British soap operas are, of course, overly dramatic. In almost all soap operas, including Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Archers, characters constantly discuss money and drink excessively. Of course, these programs are not meant to be taken literally: they are mindless entertainment, not serious social commentary. However, behind the drama, they raise subtle questions about the nature of Britain today: the clashes between cultures and religions, the upper and lower classes, and the young rebelling against the elderly. All of these things could be happening at the same time, and underlining all of these issues is the idea that no one should be trusted. The English are often victims of stereotypes, but watching these programs you wouldn't recognize it. It is said that the English are polite, but that is not the case in these shows. Rather than sacrificing comfort or happiness for the sake of manners, the characters on these shows openly confront each other about any issues raised. In Coronation Street, for example, a character confronts a man she was dating in a pub. He recalls their history together, emphasizing the fact that he knows her better than anyone. She simply screams, "That story is exactly why we don't have a future" (Warren), and walks off with her new boyfriend. In a country where good manners are highly valued, clashes like these are rare, but on soap operas they happen all the time. Instead, homes appear to be places where people speak quietly and share secrets with each other. Since fights usually take place in a bar or pub, these are not simply drama scenarios; they also highlight the drinking nature of British citizens. The characters are rarely seen without a g... middle of paper... distinguish them as distinctly British. They see that life, especially magnified in a soap opera, is full of inevitable misfortunes. We may have complete control over our lot in life, our class or our appearance, but a warm cup of tea (or whiskey) and a good laugh will help make life bearable. Works cited "National statistics online - Religious populations". Home: UK National Statistics Publishing Hub. Network. 06 April 2011. .Newman, Lorraine, prod. Eastenders. BBC. BBC1, 3, HD, London, UK, 4 April 2011. Television.November, Steve, prod. Emmerdale. ITV. ITV1, London, UK, 5 April 2011. Television.Toye, Joanna. The archers. BBC. BBC Radio 4, London, UK, 5 April 2011. Radio.Warren, Tony. Coronation Street. ITV. ITV1, London, UK, 4 April 2011. Television.