Family Affairs

Began on Channel Five in 1997. This UK daily soap opera initially focused on the Hart family consisting of parents Chris and Annie, adult children Duncan, trainee solicitor Holly, and Melanie a police constable. Youngest child was Jamie, a school boy. There was also Annie's parents Jack and Elsa Gates, and Chris's father Agnus.

Associated characters were Duncan's friend Roy Farmer, Chris's business associate Nick Trip, Annie's friend Maria Simons, Melanie's friend Claire Twomey. Later Maria's ex-husband, villainous Pete Callan arrived.

Within a brief period of time in late 1998 the Gates were killed-off, and in January 1999 all the Harts were killed in a boat explosion. Roy was also aboard but was the only survivor. Thereafter a more varied bunch of new characters emerged such as Cat and Dave Matthews, Yasmin McHugh, Gemma Craig, Fern Sinclair, Declan Byrne, Gabby Johnson, Sadie Hargreaves, Siobhan Jones, Clive Starr, and later Nikki Warrington and her various family members.

During 1999 and the early part of 2000 the departures of Claire, Nick and Maria left Roy as the show's only original character, though Claire later returned.

Generally concentrates on family-based storylines and marital upsets. More extreme storylines involving murder, rape, prostitution, blackmail, drug use, and brother-sister incestual relationships have also occurred. Has featured several gay and lesbian characters. Also many troubled younsters having their first brush with the law.