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FAR for Pauline Fowler

I have nominated Pauline Fowler 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!🍕 (🔔) 11:27, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Episode numbers

For the past few months, various IPs have continuously been adding unsourced episode numbers to infoboxes despite being asked not to, warned and even blocked. The problem with this is that the episode numbers are unsourced; with most TV programmes they have seasons and a less amount of episodes and thus it is easier to keep track off, but soap operas have thousands of episodes (with Emmerdale and Coronation Street having 10,000+, and some American soaps having even more). Many of the episode numbers in the past have been changed as they have proven to be wrong. Obviously some are easier to source than others (AKA Emmerdale's recent 10000th episode) but most are extremely difficult to source. I hence wanted to ask for a consensus on how to move forward with this. DaniloDaysOfOurLives (talk) 17:18, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

The issue I have is the original research aspect of episode numbers. They are being added by various IPs, sock accounts and grouped edits that appear to have been arranged off Wikipedia. When asked where the information came from, one IP stated it was from Fandom which certainly is not a reliable source. Some episodes are grouped together, broadcast on the same day etc. I would not argue with them being added, if in the development section the information is sourced. The source would need to clearly state the episode number and the first appearance date. These random additions seem harmless but how many errors are we potentially allowing to be introduced? It is easier to just not include the information.Rain the 1 11:42, 15 July 2024 (UTC)

Requested move at Talk:Stephanie Scully#Requested move 3 July 2024

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Stephanie Scully#Requested move 3 July 2024 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. Safari Scribe^{Edits! Talk!} 23:17, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

FAR for Poppy Meadow

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)

Requested move at Talk:Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord#Requested move 1 November 2024

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)

Names in article leads

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: 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 {{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: Married names in the lead of fictional character articles). livelikemusic (TALK!) 20:15, 29 November 2024 (UTC)

The use of Metro as source in articles related to soap operas

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.[1][2][3]

The more substantial discussions were from something sports related: [4] and a BLP which generated backlash because a journalist insulted a celebrity: [5]. It did receive some in depth discussion here but nothing related to television.[6]

Meena attempted to create a 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: [7]

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)

Sources checked

Metro have a "TV Soaps News" portal here and a separate more tabloid style "Soaps showbiz" portal here. They have invested in and launched a soap opera community [8]

Sources checked by User:Raintheone

• [9] 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.
• [10] 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.
• [11] - 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 [12] This happened on the show last night and involved the long-standing Platt family. [13][14] Metro secured the information 4 months prior to broadcast and before it was widely publicised in Jan 2025 - this one checks out.
• [15] and [16] Author: Stephen Patterson. Two articles discussing Dilly Harcourt and Zoe Anderson's departures from Hollyoaks. Metro reported Dilly's exit prior [17]. Both departures were also confirmed by other sources: [18][19][20][21][22] - These check out.
• [23] - 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.
• [24] 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 - [25][26]. - 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 "Holby City: Behind the Screen" - which Hassler gained on-set access for and provides interviews with the cast. [27]
• [28] - 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: [29][30][31][32].

Sources checked by User:Meena

• [33] - 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 [34] shows her saying exact quotes in Metro article.
• [35] - Author Stephen Patterson. Claims that Tilly Keeper is to leave EastEnders. Ended up being true: [36][37][38]
• [39] - Author Stephen Patterson. Claims that Natalie Cassidy is leaving her role as Sonia Jackson on EastEnders. The soap confirm themselves hours later: [40]
• [41] - 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: [42]