Family Affairs is a British soap opera that was broadcast on Channel 5, from 30 March 1997 to 30 December 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel (the first being a half-hour introduction to the station) on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night. The serial was broadcast in half-hour episodes, screening each week night.
The serial never achieved high ratings, and as a result was drastically retooled several times. During its run, the series underwent several major cast reshuffles, changes in tone and style, and a revision of its fictional location.
On 2 August 2005, Channel 5 announced that they would not be renewing Family Affairs for another year. Shooting ceased on 4 November, and the final episode was broadcast on 30 December 2005.
The series was shot on video, processed to give a film look. As an experiment, it switched to standard video presentation for occasional single episodes, one in 1999 and another in July 2004. It permanently switched to standard video presentation in September 2005, continuing in that format until the end of the series at the end of that year. This change was part of a revamp by new producer Sean O'Connor, however the decision to not renew the series had already been made prior to any of his changes being seen on screen.
Read more about Family Affairs: History, First Revamp, Stanley Street, 2001, 2002, 2003 Cast Revamp, Later Storylines, Final Episode, Storylines, Production Notes