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
