WHILST scrolling idly through social media last night I spotted some soap opera news which got me thinking.

In fact, it reminded me of something else that happened in another soap last week.

And both these events started me down the road of considering the modern version of these almost daily televisual events.

The first news was the return of Tamzin Outhwaite to her role as Melanie Owen in Eastenders in the new year.

She took a taxi out of the Square 15 years ago and is now making her way back for some “explosive” storylines.

Tamzin has had a respectable acting career since she left and has become, I would say, something of a familiar face so I was quite surprised to learn she is going back.

Particularly as Melanie has no family left in the square and both the men she might return to see will probably not be best pleased to be re-united with her.

Still, they kept the door open for her - which is more than can be said for Georgia May Foote over on the cobbles who last week had the dubious honour of having her character bumped off.

Her death in a car crash, however, took place off screen which means even if she did fancy a return to the street in a decade and a half’s time, that ship will have long sailed.

Personally the idea the door was no longer being kept open for me and I didn’t even get my high drama story line exit (falling off a building a la Tina or being murdered by a serial killer on the loose) would be a bit of a kick in the teeth. Which brings me to the issue of the modern soap.

They want you to buy in to their issue led storylines which take up very important themes affecting lives today such as modern slavery, addiction and grooming but much of the way they lead their lives otherwise is not very realistic.

Babies are born, quite often without the character actually knowing they are pregnant, carted around for two minutes and then disappear until they can talk.

Where are baby Mia and Jonny on Emmerdale ? and who has seen Hope and Ruby, off-spring of Fizz and Tyrone since they got left on the bus to Weatherfield a few months ago.

I am pretty sure they were safely returned. I only ask because in real life it is rare you are without your children - unless you are at work - when you are in your own home.

But in Soap Land different rules apply. No-one does the school run, they always go to the pub after work and rarely have quiet Christmasses/birthdays - and they often come back after being away for 15 years - having never even bothered to send a postcard!