Echo Beach...

Posted by Remote Control on January 11, 2008 1:37 AM | Permalink

So where do soap stars go to when they've finished appearing in Corrie, Eastenders, Neighbours etc etc?

Cornwall, it seems. Once upon a time, part of the fun of watching Casualty was seeing the old soap stars being wheeled in on trolleys before being treated in the world's most dangerous ER.

And the opening night of Echo Beach (continuing tonight at 9.30pm) was nothing if not good for star spotting.

Mike Baldwin from Corrie with an awful fisherman's accent, Mrs McCluskey from Grange Hill behind the bar of the Cornish pub, Tiffany offa Eastenders and, of course, Jason Donovan.

Welcome to Home and Away, English-style. Or at least it would be if this was just a soap/drama running simply as that. But it is isn't.

In a break from tradition, ITV has become rather bold and daring. It's launched Moving Wallpaper (shown on Thursday at 9pm) which is a drama set in the production office of Echo Beach. Then, straight after it, we see the show they've made. Once you get your head around it, it's quite good. Or so the first night proved to be.

As for Echo Beach itself, it's everything you'd want from a soap-style programme. Fast, pacy opening episode which basically set the scene. Misunderstood bad boy rolls back into town with son and daughter, causing a stir. At the same time, son and daughter inadvertently get into a fight down at what appears to be a daily beach party with the son of the man who appears to be misunderstood bad boy's old enemy. Who appears to be married to misunderstood bad boy's former flame. That's Tiffany. And misunderstood bad boy is Jason Donovan. Tiffany's son (I think) fancies Jason's daughter. Cue Romeo and Juliet-style drama not done so well since the Ramsays and the Robinsons battled it out in Neighbours. Star of the show: Jason Donovan.

They may be on to a winner here!