Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Soap Operas#Universal Colour for US Soap Character Infoboxes

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I have nominated Poppy Meadow for a featured article review here. Please join the discussion on whether this article meets the featured article criteria. Articles are typically reviewed for two weeks. If substantial concerns are not addressed during the review period, the article will be moved to the Featured Article Removal Candidates list for a further period, where editors may declare "Keep" or "Delist" in regards to the article's featured status. The instructions for the review process are here. 🍕Boneless Pizza!🍕 (🔔) 12:46, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

File:Information.svg There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord#Requested move 1 November 2024 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. Alpha3031 (t • c) 01:00, 25 November 2024 (UTC)

{{Discussion interlink|L1=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Soap_Operas/Archive_8#Middle_Names_&_Strings_of_Other_Names Middle Names & Strings of Other Names|L2=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Manual_of_Style/Television/Archive_3#Married_names_in_the_lead_of_fictional_character_articles Married names in the lead of fictional character articles|L3=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Soap_Operas/Archive_9#Should_martial_names_be_included_in_opening_paragraph? Should martial names be included in opening paragraph?|L4=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Soap_Operas/Archive_11#Names,_Other_Names,_and_Aliases_-_Towards_a_good_common_policy_in_lead_and_infobox Names, Other Names, and Aliases - Towards a good common policy in lead and infobox}}

Bringing back this discussion about the use of names other than the common-name in the lead of the article. Some suggest the present martial name be used over common-name. Yes, other names exist in-fictional universes but, at what point, does it cross from fan cruft of a Fandom article and of something more useful and supported, via reliable sources. WP:NAMECHANGES could also apply, as that states: {{xt|Sometimes the subject of an article will undergo a change of name. When this occurs, we give extra weight to independent, reliable, English-language sources ("reliable sources" for short) written after the name change. If the reliable sources written after the change is announced routinely use the new name, Wikipedia should follow suit and change relevant titles to match.}} and while we wouldn't necessarily change the article, a notation of said-name would be made outside of the {{Tl|Infobox soap character}} mention in the| alias = parameter. livelikemusic (TALK!) 20:07, 29 November 2024 (UTC)

: I've always listed four previous discussions, including one that was held of MOS:TV in 2014 (ie: {{xt|Married names in the lead of fictional character articles}}). livelikemusic (TALK!) 20:15, 29 November 2024 (UTC)

I am starting a discussion to analyse the reliability of Metro / Metro (British newspaper) as source to used in articles related to soap operas. I have noticed instances of it being removed because it has been determined that it is "generally unreliable" by the Wikipedia community. I looked back at the discussions cited as a result of this and I was surprised to see that some of these discussions mentioned Metro in throw away comments.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_223#Scotland_and_the_Daily_Record][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_156#tabloids][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_163#Reliability_of_the_Daily_Mail]

The more substantial discussions were from something sports related: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_375#Sport_at_the_Metro] and a BLP which generated backlash because a journalist insulted a celebrity: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_226#The_Metro]. It did receive some in depth discussion here but nothing related to television.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_19#Daily_Mirror]

Meena attempted to create a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_351#Metro_soaps_carve_out discussion] at RSN in 2021 but no one was interested in a serious discussion about it's reliability in connection to soaps there. So I am starting one here to begin with. Hopefully we can have some in depth replies rather than throw away opinions. There was another instance to, which was used to derail a DYK nomination: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Noticeboard/Archive_378#Metro_for_coverage_of_soap_operas]

Personally I have found the online website for Metro to be really useful. They appear as a trusted source in the television history, especially articles written by Stephen Patterson who has a good editorial and is given "exclusive" information from production companies behind soap operas. Duncan Lindsay and Calli Kitson too. I think it would be a good idea aside from opinions offered in this discussion to analyse the sources themselves. Picking random sources and fact checking them. An example could be a Metro news article about future storylines that eventually did appear on-screen. If you were to find an inaccuracies not matter how big or small add them here regardless. We need more discussion on it's value. I will pick some sources in due course, please add replies below and any sources checked in the below sub-section.Rain the 1 08:41, 4 February 2025 (UTC)

: Thank you for starting this discussion Rain. You're quite right, I did attempt a discussion on the matter a while back at the RSN, but to little avail as you can see in the linked discussion above. I contacted the editor who is removing Metro sources as I found myself irritated by the lack of WP:BURDEN they showed to replacing said sources, particularly on BLPs. It is damaging to our WikiProject that people believe Metro is generally unreliable, when I have always found in my personal experience to be the opposite. They have a reliable and longstanding editorial team, who, as you say, have direct contact with cast and crew from said soap operas. Since I noticed an editor was removing sources cited to Metro, I have found myself attempting to avoid using the site for statements, and that should just not be the case. I firmly believe a carve out should be seriously considered and I'll contribute some fact-check examples in the below subsection in due course. – Meena • 15:47, 4 February 2025 (UTC)

