UK TV E Trivia Quiz

Answer: EastEnders

"EastEnders" began broadcasting in 1985 with 17 million viewers watching the first episode and it shows no sign of letting up any time soon, as it regularly attracts seven million viewers to its four episodes a week, although this figure is well down from the 1986 Christmas Day episode which set a record for a UK TV soap opera, when a whopping 30 million viewers tuned in.
The much married Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt has been with the show from the start and has owned several businesses as well as surviving a contract killing, while Tiffany Mitchell was played by Martine McCutcheon between 1995 and 1999 until her character was killed, when mown down by a car just as the clock struck twelve on New Year's Eve.
Nina Wadia played the part of Zainab Masood between 2007 and 2013, when her character, in a surprisingly undramatic exit for a UK soap opera, left the fictional borough of Walford to return to her native Pakistan.

Answer: Enemy At The Door

"Enemy At The Door" was a very popular ITV show which ran from 1978 to 1980 and centred around the German occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey during WWII.
Lead actors were Alfred Burke as German Major Dieter Richter and Bernard Horsfall as island doctor, Philip Martell, who while on opposite sides recognised the predicament the other was is and attempted to make life as tolerable as possible.
S.S. Officer Klaus Reinicke was played brilliantly by Simon Cadell, who become better known for comedy work later in his career and the show also an early career appearance by John Nettles who would go on to play Bergerac in the show of the same name between 1981 and 1991 and the TV debut of Anthony Head, later to play Rupert Giles in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" (1991-2003).

Answer: Emmerdale

"Emmerdale", originally called "Emmerdale Farm" until 1989, is one of those TV soap operas that the UK seem to excel at. A show about a sleepy little village in Yorkshire, where nothing exciting would happen in real life began transmission in 1972, and there has been enough excitement and drama to last several lifetimes.
Plots have included three year old twins killed in a train crash, a plane crash, a bus crash and a helicopter crash. There have been several fires, always to key buildings, as well as an armed siege at the village pub and many murders alongside the more mundane problems such as the price of wheat and a breech birth of lambs.
Matt Skilbeck, played by Frederick Pyne, was the unlucky farmer whose children were killed in the train accident, just three years after his wife had died. Ronald Magill, as Amos Brearly ran the pub, "The Woolpack" for 19 years until 1992, when he retired, so luckily wasn't around for the siege of 2013. Mandy Dingle played by Lisa Riley first appeared in the show in 1995 and has worked at "The Woolpack" as well as being a beautician. She has had several relationships in the show, including being married to her cousin for a year.

Answer: Ever Decreasing Circles

"Ever Decreasing Circles" was a very gentle comedy, that was a hit with viewers, no doubt in part because of the acting qualities of the cast. Richard Briers played Martin Bryce and the wonderful Penelope Wilton played his ever suffering, patient wife Ann, while new neighbour Paul Ryman was played by Peter Egan. The role of Martin's lifelong friend and ally, Howard Hughes was played by Stanley Lebor, who had previously had roles in movies "Flash Gordon (1980) and Gandhi (1982). Lebor's character of Howard, along with his screen wife Hilda, played by Geraldine Newman are well remembered for their matching outfits in this show which ran from 1984 to 1989.

Answer: Echo Beach

"Echo Beach" was an ITV soap opera that ran for just twelve episodes in 2008, but in true soap opera style it packed a lot into those twelve episodes. Extra marital affairs, incest, one night stands were all covered and the only thing missing was a juicy death, although as the final episode ended with two love rivals floundering in the sea after a fight aboard a boat, we may have well covered that too.
Former "EastEnders" star Martine McCutheon played Susan Penwarden, former "Neighbours" star Jason Donovan played Daniel Marrack and former "Coronation Street" star Johnny Briggs was also in the cast.
Chandeep Uppal played the part of terminally ill barmaid looking for love Narinder Gurai.

Answer: Empire Road

Yet another soap opera, "Empire Road", which lasted just two seasons between 1978 and 1979, was the first of its kind to be mainly written and directed by, as well as starring mainly black artists.
The great Norman Beaton, who would go on to star in the very funny "Desmond's" (1989-1994) played the part of Everton Bennett, while Joseph Marcell, who would later appear in almost 150 episodes of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-96) played the part of Walter Isaacs.
Former "Miss Guyana" and fourth placed finisher at "Miss World 1971", Nalini Moonasar provided all the needed glamour in her role as Ranjanaa Kapoor.

Answer: Eldorado

Another short lived UK soap opera was "Eldorado" which attracted much derision during its one year run between 1992 and 1993.
Top of the list of complaints about the show was the terrible sound quality, a result of filming in empty Spanish villas rather than in a studio and this was closely followed by complaints about "wooden" acting. This was no surprise when one takes into account the fact that some of the cast had never acted before in their lives, including Kai Maurer, playing the part of Dieter Schultz. This didn't stop producers casting him in 44 episodes though!
Unbelievable story lines also featured on the list that caused viewers to desert the show in droves, indeed the opening episode featured a middle aged man returning to Spain from UK with a 17 year old bride, Fizz Charlson, played by Kathy Pitkin.
Patricia Brake, who would later play Viv Baldwin in "Coronation Street" (2005-06) starred as Gwen Lockhead.

Answer: Extras

From the pen of, and starring Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, "Extras" was the tale of a bit part actor, Andy Millman, played by Gervais who finally makes it "big" as a star on a second rate TV sit-com, while an extra from the same group, Greg Lindley-Jones, played by Shaun Pye, goes on to star in Hollywood blockbusters.
Millman's lack of success is due, in part, to his clueless agent, Darren Lamb, played by Merchant, although he can always rely on his fellow extra and best friend, Maggie Jacobs, played by Ashley Jensen for support.
This was a very funny show, with guest appearances from stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Orlando Bloom and David Bowie, but the most inspired piece of casting, surely had to be Shaun Williamson, famous for playing Barry in "EastEnders" and cast as "Barry from EastEnders".

Answer: Emergency - Ward 10

Often considered to be one of the first UK soap operas, "Emergency - Ward 10" aired from 1957 to 1967, and is well remembered for showing one of the first interracial kisses on UK TV, in a 1964 episode.
Consultant general surgeon, Lester Large was played by John Carlisle, while handsome young heartthrob Doctor Chris Anderson was played by Desmond Carrington.
Nurse Kwei-Kim Yen was played by Pik-Sen Lim, who many years later would play The Killer Cleaner, in Rowan Atkinson's 2011 film, "Johnny English Reborn".

Answer: Engie Benjy

"Engie Benjy" (2002-2004) was a children's show on ITV, aimed at pre-school kids, telling the adventures of engineer, Engie Benjy.
Engie Benjy was voiced by Declan Donnelly, while his long time partner in Ant and Dec, Anthony McPartlin provided the voice for Trucker Troy.
Driver Dottie was voiced by long time voice artist, Teresa Gallagher who has also voiced Little Miss Naughty in the "Mr. Men Show" (2008-09) and the Tiddlytubbies in "Teletubbies" (from 2015).
Another experienced voice actor is David Holt, who has worked on TV shows such as "The Magic Roundabout" (2006-07) and "Ruff Ruff, Tweet and Dave" (2015) and provided the voice for Farmer Fred on "Engie Benjy".