Phil Redmond 1978–2008), "Brookside" (Channel 4, 1982–2003) and "Hollyoaks" (Channel 4, 1995—). For over twenty years he also ran his own independent production company, Mersey Television, before selling off the company in 2005. Redmond also created the daytime legal drama, "The Courtroom" which was cancelled after 38 episodes. In 2013 Phil Redmond published his autobiography Mid-Term Report. In 2016 Phil Redmond published his first novel Highbridge which was follow up from a short Ebook called "Hightbridge the Beginning" which was published in 2015. In 1989, Redmond was awarded the post of Honorary Professor of Media Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, where
Soap opera The first major soap opera hit in Australia was the sex-melodrama "Number 96", a nighttime series produced by Cash Harmon Television for Network Ten, which debuted March 1972. The program dealt with such topics as homosexuality, adultery, drug use, rape-within-marriage and racism, which had rarely been explored on Australian television programs before. The series became famous for its sex scenes and nudity and for its comedic characters, many of whom became cult heroes in Australia. By 1973, "Number 96" had become Australia's highest-rated show. In 1974, the sexed-up antics of "Number 96" prompted the creation of "The Box", which rivaled