A soap opera, daily soap or soap for short, is typically a long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers. The term was preceded by "horse opera", a derogatory term for low-budget Westerns.
Guiding Light is an American radio and television soap opera. Guiding Light aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio between January 25, 1937, and June 29, 1956. With 72 years of radio and television runs, Guiding Light is the longest running soap opera, ahead of General Hospital, and is the fifth-longest running program in all of broadcast history; only the American country music radio program Grand Ole Opry, the BBC religious program The Daily Service (1928), the CBS religious program Music and the Spoken Word (1929), and the Norwegian children's radio program Lørdagsbarnetimen (1924–2010) have been on the air longer.
Loving is an American television soap opera that ran on ABC from June 26, 1983, to November 10, 1995, for a total of 3,169 episodes. The serial, set in the fictional town of Corinth, Pennsylvania, was co-created by Agnes Nixon and former actor Douglas Marland.
General Hospital is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera in production, and the second in American history after Guiding Light. Concurrently, it is the world's third longest-running scripted drama series in production after British serials The Archers and Coronation Street, as well as the world's second-longest-running televised soap opera still in production. General Hospital premiered on the ABC television network on April 1, 1963. General Hospital is the longest-running serial produced in Hollywood, and the longest-running entertainment program in ABC television history. It holds the record for most Daytime Emmy Awards for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, with 14 wins.
A Country Practice is an Australian television soap opera/serial which was broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 22 November 1993, and subsequently on Network Ten from 13 April 1994 to 5 November 1994. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,088 episodes were produced.
Egoli: Place of Gold was a bilingual South African soap opera which first aired on M-Net on 6 April 1992. South African television's first daily soap opera, on 3 December 1999 Egoli became the first South African television programme in any genre to reach 2,000 episodes. As of 3 August 2007, 4,000 episodes had aired. Egoli: Place of Gold aired its final episode on 31 March 2010, after 18 years of acting from South African and international actors.
Stefan Ludik is a Namibian musician, television personality, and actor from Windhoek City. He was the first contestant to represent Namibia in the reality television program Big Brother Africa. He is now a popular Afrikaans singer and actor.
Brümilda van Rensburg is a South African actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Louwna in the TV series Egoli: Place of Gold. She attained her BA Honours in Drama cum laude from the University of Pretoria. Brumilda has won many prestigious awards, such as Best Actress at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, among others.
Maggie Benedict is a South African actress, writer and director. She studied acting at Pretoria Tech. Benedict is best known for playing the role of Akhona Miya on the SABC 1 soap opera Generations (2011-2014).
Elma Postma is a South African actress and presenter. She is best known for her acting roles on 7de Laan, Binnelanders and Isidingo. As a presenter, she's most recognised for presenting the first few seasons of the South African version of Farmer Wants a Wife.
Cindy Swanepoel is a South African actress. She is best known for her roles in the popular serials Generations, Binnelanders and Egoli: Place of Gold.
Antonio Summerton, was a South African actor and television presenter. He was best known for his roles in the popular serials Egoli: Place of Gold and 7de Laan.
David Rees is a South African actor and producer. He is best known for the roles in the films such as American Ninja 4: The Annihilation, Egoli: Afrikaners is Plesierig and Agter elke man.
Mila Guy, is a South African actress and costume designer. She is best known for her role as "Malanie Schmit" in the kykNet television series Hotel and her critically acclaimed role as "Nonnie Blignout" in the film Liewe Kersfeesvader. she is married to Ben fourie.
Hanli Rolfes is a South African actress and writer. She is best known for her roles in the series Getroud met rugby, Kruispad and Generations.
Kaz McFadden is a South African actor, director and writer. He is best known for his roles in the series Egoli, Binnelanders, Villa Rosa and 7de Laan.
Mandi du Plooy, also known as Mandi Baard, is a South African actress, model and voice artist. She is best known for her role as "Lara" in the M-Net soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold as well as soapies Binnelanders, 7de Laan and Getroud Met Rugby.
Jana Strydom is a South African actress, television presenter, voice over artist and MC. She is best known for the roles in the television serials such as; 7de Laan, Egoli: Place of Gold, Swartwater, Erfsondes and Arendsvlei.
Kim Cloete is a South African actress, television presenter, singer, dancer, MC and businesswoman. She is best known for the roles in the television serials Binnelanders, Isidingo, and Wild at Heart.
Kim Syster, is a South African actress, dancer and model.
