The Depiction of Politicians and Politics in British Soaps

This paper explores ways in which politicians and political themes are depicted in British soap operas. A three-dimensional definition of “the political” is employed, and the distinction between the personalized communities depicted in soaps and the impersonal world of politics is investigated. The study draws upon interviews with producers and scriptwriters from the major British soaps; a representative survey of the British population, 59 percent of whom described themselves as regular soap viewers and/or listeners; and two focus groups.