The difference between now and Hollyoaks's peak

I was looking back on some of the earlier 2010s episodes, and I think that the reason the soap feels different now is it doesnt have any more of the scenes that are just for shits and giggles. Every scene now is there to specifically drag the plot, its always the specific storyline being ran through. They also used to plan the seeds of storylines months prior, now it feels so forced. Like it was only yesterday when >!we saw how bad vicky's eating was getting, and it was a highlight of her confession today. !<Everything feels so forced now. I think it has to do with being cut down to 3 days, they just dont have the time to make the show feel real anymore.