the second most popular is in a large city centre which also would be good as it
can have a certain higher or lower class for example it could be a lower classed soap
filmed in Aldgate or a higher class soap filmed in Chelsea. This gives wide options to
the type and location of the soap.

6. Interest in soaps
plot
Characters
Location
Broadcasting
Murder
Romance
Arguments
Villian
Hero
damzel
helper
false hero
donor
dispatcher
princess
princess father
Favourite type of character
Location of soap
countryside
small town
suburbs of city
city centre
Sales
High class
Down to earth
Farming
Teenagers
OAP's
Early 20's
Middle aged

7. What type of people would you like to see in these soaps?
Rich, high class people: Four
Down to earth people: Eight
Farming community: None
Teenagers: Nine
Old age pensioners: Four
Early 20’s: Ten
Middle aged people: Six
The group voted highest for, people under 20’s, teenagers and Down to earth
middle class people. This is the social class they would most like to see in a soap
opera. This is because viewers can most likely link to these characters in everyday
life. Also younger viewers usually haven’t settled down yet so there may be
problems like sexuality, jobs, relationships, pregnancy, School and parent dispute.
Then the three which was the farming community with no votes because not many
people are farmers so its harder for them to relate, middle aged people a wide
audience is this age group they had 6 votes and then old aged pensioners which had
four votes this was not as popular as not as there's not as many storylines which a
OAP can have and not as many old people would watch soaps.