Twofour has launched an online soap opera targeted at working mothers, which will run weekly on new webTV channel and social networking site Mumspower.com. Heart & Soul will explore the lives of four working mothers, touching upon important issues such as childcare, employment and education and, of course, shopping, fashion and friendship. The 10 minute episodes are also set to run on Bebo and YouTube and the site will have its own Facebook group.

The drama follows the ups and downs of four women – single mum Abby had her son while still in her teens and is now looking to catch up with her education and further her career; Susi, a mother of two, is used to living a privileged life with her property developer husband, but things are about to change and she’ll have to face some harsh realities; Lecturer Jo was completely focused on her career until she met Desi – now she’s playing mum to his troubled son Daniel and there are more problems on the horizon for her; Penny has found herself widowed in her late forties and is struggling with loneliness now her daughter has left for university – she wants to move on with her life, but how?

A competition to find the soaps 'fifth working mum’ will be launching soon.

DFS is the first major high-street brand to back Mumspower.com. The leading furniture retailer is keen to support working mothers and the soon-to-be-launched Working Mothers’ Institute and has agreed to become a major sponsor and cross promote these initiatives.

Mumspower.com is a joint initiative from Twofour owned IPTV specialist, Digital Bridge, and Twofour Communications and as well as online drama the site will provide social networking capabilities for working mothers, forming an online community where they can interact with their peers. Heart & Soul will be accompanied by blogs and video diaries from the main characters on the website.

James Morris, Managing Director of Digital Bridge, said: "Mumspower is servicing a growing community of working mums. Following the success of Kate Modern and similar online dramas, it is clear there is an increasing appetite for original content online – especially among people with busy lives. Working mothers will be able to follow this entertaining and funny drama, relevant to their own lives, at a time convenient to them and their lifestyles."

Janet Lee, General Manager of Mumspower, added: "Mumspower will be a ‘meeting place’ for working mothers who want to make a difference. Its powerful new online drama – Heart & Soul will encapsulate the highs and lows that all of us experience on a daily basis. There are eight and a half million of us working mums out there – some wanting to work, others having to and while EU legislation has gone some way to balance workplace practices and social attitudes towards working mothers, there is still a very long way to go."

Lee continued: "Mumspower will be the forum in which working mums, through their strength in numbers and sheer tenacity, will bring about change, a change to benefit not just themselves, but the whole of society. The "Working Mothers’ Institute," shortly to be launched, and already the focus of considerable political support, will be the catalyst for tipping the balance still further in favour of working mums and their families."

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