The UK's love of soap operas has seen TV viewers captivated by Coronation Street, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale throughout the years.
From the highs and lows of love, to dramatic plots, huge disasters and tragic deaths, viewers cannot get enough of their favourite soaps and iconic characters.
Sadly it was not meant to be for other programmes though, with channels including BBC and ITV launching a number of soaps throughout the years that didn't last too long – including 1992's El Dorado.
On the anniversary of El Dorado's first episode, Daily Star has taken a look back on some of the UK's soaps that were cancelled not long after airing.
El Dorado
El Dorado was launched by the BBC in 1992, and focused on the lives and loves of a group of ex-pats living in the fictional Spanish village of Los Barcos.
Starring Patricia Brake and Jesse Birdsall, alongside a cast of upcoming actors including Kai Maurer and Kathy Pitkin, the soap was tipped to be as big as EastEnders before its launch – with its villa set reported to have even cost a staggering £2m to make.
However, the soap's cast and crew have later said its production was rushed, and that conditions on set were not ideal.
Patricia Brake told The Guardian: "We were told we would have siestas in the afternoon, because we were terribly hot, and I remember one cameraman falling over because they were working so hard in the great heat."
By the end of its first week of broadcasts, the soap only had an audience of 2.8 million, with critics not taking too kindly to the soap.
Described in one review by The Guardian as having "the look of a situation comedy whose laughter track has been lost," El Dorado was eventually cancelled one year later in 1993.
Night And Day
Night And Day had everything set to make it one of the must see soaps on TV, including dramatic plotlines and an all-star cast.
Launched in 2001, Night And Day stars Hollyoaks legend Lysette Anthony, actor Joe McGann and Glynis Barber, and focused on six families living in Greenwich, London.
Running for two years, it won numerous awards and was acclaimed by critics, with a late night omnibus edition featuring scenes too racy to be aired in the usual teatime slot for the programme.
However, falling audience figures meant that the soap was cancelled in 2003.
Crossroads reboot
Although Crossroads has since become a TV treasure following its original run from 1964-1988, its subsequent revival proved to be ill-fated.
Focused on the fictional Crossroads motel, the original series launched the careers of huge soap stars including Sue Nicholls, who is beloved as Audrey Roberts in Coronation Street.
However, its revival was less popular with audiences and gained less than favourable ratings, despite original cast members including Tony Chance and Kathy Adams returning.
It was eventually cancelled two years later in 2003.
If that wasn't enough, the soap's final episode revealed in a bizarre twist that it was all a daydream, created by the mind of supermarket checkout worker Angela Sampson.
Albion Market
EastEnders is known for its famous Albert Square market, and in 1985, ITV also launched a soap focusing on a market – this time in the north of England.
Set in Salford, Albion Market had an all-star cast including Tony Booth, Noreen Kershaw and Coronation Street star John Michie – with the soap focusing on their lives as they worked on the fictional stalls.
Focused on long suffering market owner Derek Owen, critics reviews were reported to be not too favorable, and Albion Market failed to gain large viewer figures.
As such, the soap was axed after just 100 episodes, ending one year later in 1986.
Families
In 1990, ITV launched the Families – a soap focused on, you guessed it, families from England and Australia.
Created by Kay Mellor and running for over three years until 1993, the main storyline focused on Mike Thompson moving in with Diane Stevens – and the problems they encountered during their new life together in the fictional town of Westbury.
Despite its popularity, it is reported that the soap was cancelled just three years later to free room in the schedule for daytime repeats of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
However, it did give TV viewers their first glimpse of Hollywood icon Jude Law, who landed one of his first roles as Nathan Thompson in the soap.
London Bridge
London Bridge was created by Carlton Studios in 1995, with the soap also broadcast on some ITV regional channels during the same year.
Focused on the lives of people living in London, the soap told the stories of their lives as they intertwined during various plots.
It also starred a stellar cast including Simone Lahbib, Dawn McDaniel and Jo-Anne Stockham.
However, it's limited channel broadcasts failed to capture the hearts of TV viewers outside of the capital, and low viewer figures meant it was subsequently cancelled three years later.
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