Hollyoaks to launch online soap

Nathalie Emmanuel (Sasha) and Sam Townend (Nige) in Hollyoaks

Teen soap Hollyoaks is launching an online drama which will feature on the Channel 4 show and run on the website.

Characters in the C4 soap will be seen talking about new comedy-drama Runners and watching clips on the internet.

The new show will be based around a group of students working as runners in fashion and the entertainment industry.

The daily three-minute online episodes will be available on the Hollyoaks website as well as on Bebo, MSN Messenger TV, Facebook and iTunes.

There are also plans to air a weekly 15-minute summary of the show on television, after Hollyoaks' Sunday omnibus.

Runners will be filmed in London and will include sequences shot at key showbusiness events such as the Brit Awards.

An initial 10-week run is set to be broadcast early next year.