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Mac is being so immature it’s actually making me angry lol I would consider breaking up with her definitely wouldn’t want to try for another baby if I was Levi Has for Harper wanting Dana to forgive their not everything is forgiven in life very silly New year same old rubbish lol

I've heard that story as well. It would explain why the format is as it is - you've a core of older characters with a younger cast who turn over every 3 years.

At the end of the day, the 6:30pm showing is now the main showing, the 6pm is a repeat, and the episode labels are reflecting that - ie the return episode has been labelled as Friday 2nd, not Monday 5th. There are a couple of options; Coud those who really want to stick with the 6pm linear showing that badly use the 5 Star thread? As I suggested to RR1, why not just play the episode off the app at 6pm instead of tune to 5 Star's over-compressed slop picture quality? Create two new threads, one for 6pm pace and one for 6:30pm pace? Chris has made it clear we can talk about the 5 Star episode in this thread, but I assume we have to wait until 7pm. Finally, if ads are an issue there is another hack: Sky and Virgin viewers, if you watch off their servers (ie don't use the 5 App on your box) you can fast forward through the advertising.

I mean, I accept I'm a luddite but I really don't see the appeal of streaming. It means more ad breaks, which seem to go on forever. For me it's very much a last resort, not something new and shiny.

I'm also hoping those who watch the 5* two episodes don't blab on what happens in the second one, because or us old fashioned folk who only watch the one being shown for that day will get spoilers for the next days. We'll just have to try and avoid reading it.

I have a very hard time imagining them dropping the 6pm any time soon. They won't even show a single episode when the show's going off air, it's obviously far too much trouble to find another half hour programme to fill that part of the slot. It's the schedule as much as the time slot that I find works better, I remember the days when they ended up out of synch for various reasons and it meant you got episode after episode of the same storylines and characters. I really can't see any wonderful picture quality for streaming, which I have to watch on my 10+-year-old desktop anyway, which may defeat any supposed benefits.

Meantime it has remained on air at the same time in Ireland on the same channel since the very first episode. It dominates the ratings there, airing at 6.30pm and available to stream on RTE Player. Linear broadcasts still put it in the top 10 consistently with player racking up even more viewers. Ireland has never played around with the airtimes. Ask anyone what time it airs and they'll be able to tell you. But as for the UK if streaming works ( which I've done since they dropped the 6.00pm airing ) then it's all good. As long as it pulls in the viewers.

I imagine they'll drop the 6pm eventually. They've been very clear 6:30pm is now the flagship on socials, trails etc. and episodes are being labelled as such now, although this does mean the blocks are an episode out. If you want to watch at 6pm that badly, couldn't you just stream the show at 6pm, rather than watch the linear repeat? And the picture quality is better!

I suppose that was inevitable, since even Channel 5 seem to think that a schedule where you get the season finale on Thursday and carry straight on makes sense. The 6pm showing seemed the obvious successor to the Channel 5 showing to me but I'm used to being the only one to think something. I guess that leaves me either being bombarded with spoilers by people who watch at streaming/First Look pace or skipping any posts by people I know are watching ahead.

Yep, I've just unpinned the 5Star thread, and you can now discuss episodes here at 5Star/streaming pace

Yes, as far as I know, the series aired at 5:10pm in every ITV region initially in early 1989, then a year or two later they showed a repeat on CITV mornings. I do remember they had on Roger Oakley (Tom) as a guest even. Then it moved to lunchtimes and was shown, I think initially at 12:30, which may have been a repeat of the previous day, and over the years moved to a slightly later slot and a "first showing". Around the early 90's when H&A was very popular, some ITV regions moved the show to 6pm or 6:30pm. Back in those days it's easy to forget H&A was a huge show and at its peak was not far off the "big UK soaps" in terms of ratings. I think it was still pulling in very respectable figures when it left ITV.

I agree, you see the same characters interact with the same groups over and over again, and a real lack of "community". Also the "20/30-something" characters like Cash, Tane, Eden, Harper, Dana etc seem to be at the forefront, while characters like Alf, Roo, Marilyn, John, Leah, Justin (those two to a lesser extent), seem to be in more supporting roles much of the time. It's still watchable, but certainly is far from the best it could be. I can't help thinking that introducing perhaps 3 teenage characters and bringing the focus back to Summer Bay, rather than Yabbie Creek (less crime and medical storylines, more focus on families and community) might be the injection of life that is needed.

Was a good first episode back, which helped recap where we left off a month ago. Lacey and Levi both definitely in their denial stages at the moment, with wanting to keep busy. I feel that might fall apart quickly, as it's already done with Lacey.

