Liverpool Soap

LIVERPOOL SOAP FOR BBC?

A NEW Liverpool-based soap opera is being tipped as the BBC’s replacement for Neighbours.

LA Productions, which is run by Brookside co-creator Colin McKeown, is said to be gearing up to shoot the as-yet-unnamed soap in Kirkdale. It will be executive produced by Jimmy McGovern.

The soap is expected to show the regeneration and gentrification of Liverpool, which will be the European Capital of Culture next year. Jimmy McGovern will head a team of local writers if the show gets the green light, with a decision expected in the next few weeks.

Colin McKeown, whose credits also include Liverpool One and Nice Guy Eddie, told the Liverpool Daily Post: "I think this is a great opportunity and we are very hopeful that we will be given the programme.

"It will mean a lot to Liverpool, particularly in the year that it is celebrating European Capital of Culture, to be the location of a soap that reflects the changing face of our major cities.

"It would certainly mean the recruitment of a lot of people, with lots of spin-off work in the service sector. This is a real window of opportunity for us."