Perdita
16-08-2010, 10:18
Hollyoaks producer Paul Marquess has admitted that he wants to make the soap more commercial.
Marquess, who took over the Channel 4 soap in January, told The Guardian that he wants to focus on bringing new viewers in every week.
"Grabbing an audience's attention is tougher than ever," he said. "And that's why we have to think more about the single thing in each week, the single thing in each episode that will bring the viewer back."
He continued: "Ten years ago you assumed that everyone watched every episode but now you can't be so arrogant as to think that; that's one reason we're introducing a 'Previously on Hollyoaks…' at the beginning of each episode. We have to find new ways to engage the audience and obviously online is a great way to do that."
Marquess claimed that he knows what is needed to attract press coverage for the show and said that he wants to make the Chester soap as, if not more, commercial than EastEnders.
"Before TV drama, I worked in retail so the business side of telly doesn't frighten me," he said. "When I was executive producer on The Bill, I said we needed two male coppers kissing in uniform in August because I knew the papers had pages to fill and we'd get coverage - and we did."
He added: "More than ever, you need that commercial head on. EastEnders is the most commercial of all the soaps and we need to be ahead of them, not behind them."
The producer recently denied claims that the teen soap could be axed after its ratings dipped below the one million mark on several occasions this year.
Marquess, who took over the Channel 4 soap in January, told The Guardian that he wants to focus on bringing new viewers in every week.
"Grabbing an audience's attention is tougher than ever," he said. "And that's why we have to think more about the single thing in each week, the single thing in each episode that will bring the viewer back."
He continued: "Ten years ago you assumed that everyone watched every episode but now you can't be so arrogant as to think that; that's one reason we're introducing a 'Previously on Hollyoaks…' at the beginning of each episode. We have to find new ways to engage the audience and obviously online is a great way to do that."
Marquess claimed that he knows what is needed to attract press coverage for the show and said that he wants to make the Chester soap as, if not more, commercial than EastEnders.
"Before TV drama, I worked in retail so the business side of telly doesn't frighten me," he said. "When I was executive producer on The Bill, I said we needed two male coppers kissing in uniform in August because I knew the papers had pages to fill and we'd get coverage - and we did."
He added: "More than ever, you need that commercial head on. EastEnders is the most commercial of all the soaps and we need to be ahead of them, not behind them."
The producer recently denied claims that the teen soap could be axed after its ratings dipped below the one million mark on several occasions this year.