Long-running soaps

CORONATION STREET (1960)

The world’s longest-running soap also has the longest-running soap actor, William Roache, who’s been starring as Ken Barlow since the first episode.

GENERAL HOSPITAL (1963)

The longest-running soap on American TV has produced more than 13,000 episodes and spawned a primetime British spin-off, which ran from 1972-79.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1965)

Shown almost every weekday since it started more than 50 years ago, it features cast members who have 40 years’ duty.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (1973)

Most popular daytime show on American TV, it’s about the wealthy Brooks family and the working-class Foster clan.

EMMERDALE (1974)

Originally a daytime soap set in the world of farming, it moved to primetime in 1978 and dropped the Farm in 1989.

POBOL Y CWM (1974)

The longest-running soap opera produced by the BBC is in Welsh and shown five nights a week on S4C.

EASTENDERS (1985)

The lives of the residents of Albert Square have made it one of the most-watched shows on British telly since the show began.

LINDENSTRASSE (1985)

This German soap follows the residents of a fictional street in Munich and was inspired by Corrie.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1987)

Sister show to The Young and the Restless, it’s set in Los Angeles and focuses on the Forrester family and their fashion house business.

KOPI KADE (1987)

This Sri-Lankan comedy-drama is set in a village kopi kade, a small shop that is the centre of the community.