Hollyoaks stars’ fears for future
ANNIE ‘SAVE OUR SOAPS’ PLEA
HOLLYOAKS stars fear the soap could be axed if Channel 4 is sold off.
The Government plans to flog the network as part of controversial plans.
Annie Wallace, who plays Sally St Claire in the show, said: “Obviously there is a worry.
“Channel 4 gets bought and they might decide they want to move away from drama. We just don’t know.
“At the moment we are forging ahead and hopefully we will be going for years and years. But we’d be lying if we said we aren’t worried.
“It’s all up in the air. Who knows what is going to happen?”
The world of soaps has been rocked in recent months after longrunning hits Holby City and Neighbours were both axed. Annie, 57, added: “We are so sad about those shows going. It’s a shame that dramas are under threat. “Let’s face it, reality television is far cheaper to make.
“But if the soaps go, what are you going to watch?” Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, 65, has insisted selling the TV network will give it
“the tools and freedom to flourish and thrive as a public-service broadcaster long into the future”.
But Annie thinks the move would be a major mistake.
She added: “Someone who doesn’t understand the British television industry is the culture minister. It’s madness. “Why would anyone think selling Channel 4 is good for this country? “Channel 4 is public-service broadcasting, but it is funded by advertising. It costs this country no money at all. “And yet Channel 4’s influence over this entire country cannot be undermined.
“They finance films, they put out dramas that would not be taken by other channels and they take risks. If Channel 4 is sold off, it would be a massive blow for British telly.”