TV DRAMA TYPES!!

THE SERIAL:  Has a continuing narrative (story line), it doesnt have a specific end to every episode, for example: leaving cliff hangers. There is normally only 13 episodes involved in a serial. For example, Waterloo road and Footballers wives. These are serial dramas because they end with cliffhangers which the next episode begins with.

SOAPS: Is an ongoing serial drama that will last for narmally a year, They have a large cast of the central characters. Its a never ending serial. For example, Eastenders and Hollyoaks. These are soaps because they last all year and they have a continuing story the goes in to each episode. The new episode tends to start with "last time on..." or the episode before may start with "next time on..."

THE SERIES: Linked programmes with the same lead character but each episode is a complete story rather than ending with a cliffhanger. For example, House and Spaced. These are a series because they always contain the same lead characters, normally at the end of a series, something tragic happens in the story, which makes them start a completely new series. For example, series 1 and series 2.

A series drama normally contains these certain genre:

MEDICAL (casualty)

CRIME AND JUSTICE (the bill)

FAMILY (smallville)

HIGHSCHOOL (skies)

A TYPE OF SCIENCE FICTION (Dr Who)

DIFFERENT DRAMA TYPES:

THE MINI SERIES: A serial or series with only around 6 episodes such as Hollyoaks later. This is a mini series because it is only on for a certain amount of time and contains 6 episodes.

THE ONE OFF DRAMA: A special drama that is only one episode, such as a Dr Who Christmas special. This is a one off drama because it is only on at one time of the year.

THE COSTUME DRAMA: Typically an adapation of a classic text such as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.