Inside Soap

Summary

Inside Soap is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks as well as dramas Casualty and Holby City, and Australian soaps Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast in the United Kingdom.

Inside Soap
First issue cover (October 1992)
EditorGary Gillatt
CategoriesSoap operas
FrequencyWeekly
Circulation51,300 (ABC 2022)[1]
Print
First issueOctober 1992
CompanyHearst Magazines UK
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inLondon
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.insidesoap.co.uk
ISSN0966-8497

History and profile edit

Inside Soap was launched in Australia in 1992, published by the Sydney-based Attic Futura.[2] Attic Futura was sold to Pacific Magazines in 1993 by which time the magazine had been successfully launched in the UK.[3] The magazine was then relaunched in Australia in 1998.[4]

In 1996, Inside Soap changed from a monthly to a fortnightly publication.[5]

Inside Soap traditionally provides interviews from actors who play characters in the soap operas and outlines current storylines.

As of 2022, soaps included in its content are Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Australian soap opera Home and Away. Readers are invited to email their questions to soap stars and entries are published in interview format. Soap stars' personal lives are also covered, including tips on fashion and where to purchase clothes worn by the stars.

By 1994, the magazine's circulation had reached around 120,000.[6] In 1995, Inside Soap's publicity claimed that it was the fastest growing consumer magazine in the United Kingdom.[7] In August 1996, it was announced that Inside Soap sales had risen. From January to June 1996, they had gained a fifty-four percent rise in sales according to year on year comparison data.[8] By 1998, it was a market leader in its sales category and by September 2003 it still held its top ranking position.[9][10]

In September 2002, Hachette Filipacchi began publishing the magazine after the company purchased Attic Futura.[10] In late 2003, Hachette Filipacchi decided to increase their output of Inside Soap and began publishing it weekly.[11] The publisher's decision to publish weekly strengthened sales and by September 2005, the magazine reached 182,618 units in circulation.[12]

Each year, the Inside Soap Awards ceremony is held, where awards are given to the cast and crew of the soaps. In September 2004, the Inside Soap Awards were broadcast on Sky's television channel Living TV[13]

Editors of the magazine have included Vicky Mayer and Jonathan Bowman.[14][15]

Inside Soap prints stories covering all soap operas broadcast on British television in detail. It includes a feature to inform readers of dates different stories occur titled "what happens when". It also includes terrestrial and digital television listings.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ Majid, Aisha (21 February 2023). "Magazine ABCs for 2022: Full breakdown of print and digital circulations". Press Gazette. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ 'Etcetera' Sydney Morning Herald 20 August 1992 p. 21
  3. ^ Ian McIlwraith 'PacMag taps teen market' Sydney Morning Herald 4 May 1993 p. 38
  4. ^ Margaret Easterbrook, 'Drama as TV Week axes local writers' Melbourne Age 1 July 1998 p. 3
  5. ^ Games, Alexander; O'Carroll, Lisa (13 March 1996). "In the air". Evening Standard. p. 61. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ Bellos, Alex (13 March 1994). "Close to the edge". The Observer. p. 127. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "Creative, media & marketing". The Guardian. 9 January 1995. p. 46. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ Glaister, Dan (5 August 1996). "Now it's lads on top". The Guardian. p. 39. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "Creative, media & sales". The Guardian. 25 July 1998. p. 243. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ a b Cassy, John; Brockes, Emma (16 September 2002). "Shooting for the stars (again)". The Guardian. p. 82. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ Byrne, Ciar (15 December 2003). "Red and read all over". The Guardian. p. 72. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ a b Whitlock, Kevin (26 September 2005). "So what's on telly tonight?". The Independent. p. 98. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ Darke, Kimberley (29 September 2004). "Digital highlights". Evening Standard. p. 44. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "Creative, media & marketing". The Guardian. 28 June 1993. p. 46. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ Kingston, Peter (13 July 1998). "Question: What do you call a radio station that's preparing to launch its first soap? Answer: Radio 3 - seriously". The Guardian. p. 64. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 

External links edit

  • Official website