July 25th 2024.
Hollyoaks has recently experienced a major victory, leaving the cast and crew ecstatic. This past week has been the best in the show's history as they have successfully transitioned to a digital-first strategy. This means that new episodes are now available on Channel 4's streaming service before airing on E4 the next day. The numbers are looking promising for the long-running soap based in Chester, especially as they gear up to celebrate their 30th year on air next year. The recent surge in viewership has been fueled by intense and thought-provoking storylines, such as JJ Osborne's sexual abuse of his twin sister Frankie, and the ongoing mystery surrounding the identity of gangster Blue.
However, behind-the-scenes, things have been challenging. Due to a new multi-year deal between the broadcaster and producers Lime Pictures, up to 135 members of the cast and crew were facing possible redundancy. This has resulted in some fan-favorite characters, like Ross Adams' Scott Drinkwell, leaving the show. But the changes are not just limited to the behind-the-scenes drama, as viewers will also notice some on-screen changes. In the coming weeks, two of the five episodes will be dropped and the remaining episodes will have a shorter runtime of 20 minutes.
These changes have not deterred viewers, as the drama and anticipation for the upcoming time-jump have kept them hooked. In fact, the show's viewership has increased by 21% compared to the same week last year. This is also reflected in the 8% growth in 16-34 year-olds tuning in and a whopping 50% increase in on-demand views. E4's share has also seen a significant 18% increase, and the overall audience share at the beginning of July was up by an impressive 61%. Ben Wadey, Channel 4 Commissioning Executive for Hollyoaks, expressed his excitement over the show's success and credited the gripping storylines and talented cast as the driving force behind it.
Executive producer Hannah Cheers also shared her thoughts on the show's success and upcoming changes. She revealed that the show will not slow down during the school holidays, as is the tradition with other soaps, thanks to their digital-first strategy. She also teased the upcoming time-jump and stunt week, promising a rollercoaster of emotions and intense action. The time-jump will see the show's beloved character Tony, played by original cast member Nick Pickard, leading the post-jump episode and taking the audience on a journey around the village to see how everyone's lives have changed.
Cheers also dropped a hint about the identity of Blue and the next stage of Frankie's abuse storyline. She also encouraged fans to join Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community to stay updated on all the latest spoilers, videos, and interviews. The community is already 10,000 strong and growing, and fans can join by clicking on the provided link and selecting "Join Chat". Cheers ended her chat by inviting viewers to leave a comment and stay updated on all things Hollyoaks on their homepage.
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