• I support the use of Metro for soap opera related articles. For years, soap editors have suffered because of Metro being discouraged and it has led to articles being denied DYK and GA status and other problems for soap articles. Metro has always appeared to very knowledgeable about British (and Australian) soap operas and they are often more detailed than other news that report the same things that they do. It is also worth noting that they have a weekly Soaps newsletter [https://metro.co.uk/newsletters/the-soaps-newsletter-weekly/] which features exclusive news and interviews from the cast. I will look for some sources to prove why Metro should be used and add them down below (I have added one so far). DaniloDaysOfOurLives (talk) 00:39, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

• I also support the use of Metro, but only for television/soap opera related pages (characters, episodes, etc). I think info used for reviews or criticism, often an opinion piece, falls under WP:RSOPINION and should be okay for use. Ideally, this discussion should be taking place at WP:RS/N. Hopefully when it does make it there, it will attract more replies second/third time around. - JuneGloom07 Talk 01:20, 11 February 2025 (UTC)

• Reliability is contextual. If something is unexceptional, not BLP-sensitive or medicine related, otherwise unlikely to cause real-world harm if we get it wrong, not part of a WP:CTOP or other sensitive area, and so on, then lower-quality sources can be used. I wouldn't say that this makes it a good source even in that area; better sources should be used when available, and it still shouldn't be used for even soap opera stuff if it intersects with one of the categories that requires higher-quality sourcing (eg. BLP-sensitive info about soap opera stars, or controversial soap-opera episodes that overlap with a CTOP, or whatever.) But even "generally unreliable" does not mean "remove everywhere on sight indiscriminately." --Aquillion (talk) 01:48, 11 February 2025 (UTC)

:I think this discussion needs to be moved to WP:RSN. Then consensus can be found and WP:RSP can be possibly amended. IAWW (talk) 07:20, 16 May 2025 (UTC)

::Second that this discussion should probably be moved to RSN. Alyo (chat·edits) 12:58, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

Metro have a "TV Soaps News" portal [https://metro.co.uk/tv-soaps/ here] and a separate more tabloid style "Soaps showbiz" portal [https://metro.co.uk/tag/soaps-showbiz/ here]. They have invested in and launched a soap opera community [https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/19/follow-metro-soaps-on-whatsapp-to-get-all-the-latest-spoilers-19685681/]

Sources checked by User:Raintheone

• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/29/coronation-street-star-confirms-big-return-it-feels-wonderful-21305433/] Authors: Ash Percival and Michael Adams. An article about Ruxandra Porojnicu's return to the soap Coronation Street as Alina Pop. Labelled an "exclusive" and includes a video interview Porojnicu which adds reliability. Most importantly Alina returned to the show. Article checks out.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/08/22/emmerdale-films-mystery-scenes-location-ambulance-spotted-21467592/] Author Calli Kitson: Article about location filming a storyline from the soap opera Emmerdale. Article includes photographs from the filming, a photograph of road closure notice regarding filming on a council board. Metro is transparent and details they asked the show for comments, who declined.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/15/coronation-street-horror-confirmed-major-characters-caught-fire-22003655/] - Author: Ash Percival In November 2024, Percival reported a story, labelled as an "exclusive" regarding a house fire storyline planned for Coronation Street in 2025. Article cites a noise warning issued from Production to local areas. Article gives details from an unnamed source on the show that the story is a house fire to be screened in 2025 and involve one of the show's core families. Percival later posts a second "exclusive" article revealing the Platts would be involved [https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/20/coronation-street-filming-pictures-confirm-locals-caught-fire-22028045/] This happened on the show last night and involved the long-standing Platt family. [https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/coronation-street-fans-baffled-plot-30929330][https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a63560637/coronation-street-first-look-platt-house-fire/] Metro secured the information 4 months prior to broadcast and before it was widely publicised in Jan 2025 - this one checks out.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/13/another-hollyoaks-exit-confirmed-major-character-murdered-cold-blood-22346723/] and [https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/21/double-hollyoaks-exit-confirmed-another-two-characters-wave-goodbye-22402162] Author: Stephen Patterson. Two articles discussing Dilly Harcourt and Zoe Anderson's departures from Hollyoaks. Metro reported Dilly's exit prior [https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/06/hollyoaks-confirms-another-unexpected-exit-major-death-story-22305129/]. Both departures were also confirmed by other sources: [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a63496429/hollyoaks-zoe-anderson-garcia-brown-exit/][https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a63410782/hollyoaks-spoilers-dilly-harcourt-surprise-exit-aftermath/][https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/hollyoaks-star-killed-off-after-34473985][https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/hollyoaks-fans-work-out-jezs-30781058][https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a63439950/hollyoaks-emma-johnsey-smith-dilly-harcourt-exit/] - These check out.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/26/neighbours-resident-hospitalised-devastating-halloween-gas-leak-21865146/] - Author Michael Adams. This article discusses storyline spoilers for Neighbours. It claims one character would end up in hospital following a gas leak. In the episode in question, the character Gino is taken to hospital following a gas leak. Claims to take place on October 31, which was episode Episode 9140. I identified the episode on Amazon Prime Video and this advance spoiler information checks out.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/05/holby-city-spoilers-lucky-permanently-paralysed-after-jenis-attack-15344222/] Author Sue Hassler. Article discusses storyline spoilers for Holby City. Claims the character, Lucky Simpson could be paralysed in a future story. This turned out to be true - [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/holby-city/a38005702/holby-city-lucky-max-ultimatum-assisted-suicide/][https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/holby-city-spoilers-paralysed-lucky-tells-max-i-want-to-die]. - Checks out. Also assessing Hassler's editorial and credentials - she was employed to write episode reviews and provide spoiler information for Metro. She is also a book author and has had her reviews about the show published. She has also been hired by the BBC to produce an official book for the series called "[https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781781325629/Holby-City-Behind-Screen-Haasler-1781325626/plp Holby City: Behind the Screen]" - which Hassler gained on-set access for and provides interviews with the cast. [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sue-Haasler/author/B001HPL0AG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true]
• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/11/date-beloved-axed-soaps-final-episode-revealed-soon-21780170/] - Author Michael Adams. Claims the soap opera Doctors will end and broadcast its final episode on 14 November 2024. Directly cites a statement from a show Director, Niall Fraser directly from his social media account stating "Update for doctors fans. The final episode will now transmit on November 14th" Cue 14th November and news from that days - checks out to be true: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yxqq89j89o][https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/doctors-final-episode-bbc-tributes-b2647674.html][https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/doctors-bbc-one-final-episode-review/][https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/1114/1480958-sorrow-and-joy-as-bbc-soap-doctors-says-goodbye/].