I’m guessing whatever episodes are on the app otherwise it’s going to get confusing with no official airing of episodes on tv now

And we're back. Are we allowed to talk about 8601 now there isn't a Channel 5 showing?

I don't think I've ever seen an explanation of the "lifetime deal", and whether it really means C5 are obliged to buy the show for as long as 7 want to produce it. Even if that was the deal, I'm sure it could be renegotiated. It is strange though that C5 gave up on Neighbours, but continued on with H&A, when it was less popular. I can't see how axing H&A from the main channel can be a good thing, but perhaps figures for the lunchtime slot were so low that the number watching on 5Star or On Demand are enough to make it profitable. As they're still buying the show, I don't know how dropping it from the main channel could save them any money, unless they think it will drive more viewers to the On Demand service, which I assume they make a profit from through advertising. H&A must cost C5 less than what it makes in advertising revenue. If it was losing them money (as they said Neighbours was, if I remember correctly) then surely they would look for a way out of the contract ASAP. The beginning of the end? Hard to know. It does push H&A further out of the mainstream. If this change means that total viewing figures fall, I could see that as leverage to negotiate a cheaper contract. I'm sure H&A will continue for a few more years at least, as no doubt they'll want to celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2028, and surpass Neighbours in terms of longevity. Having said that, for some reason H&A doesn't seem to celebrate milestones any more.

Ok the early ep drop on the ap is finally listed as Friday and not Monday. Thatl make it less confusing for people!

Catching up on recent eps, it blows my mind how little some characters interact. When did Mack and Maz have a scene together, or Abby and Jo, or even Mali and Leah. The show is split into a few groups with very little crossover now, which it never was like.

Yep, the episode guides are pretty accurate - two separate people over the last decade or so went to extraordinary lengths to work out the UK broadcast dates of the ITV era so they're definitely accurate. Am I right in saying it's the highest rated episode ever in Australia? It's not the highest in the UK but there was huge publicity around it. Still one of the most difficult episodes to watch, but one of the most iconic, which is incredible when you consider Meg wasn't a main cast member so there wasn't the emotional investment the audience had made in the principals over time. Out of interest, I'm assuming the episode was recorded off air from ITV. Which region? Genuinely I'd be interested to see the continuity/presentation around it.

...and before anyone shouts "lifetime deal" nobody signs a contract they can't ever get out of somehow, not even on their wedding day. We've all tried to spin it positively, but for the show to come off a main PSB for the first time since its UK launch in 1989 can't be spun anyway other than a demotion in the cold light of day. My worry is Channel 5 will then cite the low figures on 5 Star, where it's getting - what, a hundred thousand or so on a good day? - as an excuse to declare the British market has lost interest in the programme and begin negotiations. A good solicitor could broker an "out" of any supposed "lifetime" contract; it's what they're paid non-trivial sums of money to do! I refuse to believe they're permanently locked in with no exit. Does anyone else think this is the beginning of the end?

Also I remember I couldn’t stand Ash character when he was on show but rewatching I am not minding him so much.

Good point I never thought that it was weird they didn't ask Brax for help. Him and Ricky's final episode was kinda weird. Brax had such a big build up to his return (which was good on his initial return) but this felt so rushed. In the space of a few minutes, Brax returns, announces he's now free with no details really, then asks Ricky to leave the bay with him in a few hours. Then he's not seen again until they they quickly leave. I don't know if the town ever found out or acknowledged it. The Braxtons were mentioned quite a few times over the years but none really acknowledged Brax alive outside of Dean, Nate and Ash. Kat seemed to know at some point but it was implied Ash had told her at this point as they were now back together.

After rewatching Brax and Ricky's final episode it’s funny how Andy and Ash were trying to help Josh get away with killing Charlotte and yet did not stop to think to asked Brax for help. I wonder if Ash or Andy had told Brax about Josh killing Charlotte that maybe it might made Brax reconsider leaving and it’s funny how Ricky left without many goodbyes and most of town thought Brax was still dead and then was mentioned year later by Kat that town eventually found out.

Hope we all had a good Christmas. It's not long now, that month did fly by. We just have to remember where it is now. Good point James, sometimes it's the man and sometimes the woman who goes into denial. Perhaps if they admit what has happened then it's true. Hope they do resolve it, they are good together. Anyways HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

Just looked at what's replacing H&A on Channel 5 - films. So nothing better and probably worse. Well done C5. Sure that's going to bring in a lot of new viewers and keep your old ones.