Research: focus group preparation (famouse storylines by Aya)

In preparation for our focus group exercise we planned to refer to past soap storylines, which were relatively famous. This would then allow us to ask questions related to the storyline, such as why is the storyline famous and if it attracted them further to the soap or if not, why not? As well as primary research (asking people), and using my own knowledge about what the most famous storylines were I also used a form of secondary research; chat forums related to soaps. Below is a list of the most common famous storylines as well as a storyline outline, for the two storylines we are going to refer to in our focus group handout. Alongside the storyline outline is a few related questions we could ask....

Eastenders-Who Shot Phil?, fairground disaster, Zoe finding out that Kats her mum, Ethel and Dots euthanasia, Little mo attacking Trevor.

Coronation Street- Richard Hillman attempting to kill the Plats, Deidre sent to Jail.
Brookside-Sheila’s rape, Jordache murder story.

Eastenders: Who shot Phil?

-A Mystery attacker shot Phil and the audience was left guessing who shot Phil?-The storyline had such an impact on the audience that bets were being placed on actually shot Phil (At William Hill).

-Took longer than three weeks to expose who shot Phil

-Do you think that mysterious storylines such as this adds or detracts realism from the soap.

-Would you be less attracted by the soap if it took a long period of time for the truth to be exposed (taking into consideration that Brookside featured a murder story that stretched for 2 and a half years).

-Often storylines raise many unanswered storylines, which can only be answered through the audience continuing to watch the soap. In your view was this storyline popular because it kept the audience guessing?

Coronation Street: Deidre being sent to jail

-Deidre sent to prison in 1998 for fraud, a crime she didn’t commit

-She was falsely accused when her boyfriend (John Lindsay) implicated her in his numerous scams.

-Sentenced to 18months in prison

-British public started a campaign pleading Granada to ‘free the Weatherfield one’.

-Home secretary even tried to involve PM, who intervened on Deidre’s behalf with a touch of irony.

-Do you think criminal storylines in this soap, and others are represented correctly.

-Are they realistic?

-Are they accurate in their representation of criminals?

-Would you be interested in fraud stories, in a soap focusing on the financial crises?

-What in your view attracted viewers to this storyline?

Written by Aya