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Radio 1 Stories: Generation Soap

Generation Soap

14/07/2014

BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1 Stories, Generation Soap

Radio 1 goes behind the scenes to find out what it's like to grow up in a soap.

Radio 1 goes behind the scenes of EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks to find out what it is like to grow up in a soap.

Radio 1 meets some of the young actors who star in the UK's most popular TV shows and finds out what it's like to grow up in a soap.
 
From Weatherfield to Walford via Hollyoaks village and Emmerdale, we meet some of the young stars who make Britain's soaps among the best in the world.
 
Stars like Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster in Coronation Street) and Jamie Borthwick (Jay Mitchell in Eastenders) reveal what it's like to have your life completely turned upside down by landing a role in a soap as a child actor.
 
Stephanie Davis (Sinead O'Conner from Hollyoaks) tells us how she found fame as a teenager difficult at first; while others talk about the challenges of being instantly recognised in the street and balancing long filming days with school work and having fun with their friends.
 
With a part in a soap comes responsibility, especially when taking on controversial storylines, and Alfie Brown-Sykes (Jason in Hollyoaks) tells us how he's managing his character's current body image issues. At Pobol Y Cwm, the Welsh soap, we meet Dyfan Rees who's gay character is struggling with OCD; while on Coronation Street, Amy Kelly (Maddie Heath) talks about entering the programme as a homeless teenager.
 
Charlie Clapham (Freddie in Hollyoaks) and Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden in Emmerdale) tell us what it's like to play heartthrobs, and Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi in Eastenders) predicts who she thinks killed Lucy Beale.
 
And who do they look up to? Jamie Borthwick tells us about his friendship with Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell in Eastenders), while others talk about the legends they admire most.
 
As well as the actors, we meet some of the people behind the scenes - eavesdropping on young story editors, directors and music researchers.
 
The stars also dish out some advice to budding young actors about the exciting but precarious nature of showbiz, and reveal how they cope with the increasing demands and pressures of social media.

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