All the soaps that have been axed as iconic show makes return after 32 years

Running all the way back to the 1950s, beloved soaps have been taken off air and almost lost to history - but with one coming back, there could be hope to watch them again

The BBC has just announced the return of Eldorado, decades after it was cancelled just a year into its run - and its not the only nostalgic soap to have been taken off air.

Eldorado aired its first episode on July 6 1992, and ended almost exactly a year later on July 9 1993. In total, the series only aired 156 episodes before being cancelled due to low viewership. In contrast to the more monotonous British-based soaps, the show was intended to be a glamorous series focusing on wealthy British expatriates living in the fictional town of Los Barcos on the Costa Eldorado in Spain.

Despite its major failure to entrance viewers the first time around, its being given a second chance at life. UKTV is set to begin airing reruns of the series on its U&Drama channel from Monday, 27 January - and is expected to play out all 156 episodes of the series. Eldorado isn’t the only soap to almost be lost to the history books. Several British soaps have been cancelled over the years, running all the way back to the 1950s up until the noughties.

The Appleyards, BBC, 1952 - 57

This was Britain's first soap opera; it was aimed at children and initially broadcast live. The episodes were released once every two weeks, and it was set in the Home Counties. The show featured two parents and their four children, but unlike the soaps of today when the child actors grew older they were replaced, so the plots stayed stuck in time. For the first year the show was not recorded, and although the subsequent episodes were, the BBC ended up accidentally wiping them so sadly only one episode out of 68 remains - named Family Treats - and it can be watched on YouTube.

The Grove Family, BBC, 1954 - 57

The Grove Family was the first television soap for adults. Set in Hendon, north London suburb, it covered three generations of a successful builder’s family.

Alongside being entertaining, it also featured public service announcements and reflected life in post-war Britain, and the family had a special link to the BBC, being named after BBC's Lime Grove studios where the show was filmed. The theme tune was composed by Eric Spear, who went on to create the famous theme song for Coronation Street.

Compact, BBC, 1962 - 1965

Set up as a rival to ITV’s Corrie, but not scheduled at the same time, this was a more upmarket show. It was set in the glitzy world of fashion publishing and the cast included Carmen Silvera who went on to star in Allo 'Allo, as well as Crossroads actors Vincent Ball and Ronald Allen and Brookside’s Marcia Ashton. Although it wasn’t critically acclaimed, Compact was well received by viewers.

Crossroads, ITV, 1964 to 1988 then 2001 - 2003

Crossroads was set in a fictional hotel in the Midlands, and ran for 24 years before being axed. It starred Noele Gordon, Meg Richardson and Roger Tonge.

It was relaunched in the noughties for two years, with a very bizarre ending - the whole final series was revealed to be a dream of supermarket worker Angela Sampson, played by Jane Asher. Jane, who dated Sir Paul McCartney from 1963 to 1968, was a coup for the show considering she had starred in hits such as the 1966 film Alfie, but unfortunately this was not enough to secure ratings.

Take The High Road, STV, 1980 - 2003

Take the high road was a Scottish soap which ran for over 20 years. The show aired in the daytime everywhere in the UK apart from Scotland, where it was broadcast at 7pm instead of Emmerdale. Set in the fictional village of Glendarroch, but shot near Loch Lomond, the series covered a mix of people from the villagers to the "Lady laird" Elizabeth Cunningham, played by Edith Macarthur.

The programme proved popular and covered issues such as parish politics and farming troubles, as well as more salacious scandal including infidelity and drug abuse. The late actor John Stahl played Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr on the show, before finding global fame as Rickard Karstark in HBO hit Game of Thrones, while Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Cumming played Jim Hunter in the show.The Newcomers, BBC 1965 - 1969.

Brookside, Channel 4, 1982-2003

By the mid-eighties, Brookside became Channel 4’s highest rated show. The programme, which followed the lives of residents of a cul-de-sac in Liverpool, was responsible for some iconic storylines such as the famed armed siege at number 7 and the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss between Margaret Clemence, played by Nicola Stephenson, and Beth Jordache, played by Marcella star Anna Friel.

Albion Market, ITV, 1985-1986

This show was launched four months before Corrie had its 25-year anniversary, and was set in a covered market in Salford. Due to the niche setting the series struggled to attract audiences, with the characters were stuck with the monotonous business of running their stalls.

To increase viewers bosses bought in singer Helen Shapiro - who had topped the UK charts in 1961, and Till Death Us Do Part actor Tony Booth. Despite the efforts, it was cancelled after just 100 episodes.

Castles, BBC, 1995

Castles ran for less than three months, with only 24 episodes before it was cancelled. This wasn’t due to lack of skill from the writers, with Castles created by Sally Wainwright - who went on to pen Happy Valley - and Peter Whalley, who was known for working on Coronation Street. The series followed three generations of a London family, and starred Hollyoaks’ Marian McLoughlin and Emmerdale’s Ray Coulthard.

London Bridge, ITV, 1996 - 1999

London Bridge started as a late night drama, but was soon moved to twice weekly. The programme revolved around a restaurant called SE1, and the block of flats next door. The cast included Bad Girls actresses Simone Lahbib and Mandana Jones and No Angels star Sunetra Sarker. Although it often beat Channel 4’s rival soap Hollyoaks, it was axed after just three years.

Night and Day, ITV, 2001-2003

Night and Day followed the lives of six different families in Greenwich, South London. It starred actors including Glynis Barber, Lysette Anthony and Joe McGann. While the show was a hit with the critics and was nominated for many awards, it didn't land as well with the viewers and was soon moved from the primetime slot to late nights, before disappearing forever. Beat The Chasers presenter Bradley Walsh actually had a recurring role on the show, playing Eddie 'Woody' Dexter, as did Eastenders star Shane Richie.

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