A university course for soap addicts has flopped - because it clashes with EastEnders.

One of Britain's brightest new script writers is intending to deliver lectures on the public's love affair with the TV dramas.

But the course was scheduled for 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Thursday nights and so far no one has enrolled.

It would mean couch potatoes would have to prise themselves away from the box, missing both Emmerdale on ITV and EastEnders on BBC1.

The ten-week course will concentrate on the top Brit shows and also touch on Aussie favourites such as Neighbours.

Mark Holloway, who writes scripts for Hollyoaks, is scheduled to deliver the series of lectures.

But Vicky Haswell, short course coordinator at Sunderland University, said their plans had hit a major problem.

She said: "It's a night-time course and it means the student will have to take two hours out of their evening.

"Given that it is a course on soaps, that has given us a real problem because likely students don't want to miss their TV viewing.

"We have advertised the course, but so far the take-up has been slow to say the least.

"But the course will go on and I'm sure it will be a success - if we can just persuade people to set their videos.

"We didn't know which night to pick.

"We decided we couldn't win and chose Thursdays because that's when the room is available. It means soap lovers will have to miss Emmerdale and EastEnders, but I am sure for one night they could record them."

The course will concentrate on why soaps enrapture the British public through their humour and drama.

There will also be a lecture on the great storylines that have gripped the nation, such as Deidre's imprisonment in Coronation Street and the trial of Matthew Rose and Steve Owen in EastEnders.

There will also be sessions on Brookside, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, and an evening will also be devoted to glamorous eighties dramas such as Dallas and Dynasty.

And at the end of the course, the students - if there are any - will be asked to write and star in their own soap plots.

Vicky said: "I'm sure that, once word spreads, people will realise it will be even more fun than watching the telly. If anyone decides to sign up for the lectures, the course begins on October 5."