Hollyoaks fans furious as bosses announce the show is dropping to three episodes a week

ok.co.uk:

Hollyoaks fans have been left furious at soap bosses as they announced that the iconic E4 show will be dropping down from five episodes a week, to just three.The soap, which is now exclusively aired on E4, will move from five weekly instalments to three from September.The channel explained the decision by saying this is the “optimum pattern to keep heartland audiences hooked and attract new ones in a highly saturated content market” based on Channel 4 data.

Most regular soap viewers watch an average of three episodes per week, according to its research. Ian Katz, chief content officer at Channel 4, said: “Hollyoaks is on sparkling creative form at the moment and these changes will ensure it remains compulsive viewing for a new generation of fans as viewing habits change.The show has always been at the forefront of innovation in all of its forms, including increasing and decreasing episode numbers in response to viewing habits.These changes are a decisive step forward, designed to reflect how audiences are watching." Ian added: “A tighter schedule promises a new era of more scale and impact.

We are of course mindful of the impacts on the production team and will work closely with (production company) Lime Pictures to minimise these where possible.” An hour-long weekly omnibus episode will be broadcast on Channel 4 and available to stream.The broadcaster previously announced it would take a streaming-first approach with the soap and will put episodes of Hollyoaks on YouTube a week after they are broadcast on E4 and streamed on its own platform.

Meanwhile, Lime Pictures has appointed Hannah Cheers, who had been interim showrunner since September, as Hollyoaks executive producer.