peacock-2000 Reviews

Castles (1995)

A cautious step from the BBC

[8/10 · 15 June 2002]

After big, expensive failures like 'Eldorado' and 'A Year in Provance', the BBC went for the less expensive, long running series.

Castles followed a family of the same name who lived in and around the North London area. The head of the family, the farther, was having an affair with Christean and the children were having no end of problems themselves.

Although it had the type of storylines of a normal soap, there was something different about the series. The family connection appeared to be working but the viewers were just not there. The acting could not be faulted and the odd supprise was always good, but after its move from Tuesdays and Thursdays to Sundays and Mondays did kill it off and the show only lasted the summer!

Hollyoaks: Movin' On (2001– )

Continuing the drama set in the main series.

[8 April 2002]

This spin-off was a welcome to late night viewing. Even if you did not follow Hollyoaks much (like me) you could still pick up the show without any problems. It was good to sit and watch original drama when all you want to do at that time of night is relax.

Here's hoping that Mersey TV will either produce another series or do another spin-off (which they appear to be the masters of at present!)