Russell T Davies worries soaps could die out in 10 years.
The former ‘Doctor Who’ writer and executive producer has warned that top shows such as ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Coronation Street’ could no longer exist if bosses don’t find a way to stop falling ratings.
Both ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Corrie’ pulled in over 20 million viewers in the 1980s and early 1990s, but ratings have now fallen to less than 10 million an episode.
Russell told Attitude magazine: "I think the soaps are in trouble and need to be careful. You can see a television landscape in 10 years’ time where they won’t exist or will be reduced."
The TV producer, who created the iconic gay drama ‘Queer as Folk’, also expressed fears representation of the gay community may be affected if there aren’t any soaps on TV.
He added: "Without the soaps, gay visibility on TV will plummet."
Russell is currently producing various gay-themed series for Channel 4, which will air in 2015.
‘Cucumber’, an eight-part series exploring the lives of gay men in the 21st Century, is to air on Channel 4, while ‘Banana’ will air on E4. Meanwhile, documentary series ‘Tofu’ will be screened on on-demand service 4OD.
Russell T Davies: Soaps could die out in 10 years
