Hollyoaks ratings decline addressed by Channel 4 in annual report

Hollyoaks' 2021 ratings decline has been addressed by Channel 4 in the broadcaster's annual report.

Last year, viewing on E4 by 16 to 34-year-olds remained stable year-on-year with a share of 3.9%.

However, after dropping to its lowest viewing share in a decade in 2020, Covid-19-related factors made it difficult for E4 to regain ground.

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The channel's nightly Hollyoaks episodes contribute significantly to its performance. Hollyoaks' episode count was significantly reduced in 2020, when the first lockdown went into effect, with only 162 episodes broadcast that year.

While the episode count for 2021 was restored to 256 (the same as in 2019), filming constraints had a significant impact on production.

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For example, social distancing rules limited the number of cast and crew on set and on screen at any one time, interactions between characters had to be limited (more so than on other soaps, which have custom-built sets), and last-minute cast absences and illnesses also had an impact on storylines.

john paul mcqueen, sally st claire, nana mcqueen, goldie mcqueen and mercedes mcqueen in hollyoaks

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Channel 4's official report states: "These factors all impacted on the quality of the programme and viewing declined – per-episode viewing was 25% down year-on-year."

Despite this, E4 remained the second-most watched digital TV channel in the UK among people aged 16 to 34. Only ITV2 had a higher share among digital channels (which it recovered by 18% in 2021 after the return of Love Island, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic).

Across all TV channels, E4 was tied with Channel 5, but trailed BBC Two, whose share increased by 6% to 4.0 %.

Overall, E4 was the joint-sixth most popular TV channel among 16 to 34-year-olds in 2021.

Hollyoaks now streams first on All 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video.