MEDIA: HOLLYOAKS: AN EXPERT’S VIEW

Laura Tilley thinks setting the new soap in Chester is its only

redeeming feature

Well, they may be good looking but I don’t think much of the acting.

Channel 4’s latest soap for teenagers, Hollyoaks, is a cross between

Australia’s Neighbours and America’s Beverly Hills 90210. It has the

traditional racy stories, glamorous stars and at least one wishy-washy

soap stud. Cars, motorbikes, rave music and mobile phones - it’s got the

lot... but it’s set in Chester. Mind you, I like that. We finally have a

teenage soap that is pure English bred.

I do like some of the characters, although others are not very

realistic. Kurt Benson, the soap’s lead character, is very weak - as are

his acting skills - which may prove to be a problem as he appears in

most of the scenes. And if they want to make the soap appeal to us

girls, the star’s acting and character will be a stumbling block. And

he’s so sexist. Remember this line: ‘Oh, she’s just a sex object’?

More realistic though is the boy who plays James ‘Jambo’ Bolton. He’s a

much better actor and his character is more true to real life. He has a

steady job and he doesn’t attempt to be as flash as Kurt, Hollyoaks’

answer to Tim-nice-but-dim. He’s basically your average, everyday sort

of bloke.

But I do question how many teenagers in Britain lead this sort of life.

I live in the Berkshire equivalent of Chester, I suppose, but I don’t

know any teenagers who carry mobile phones at school or who wear six

inches of make-up.

How come, for instance, Kurt has a motorbike and a car (well, at least

until it was blown up) and yet we never see him doing any kind of work.

Does he have a job?

But I have to admit that come next Monday evening, I’ll probably be

tuning in to see the next episode of Hollyoaks. I want to know if Kurt

gets caught by the police; if Dawn’s mother’s lover finally makes a move

on her sister and what the next crisis in Louise’s life will be.

In the words of D:ream: ‘Things can only get better.’

Laura Tilley, aged 12, is the daughter of Zenith Media’s joint managing

director, Andy Tilley

This article was first published on Campaign