1. Narrative and TV Drama

2. Narrative and TV Drama Narrative refers to the ways in which the story is shown (or told) to the audience TV Drama producers use narrative styles and techniques to structure the story so as to keep the audience interested and engaged. TV Drama producers include a range of different character types; soaps in particular work because characters are often in conflict with one another - the audience enjoy the relationship between fictional characters.

3. TV Drama is normally one of the following: One-off single drama . Normally has high production values - similar to a film, usually 60-90 minutes, often on a controversial or current topic Examples: Boy-A (C4), The Mark of Cain (C4), Coming Down the Mountain (BBC) Boy-A (C4) Coming Down the Mountain (BBC)

4. Mini-series, two-parter or five-nights. Often event TV with a story structure of peaks and cliffhangers, and big budget and promotion e.g Sherlock (BBC), South Riding (BBC) Serial. From the word 'serialisation' - they recreate a famous book for TV. Set over several episodes, with a narrative resolution . Period Dramas fall into this category e.g. Pride and Prejudice (BBC), Little Dorrit (BBC)

5. Series . (Usually) 60-minute self-contained dramas, with regular characters and locations The Sopranos (HBO), The Wire (HBO), Shameless (C4) Soap. Usually 30-minute continuous dramas with multiple storylines, multiple characters. Normally based within a small geographical area (Albert Square); or based around a work place (Holby) Shameless (C4)