History of the National Health Service Emergency Ward 10 was first broadcast in 1957 on ITV and ran until 1967 and followed the life and loves of the staff and patients of the fictionalised Oxbridge General. ITV later followed this up with General Hospital which borrowed much from Emergency Ward 10 in terms of its themes and focus. The idea of a medical hospital as a suitable and popular setting for a soap opera continued to take root in the 1980s. Casualty, set in an A&E department, was first broadcast in 1986 and has since become the longest running medical drama in the world. At a
London Bridge (TV series) London Bridge (TV series) London Bridge is a British television drama/soap opera made by Carlton for ITV and shown in the London region. It ran from 15 February 1996 to 31 March 1999. It featured many actors who have gone on to star in bigger TV shows, including "Bad Girls" actresses Simone Lahbib and Mandana Jones and "No Angels " star Sunetra Sarker. "London Bridge" revolved around a restaurant, SE1, and the neighbouring block of flats. It started out as a late-night drama which ran for 26 episodes in 1996, before returning as a twice-weekly soap opera later that year.