Types of television drama

The Serial:
Is when a Tv drama has a continuing narrative throught a limited number of linked programmes. However within a serial drama it never has a proper ending,each episode blends into the next or this is called an over arching narrative. A serial usually has 13-18 episodes for example Waterloo road and Footballers wive's would be a serial.Waterloo road is a serial tv drama as it ends usually with a cliff hanger and only has up to 18 episodes per series, this is the same with footballers wives as each episodes links within the next, this also has up to 18 episodes per series.

A Soap:
Is an ongoing, multi-stranded  television drama, a soap is an everlasting serial for example Eastenders.The narrative within Eastenders is ongoing.Within a soap there is a large cast of central characters, a soap also runs constantly thorughout the year. Eastenders is a soap as there is no limited amount of episodes within the series, it is a continuous programme the whole year. It also has a large cast of central characters for example: the Slater family.This family appears in every episode.Other examples of soaps would be Hollyoaks ans Coronation Street.

The Series:
Is linked programmes with the same lead characters where each episode is a complete story,for example The bill or The Inbetweeners.The inbetweeners is a series as each episode is a new story or a new adventure, no same story is ever continued into the next.Other examples are Skins and misfits these both have different narratives every episodes.

The Mini-Series:
Is a serial or series up to six episodes an example of a mini series is hollyoaks later it is a  five-part series broadcast over five consecutive nights. Hollyoaks later is a seperate mini -series compared to the soap Hollyoaks, it has a very different narrative and is suitable for a different audience compared to the soap.

The one of drama:
Is a special one episode usually up to 90 minutes an example of a one of drama would be Gavin and Stacey's christmas special. This would only be one episode as it is only shown once a year when christmas occurs. It does not continue from the original series of Gavin and Stacey.

The costume drama:
Is and adaptation of a classic text such as Jane Austens-Pride and Prejudice.