Home and Away: The Early Years UK Tour! (cancelled)

[cymbaline]

  On 19/01/2025 at 18:08, Homeandawayfan. said:

I wonder if it was timing on the TV schedules which was a big reason which stopped H&A becoming more of a success in the UK, as it was not fully networked across all regions. Although 1992-1994 H&A occasionally got 16 million in the UK according to viewing figures.

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ITV's way of operating didn't help Home and Away, but I think its biggest problem was that Neighbours got there first. By the time Home and Away finally made it here in 1989, Neighbours had become more than just a soap on TV. It had spawned pop stars, the cast was in just about every magazine going and it had become something of a cultural phenomenon. Early Home and Away is pretty ropey and it took a while for it to find its own voice. It was always playing catch up. Across the water in Ireland, it's the other way around. Home and Away was broadcast there quite early and it was huge. Neighbours wasn't picked up by Irish TV until much later. I have a feeling that if they'd tried to bring this show to Dublin, they'd have had no trouble selling it out. 

The Coronation Street vs Emmerdale example you mentioned is a good comparison. No matter how good Emmerdale might be, it is never mentioned in the same breath as Corrie. Neither is Eastenders. The early bird catches the worm I suppose. 

[Sb boy]

I only watch home and away and Corrie so can’t comment on emmerdale as I’ve only seen parts when my gran. Had it on  eastenders is quite popular I believe I personally hate eastenders and  hate holly oaks  but I don’t think  others do I believe eastenders is quite popular but not for me personally 

[2010sfan]

We in Northern Ireland were able to view RTE, I think I discovered it on RTE in the early 2000s but watched Neighbours on BBC.

Given that half or our population doesn't watch RTE because of the political division must mean that Catholics had discovered Home & Away before the Protestants in the late 80s.

When I think back to my school days people usually watched both but I didn't know that Neighbours was more popular overall. This was in the 2000s. I much prefer Home & Away, Neighbours feels too light hearted for me and it has been a chore for me to watch the past few years. 

 

[Homeandawayfan.]

  On 19/01/2025 at 19:10, cymbaline said:

ITV's way of operating didn't help Home and Away, but I think its biggest problem was that Neighbours got there first. By the time Home and Away finally made it here in 1989, Neighbours had become more than just a soap on TV. It had spawned pop stars, the cast was in just about every magazine going and it had become something of a cultural phenomenon. Early Home and Away is pretty ropey and it took a while for it to find its own voice. It was always playing catch up. Across the water in Ireland, it's the other way around. Home and Away was broadcast there quite early and it was huge. Neighbours wasn't picked up by Irish TV until much later. I have a feeling that if they'd tried to bring this show to Dublin, they'd have had no trouble selling it out. 

The Coronation Street vs Emmerdale example you mentioned is a good comparison. No matter how good Emmerdale might be, it is never mentioned in the same breath as Corrie. Neither is Eastenders. The early bird catches the worm I suppose. 

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Yes I guess even though EastEnders is a big soap, it is not in the same league as Corrie.

[Sb boy]

 I  think it maybe that Corrie is the original uk soap that is why. It’s more popular   Eastenders for me personally is just to depressing. And hollyoaks just too badly acted and written badly 

[cymbaline]

  On 19/01/2025 at 19:50, 2010sfan said:

We in Northern Ireland were able to view RTE, I think I discovered it on RTE in the early 2000s but watched Neighbours on BBC.

Given that half or our population doesn't watch RTE because of the political division must mean that Catholics had discovered Home & Away before the Protestants in the late 80s.

When I think back to my school days people usually watched both but I didn't know that Neighbours was more popular overall. This was in the 2000s. I much prefer Home & Away, Neighbours feels too light hearted for me and it has been a chore for me to watch the past few years. 

 

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So does that mean that "Catholics watch Home and Away" should've been on that blackboard in Derry Girls?  Watching Home and Away has got to be more fun than putting your toaster in a cupboard or marching. 

  On 19/01/2025 at 20:42, Sb boy said:

 I  think it maybe that Corrie is the original uk soap that is why. It’s more popular   Eastenders for me personally is just to depressing. And hollyoaks just too badly acted and written badly 

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That's exactly it. Corrie has ruled the roost for decades, though Emmerdale or Eastenders sometimes overtake it in the ratings. For many, it's still the first soap that will come to mind if they're asked to name a UK soap. It doesn't matter how good or bad it is in comparison to the others. It's the daddy of them all. That's why I believe Neighbours is so popular in the UK. It got there first and was well established by the time Home and Away came along.

I also have a suspicion that Home and Away's fanbase is more fractured than the Neighbours one. Home and Away has changed direction so many times over its run, it's hard to imagine it has held onto a significant long-term audience. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Same with Corrie and Crossroads, Corrie came first then Xroads 4 years later, so Corrie had the head start, like Neighbours vs H&A.

While Neighbours was immensely popular 1987-c1996 in the UK, I doubt it was ever in the same league as Coronation Street itself. Corrie is as said, the Daddy of all soaps ever shown in the UK whether American and Australian imports as well as the British soaps.

Dallas is the Daddy of US soaps. In Australia alone TBF you could say H&A is the Daddy.

 

 

 

[Jamie!]

  On 17/01/2025 at 17:34, Jamie! said:

Where did you hear that? I've looked on the Home and Away Early Years Instagram page and they haven't said anything.

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They've now posted this:

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Hi, Early Years fans. Unfortunately, the UK tour has been cancelled at all venues due to unforeseen circumstances. All tickets will be refunded. I don't know any further information beyond this.

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[CaptainHulk]

  On 19/01/2025 at 19:54, Homeandawayfan. said:

Yes I guess even though EastEnders is a big soap, it is not in the same league as Corrie.

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EE came along when people were beginning to become disillusioned with Corrie (1985 was apparently weak, with the Claytons who were highly disliked) and it seemed like CS had "grown old with the audience".  The one year of the 80s Corrie was stronger was 1989 (Den leaving was a giant blow)

 

[nenehcherry2]

  On 21/01/2025 at 14:47, CaptainHulk said:

EE came along when people were beginning to become disillusioned with Corrie (1985 was apparently weak, with the Claytons who were highly disliked) and it seemed like CS had "grown old with the audience".  The one year of the 80s Corrie was stronger was 1989 (Den leaving was a giant blow)

 

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1989 has to be the one "early year" of EE which did NOT "feel" EE. Bunch of strange short-term characters like the old brown owl lady, the northern, the two daft young blokes, hairdresser and Vince.

As well as Den, 89 had also seen the loss of Barry, Colin (underrated character played by a great actor), Willmott Brown (evil to the core but what an actor!), Carmel (LOVE Judith Jacobs!), Ali and Sue (what a sad exit she had). And Legg and Ethel started appearing much less. That was on top of losing Ange, Lou and Mary in 88. 

1990 cleaned things up again and took EE into a more defined direction which would last for decades. 

Edited January 21 by nenehcherry2