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Soap in the making
Mark our words, this one is odd.

Caught somewhere between a drama and a sitcom, this is a behind-the-scenes, warts 'n' all programme, showing the making of a TV soap. And Echo Beach, the soap in question, actually follows this programme.

Confused? So are many of the critics, who aren't quite sure what to make of the whole caboodle. Some think that both shows are tremendous, can be watched independently of each other, but reckon there are great rewards if you watch them in sequence. Others are less convinced, believing that Moving Wallpaper's TV-related jokes and inside gags will leave many viewers cold.

So definitely a hung jury at the moment, but it's not beyond the realms of fantasy to imagine that if Echo Beach - which stars Jason Donovan and Martine McCutcheon - takes off, and this companion show doesn't, then Moving Wallpaper could easily come unstuck and be quietly dropped.

In tonight's first instalment, we learn that the launch of ITV1's new soap Polnarren is going down the drain. Maverick Jonathan Pope (Ben Miller, pictured) is hired as the new producer, quickly taking the production office by storm. He changes the name of the soap to Echo Beach, sacks actors, redesigns sets, demands a sexier look and imposes his spontaneous "vision" on the team...

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COMEDY: Moving Wallpaper, ITV1 London at 21:00 on Thursday 10th January 2008

Companion show to ITV's new soap Echo Beach, following the fictional crew behind the scenes as they endeavour to create a hit show. When Jonathan Pope is hires as the new producer, he takes the production by storm. Demanding a sexier look, he changes the soap's title, fires ugly actors, redesigns the sets and even changes the barmaid's nationality; but the real bomb shell comes when he insists on writing it around the categories of the British Soap Awards.
(New Series, Stereo, Widescreen, Subtitles, Audio Described)