Friday Night is Music Night - 03/12/2010

Friday Night is Music Night comes live from the Mermaid Theatre in London with a salute to the world of soaps. As Coronation Street celebrates 50 years on the air - Friday Night is Music Night (which itself boasts a mere 58 years of broadcasting) salutes the worlds of the soap opera. Love them or hate them - they are big business and here to stay. Soap operas took their name from the big soap firms who on commercial networks sponsored the programmes. Today they make us laugh, cry, tackle social issues and keep us on the edge of our seats with the weekly cliffhanger or "duff duff" moment. Tonight, Ken Bruce presents conductor Mike Dixon and the BBC Concert Orchestra who perform the themes to The Archers(Barwick Green); Emergency Ward 10(Silks and Satins); The Grove Family; Dick Barton(Devil's Galop); Peyton Place and Dallas and Dynasty. Guests include Tony Hatch - who conducts the orchestra in a selection of his soap signature tunes - including - Emmerdale; Crossroads and Neighbours. For the finale Friday Night is Music Night welcomes the cast of Rogues, Angels, Heroes & Fools - Coronation Street The Musical .