Soap crossover to swap characters and run same climate change storyline
TV's top soaps and continuing dramas are set to join forces for the first time ever by running the same climate change storyline and featuring each other's characters.
Casualty, Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Holby City and Hollyoaks have all been working together on a joint storyline to highlight climate change issues, set to run in the same week as world leaders meet to discuss the climate crisis at the COP26 conference.
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Excitingly for soap fans, they will see the soap worlds collide as each programme features characters from other shows in their scenes.
For the first time in British television history, #emmerdale @itvcorrie @bbceastenders @Hollyoaks @BBCDoctors @BBCCasualty and @BBCHolbyCity have joined forces to highlight the issue of climate change.
Find out more: https://t.co/h5e1j5dulR#Emmerdale @itv @itvhub @WeAreSTV pic.twitter.com/9YxgIIvuiJ— Emmerdale (@emmerdale) October 12, 2021
From 1 November, look out for a Hollyoaks character in Albert Square, the Chester villagers learning about events in Holby City, a social media video of Emmerdale characters shown in Coronation Street, one of the BBC Doctors in Weatherfield, Casualty being discussed in The Woolpack, and a Corrie social media clip shown around in The Queen Vic.
Emmerdale executive producer Jane Hudson came up with the idea, which has been months in the planning.
Hudson said: “Never before have all five soaps and both continuing dramas come together and united in telling one story. And we certainly haven't seen characters pop up in other shows before. This is a real treat for our audience, whilst also allowing us to get across a very important message.”
BBC Studios head of continuing drama Kate Oates said:“I’m thrilled that our soaps and serial dramas have all come together to help highlight the issue of climate change amongst our millions of viewers. We’re grateful to the teams that made this happen, and hugely look forward to seeing the talent from our own shows popping up in other iconic programmes.”
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Hollyoaks executive producer Lucy Allan added: “We know how important climate change and environmental issues are to our youthful audience, and to all soap viewers. It has been great to work together on an engaging way to, hopefully, inspire conversations about issues that are so important."
More details about the storylines and the characters involved are set to be released in the coming weeks.
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