Sources checked by User:Meena

• [https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/14/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-promises-viewers-will-love-final-meena-secret-16465870/] - Author Calli Kitson. Quotes actress Paige Sandhu talking about her Emmerdale character Meena Jutla from her interview on Lorraine. Clip from the interview on Lorraine{{'}}s YouTube account here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdrr-K13Tf4&pp=ygUVcGFpZ2Ugc2FuZGh1IGxvcnJhaW5l] shows her saying exact quotes in Metro article.
• [https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/03/eastenders-spoilers-louise-mitchell-exit-tilly-keeper-leaves-soap-11263963/] - Author Stephen Patterson. Claims that Tilly Keeper is to leave EastEnders. Ended up being true: [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a30103682/eastenders-louise-mitchell-exit-tilly-keeper/][https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a30656697/eastenders-louise-mitchell-exit-scenes-tilly-keeper-leaves/][https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-louise-mitchell-lisa-fowler-exit/]
• [https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/30/major-eastenders-exit-confirmed-natalie-cassidy-quits-32-years-22468773/] - Author Stephen Patterson. Claims that Natalie Cassidy is leaving her role as Sonia Jackson on EastEnders. The soap confirm themselves hours later: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1we99le444o]
• [https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/04/huge-coronation-street-and-emmerdale-changes-as-episodes-are-permanently-cut-22491626/] - Author Michael Adams. First UK publication to claim that ITV are cutting episodes and changing the timeslot for Coronation Street and Emmerdale. ITV themselves confirm hours later that this is true: [https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2025-02-04/itv-confirms-new-soaps-schedule-for-2026]

Sources checked by User:DaniloDaysOfOurLives

• [https://metro.co.uk/2016/09/14/eastenders-spoilers-goodbye-kyle-slater-riley-carter-millington-leaves-the-show-6127711/] Author Duncan Lindsay reports that Kyle Slater is leaving the soap, which was confirmed to be true - [https://www.thepinknews.com/2016/09/15/transgender-eastenders-star-to-leave-soap/] [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/eastenders-spoilers-kyle-slater-riley-carter-milington_uk_57da6095e4b05d79136e563d] [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a808019/eastenders-exits-which-character-will-you-miss-the-most/].
• [https://metro.co.uk/2024/09/09/hollyoaks-fans-major-complaint-new-era-kicks-off-21570476/] - Later confirmed to Digital Spy [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a62113743/hollyoaks-spoilers-opening-titles-future-backlash/].
• [https://metro.co.uk/2018/02/24/hollyoaks-spoilers-kidnap-shocker-destroys-lily-drinkwell-and-prince-mcqueens-wedding-7313205/] - Later confirmed by Digital Spy [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/g25128/hollyoaks-spoiler-pictures-prince-lily-wedding/] [https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a851274/hollyoaks-spoilers-prince-mcqueen-wedding-day-horror/]