Nothing Less Than Tragic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Plane Crash

In December 1993 "Emmerdale" featured a plane crashing into the village, leaving most of it in ruins and four villagers dead. It was aimed at increasing viewing figures, a ploy that worked as some eighteen million people tuned in to watch. Prior to this viewing figures had been so low that the programme was close to cancellation.

The story line was not without controversy. Many people complained to ITV because of the proximity of the screening date to the fifth anniversary of the Lockerbie tragedy.

Answer: Ken Barlow

Ken Barlow, played by William Roach, has been in "Coronation Street" since the very beginning. He has been married three times. His first wife was hairdresser Valerie Tatlock. She lost her life in 1971 when she was electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer. A couple of years later he married Janet Reid, but that marriage lasted only a few months.

He then married divorcee Deirdre Langton. They split up when he had an affair, but later re-married.

Answer: Brookside

Set in Liverpool, "Brookside" became noted for plot lines featuring subjects not normally referred to on other soap operas. Patricide, incest, the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss, a religious cult suicide pact, all made an appearance. In a long running story line Jimmy Corkhill, played by Dean Sullivan, descended into cocaine addiction, eventually crashing his car. One person was killed immediately, and another left so seriously injured that he also died some time later. Eventually the story lines became too outrageous and the programme was cancelled in 2003 after a 21 year run.

Answer: Death of his wife and children

Adam Okaro, played by Cyril Nri, joined Sunhill Police Station as Chief Superintendent after the death by suicide of the previous occupant of the job. Portrayed as a strong character he quickly gained the respect of all ranks. In a very harrowing episode his wife and children were in a car accident.

As the episode unfolded they all died from their injuries. The driver of the other car later admitted to briefly falling asleep at the wheel. Adam Okaro was eventually promoted to Borough Commander and left the series in 2006.

The series itself ended in August 2010 having run since 1984.

Answer: Cot death

This storyline prompted more than 6,000 complaints to the BBC. When Ronnie Branning lost her baby to cot death she swapped his body for Kat Moon's live baby born at virtually the same time. Over the ensuing months the show portrayed Kat's ongoing grief and Ronnie's feelings of guilt and depression. Eventually she confessed and Kat and Alfie Moon were reunited with their baby son.

The complaints received forced the BBC to bring the plot to an end sooner than was originally planned. Samantha Womack, who played Ronnie, left the show shortly after, although she denied that the storyline had anything to do with this.

Answer: Sandy Richardson

The original series of "Crossroads" ran from 1964 to 1988. It was noted for cheap production values, indeed quite often if actors were seen leaning against a piece of scenery it was to stop it falling over. Sandy Richardson, played by Roger Tonge, was the son of motel owner, Meg Richardson. In 1972 a plot line had him involved in a car accident which left him wheelchair bound.

The series was revived in 2001. Although production values were much higher it failed to attract a regular audience and was axed in 2003.

Answer: Eldorado

Launched in 1992 amidst a fanfare of publicity "Eldorado" was set amongst the expatriate community in Spain. It was hoped it would be a sort of "Eastenders" with sunshine. The problems it had were many. Several of the actors were inexperienced and not equipped to come into a three times a week soap opera.

Their acting was heavily criticised as amateur. As it was set in Spain the BBC decided not to use sub-titles for lines spoken in a foreign language. The opening story line of a middle aged man with a seventeen year old bride was seen by viewers as seedy.

Although plots and ratings did improve slightly "Eldorado" was axed after only one year.

Answer: Gail Platt

Poor Gail. First she married Brian Tilsley. She divorces him but they later remarry, and divorce again. She then married Martin Platt. That marriage also ends in divorce. Her third marriage is to Richard Hillman. He turns out to be a serial killer and, after confessing all to Gail, tries to kill her and her children by driving a car into the canal. Gail and the children escape but Richard drowns.

Her fourth husband is Joe McIntyre. He dies in a boating accident but Police believe Gail murdered him and she is arrested and charged, but is found not guilty.

Answer: Reg Cox

The very first episode of "Eastenders" was broadcast on 19th February 1985. It started in dramatic fashion with Den Watts, Arthur Fowler and Ali Osman finding the dying Reg Cox. Nick Cotton, son of Dot Cotton, was later revealed to be the murderer. He was to return at various times throughout the series, always causing trouble and heartache for poor Dot. Den Watts was himself murdered twice.

The first time everyone believed him dead, but he reappeared some time later. The second time he was definitely dead and buried in the cellar. Arthur Fowler embezzled the Christmas Club funds, had a mistress, and died in 1996. Ali Osman left the show in 1989.

The script writers had him leaving England for Cyprus.

Answer: A massive fire

The scene was set by the murder of Chief Inspector Derek Conway and the organisation of a memorial fund. PC Des Taviner donated confiscated drug money that turned out to be forged. In an attempt to cover this up he used the chaos caused by a riot and petrol bombing at the front of the Police Station to throw a petrol bomb through a rear window.

This ignited gas canisters left in the room by decorators. In the ensuing explosions and fire six people, including Inspector Andrew Munroe died, with a seventh dying later of his injuries.