Soap Box: Volume 1

Loved by millions, soap operas have become a regular part of people's lives. A staple part of British television culture over the last fifty years, our devoted interest in the dramatic, funny and sometimes tragic situations of characters we've come to know and love always keeps us coming back for more.

So meet some old friends and rediscover some classic moments in a four disc set that contains episodes of Coronation Street, Emmerdale Farm, The Cedar Tree, For Maddie With Love, General Hospital, Parkin's Patch and more!

Coronation Street
Stuck in the train, Ray and Deirdre become fearful over the unanswered phone. Emily grows concerned about Tracy's crying and persuades Ernie to break a window so they can enter the house.
Written by H.V. Kershaw
Directed by Philip Draycott
Original ITV Transmission 20 June 1977

Crossroads
Meg and David come into conflict over Adam’s business practices. Arthur consents to a summary trial when he’s accused of indecently assaulting Iris.
Written by Joshua Adam, David Garfield and Arthur Schmidt
Directed by Dorothy Denham
Original ITV Transmission 24 March 1981

Rooms – Monica part 1
No. 35 Mafeking Terrace, London W14 is converted into bedsitters. Dorothy and Clive live in the basement and wonder why lodger Tony is so secretive.
Written by Donald Churchill and Peter Yeldham
Directed by Jonathan Alwyn
Original ITV Transmission 5 November 1974

Families
It's Mike's birthday and he's in a bad mood as his business is in trouble. He makes the decision to go to Australia.
Written by Kay Mellor
Directed by Nicholas Ferguson
Original ITV Transmission 23 April 1990

For Maddie With Love
Travelling by train with her son Neil, Maddie has a fit. She convinces herself it's unimportant but when she has another Neil persuades her to see a neurologist.
Written by Douglas Watkinson
Directed by Dennis Vance
Original ITV Transmission 1 May 1980

The Cedar Tree – Victoria
The depress '30s have begun and the cold wind is felt even at Larkfield manor, elegant ancestral home of the Bourne family.
Written by Alfred Shaughnessy
Directed by Ian Fordyce
Original ITV Transmission 20 September 1976

Marked PERSONAL
Georgina Layton feels lost but determined as she walks through the doors of BYA, a vast industrial concern.
Written by Leslie Duxbury
Directed by John Russell
Original ITV Transmission 30 October 1973

Coronation Street
Annie looks forward to showing off her new monogrammed carpet to the Lady Victuallers at a sherry party until Bet tells her that the carpet is actually from the Alhambra Weatherfield Bingo Hall...
Written by John Stevenson
Directed by Philip Draycott
Original ITV Transmission 21 September 1977

General Hospital
Martin Baxter discovers that a simple fracture has strange complications while colleague Peter Ridge finds an unwelcome intruder in his ward.
Written by Max Marquis
Directed by Shaun O'Riordan
Original ITV Transmission 19 October 1972

Emmerdale Farm
Unhappiness is nothing new for Annie, but Emmerdale Farm's sorrow seems too cruel for her to bear.
Written by Kevin Laffan
Directed by Paddy Russell
Original ITV Transmission 13 January 1976

Harriet’s Back in Town
Harriet Preston watches her ex-husband Tom leave the divorce court with the glamorous young model who has shattered their marriage.
Written by Peter Yeldham
Directed by John Russell
Original ITV Transmission 17 October 1972

Parkin’s Patch – Hoof Nor Horn
The unit beat system of policing any patch often relies on information received. When sheep disappear from local farms, Moss Parkin has to use a most unlikely informant.
Written by Robert Barr
Directed by Michael Apted
Original ITV Transmission 19 September 1969

The Practice
Kev Eccles has a shock when he turns up for a vasectomy, Justine Montgomery receives bad news about her unborn child and Les Uttley will not accept that something is seriuosly wrong with his heart.
Written by Mike Stott
Directed by Sarah Harding
Original ITV Transmission 18 January 1985

Weavers Green
A reflection of life and drama surrounding the practice of a country vet.
Written by Peter and Betty Lambda
Directed by June Howson
Original ITV Transmission 7 April 1966

Emmerdale
Tragedy comes to Emmerdale when The Kings River Development show home is hit by a gas explosion.
Written by John Chambers
Directed by Duncan Foster
Original ITV Transmission 13 July 2006

London Bridge
Mary has moved into the Millhouse and a woman, Linda Vale, has been found raped and murdered on the bank of the river behind the building.
Written by Michael Crompton
Directed by Crispin Reece
Original ITV Transmission 15 February 1996

Gems
Stephen is due back from Spain and is eager to see the completion of the company's first sale to America.
Written by Tessa Diamond
Directed by Mervyn Cumming
Original ITV Transmission 2 January 1985

Albion Market
Lynne is excited about husband Roy coming out of jail the following day but Lisa isn't so sure. An unknown arsonist sets fire to a stall and chaos reigns.
Written by Paul Whalley
Directed by Gareth Jones
Original ITV Transmission 30 August 1985

Emergency: Ward 10 - Shadow of a Clown
A nameless man is brought into the Oxbridge – and Dr. Brook over-reaches his authority in trying to probe the mystery of the patient they have labelled plain ‘John Smith’.
Written by Don Houghton
Directed by Alasatir Reid
Original ITV Transmission 11 October 1966

The Bill - 20th Anniversary Edition
This was a special, live broadcast episode to mark the 20th year of production of the police drama. Things go from bad to worse when Becker and Bradford are taken hostage
Written by Tom Needham
Directed by Sylvie Boden
Original ITV Transmission 30 October 2003

Market in Honey Lane – Nothing’s For Nothing
When stall-holder Jimmy Bentall falls on rough times, it’s a job to pick the song-birds from the vultures.
Written by Louis Marks
Directed by David Reid
Original ITV Transmission 3 April 1967

Revelations
Family and friends gather for Rachel and Gabriel's wedding but not everything goes to plan!
Written by Sally Wainwright
Directed by Simon Massey
Original ITV Transmission 6 October 1994

SPECIAL FEATURE

Call Oxbridge 2000 (sole surviving episode)
John Rennie has given up his post as anaesthetist at Oxbridge General Hospital to join his uncle in private practice on the outskirts of town. He finds the first day very different from hospital life.
Written by Diana Morgan
Directed by Rex Firkin
Original ITV Transmission 24 September 1961