Australian Soaps and Series - Take 1 Quiz

Answer: The Sullivans

"The Sullivans" was set in Melbourne and followed the lives of Dave and Grace and their four children, John, Tom, Terry and Kitty Sullivan and the impact the war had on them, from its inception through to the post-war period. The series enjoyed great success here and overseas.

It ran until 1983. "Seven Little Australians" followed the lives of a family set in the 1880s, "Certain Women" was based on the Stone family in Sydney during the 1970s and "The Restless Years" followed the lives of a group of teenage school-leavers and the challenges they faced in the big wide world.

Answer: Arcade

"Arcade" premiering in 1980, followed the trials and tribulations of working in the retail industry and the lives of the retailers and the customers who shopped there. Produced by the makers of the long running soap "Number 96", "Arcade", was unable to make ratings and although 38 episodes were produced, only 10 of these made it to air. "Hampton Court" ran for 13 episodes and was set in a shared house, "Headland", based around a Hotel and a University, was seen on our screens for two months. "Breakers", lasting a little longer at around two years, was based in an old building, converted into offices and a Cafe.

Answer: Sons and Daughters

Rowena Wallace played the role of Patricia Hamilton Morrell Palmer in "Sons and Daughters" from 1982-1985. Due to her manipulative, devious and conniving ways, she quickly earned the nickname 'Pat the Rat' and became the TV character everyone loved to hate. "Pacific Drive", "E Street", "The Power, The Passion" all had there share of dubious characters but none that left such an indelible mark in soapieland as 'Pat the Rat'.

Answer: A Country Practice

The long running series "A Country Practice" had an array of animals among its cast, one of the most popular was a Wombat called 'Fatso'. He made his first apearance in Episodes 9 and 10 in 1981 and continued his successful stint until the shows demise in 1994.

Whilst the other three choices were also set in the country and had an array of animals, "A Country Practice" was the home to 'Fatso' the Wombat.

Answer: Return to Eden

James Reyne had the lead role in the mini-series turned series, "Return to Eden", playing the suave but evil tennis champion Greg Marsden. The series ran for three years notching up a total of 28 episodes. As an actor, Reyne decided to stick with his night job instead. "Holiday Island" and "Taurus Rising" from the early 80s and "Paradise Beach" appearing in the early 90s, all enjoyed some small screen success without singers playing any of the lead roles.

Answer: Autumn Affair

"Autumn Affair" debuted in 1958. 156 episodes were made, with the lead character of Julia, played by Muriel Steinbeck. Radio serials were the only form of 'soap' around at the time, so it saw many of the cast make the transition across from the medium. "The Story of Peter Grey" debuted in 1961 with 164 episodes, "Bellbird" made an appearance in 1967 and "Motel" was launched in 1968.

Answer: Prisoner

"Prisoner" or "Prisoner: Cell Block H" as it was known in the UK and America and "Caged Women' in Canada, debuted on the Ten network in 1979 with 692 episodes produced, culminating in a seven year run. "Punishment" was set in Longridge Prison, "Rafferty's Rules" in a magistrates court and "Cop Shop", in a suburban police station.

Answer: Number 96

"Number 96" took out the honour. Nudity, homosexuality, adultery, rape, just to name a few, the show was choc filled with lecherousness and debauchery and this was way back in the early 1970s! Although the other three choices included the aforementioned, "Number 96", when premiered, was the program that was touted as being "when Australian television lost its virginity".

Answer: G.P.

G.P. aired from 1989-1996 and was set in a medical clinic in suburban Sydney. "The Young Doctors" was Australia's first medical drama and aired in 1976. It was based around the daily dramas of "Albert Memorial Hospital" in Melbourne. "Medivac" (or medical evacuation) was set in "Bethlehem West Hospital" in Brisbane and filmed in the old Australian Tax Office building.

It centred around a team of highly trained emergency medical specialists. "The Flying Doctors" series payed tribute to Austalia's "Royal Flying Doctors Service" and was set in the outback town of Cooper's Crossing.

Answer: Class of '74

"Class of '74" and later "Class of '75" ran in a five night a week configuration for two years and was Reg Grundy's debut into television series production. "Glenview High", also produced by Reg Grundy, ran from 1977-1978. "Heartbreak High" had a five year stint from 1994-1999 and "Starting Out" was a based on a group of University students and aired in 1983.