The crossover episode will see the return of iconic Brookside characters
Brookside’s Sir Phil Redmond (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Tonight is the night thousands of Brookside fans up and down the country have waited over twenty years for. Some of the most famous cast members will be returning to the iconic Close for a special one-off episode. Airing on E4 at 7pm tonight, it will be a celebration of Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary and a huge nod to the creator of both soaps, Sir Phil Redmond.
Excitement has been building since the announcement of its comeback was made earlier this year. Both fans and cast members have rejoiced in their joy of reviving the legendary, trailblazing show. The show, which was Channel 4’s first soap ran from 1982 to 2003.
Filmed and set on Brookside Close in West Derby, Brookside was pioneering and tackled important social issues in the community in which it was based. Hollyoaks, which began in 1995, took over as Channel 4’s flagship continuing drama when the Liverpool-based soap ended on November 4, 2003. It started filming on part of the former set of Brookside, where it is still shot today.
The crossover episode will see the return of iconic Brookside characters to mark the milestone. Filming took place in September with exceptional permission granted by the owner of the close and the Liverpool Film Office, as the former set and production offices, the road in West Derby, is now home to residents.
It will be the first time that Brookside Close has been on air since it ended with Jimmy Corkhill (played by the late Dean Sullivan) daubing a ‘d’ onto the sign, leaving it as ‘Brookside Closed’ before driving out of the cul-de-sac.
A number of characters will be returning, stars such as Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Paul Usher, Philip Olivier, Suzanne Collins, Michael Starke and John McArdle have all reprised their roles for the Brookside return. Jacqui Dixon, who was played by her real-life mum, Alex Fletcher, will also be returning.
Unfortunately, the episode does not mark a new era for the show. There are no plans for it to make a permanent return to our screens, despite the question being asked for decades.
Ricky Tomlinson was thrilled to reprise his onscreen marriage with Sue as Sheila and Bobby Grant. When his return was announced, he said: “It will be lovely to take part in Brookside again especially to work alongside Sue Johnston. I’m looking forward to being on the close again after all these years.”
Brookside Close(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
The Royle Family star would think about starring in a full-time Brookside revival. The 86-year-old actor was asked about a full-time return and told the Radio Times magazine: “I would certainly think about it.
“I do other stuff and have got grandchildren now so I spend a lot of time with them. I’ve just done my first children’s book called Maggie and Jack and the Rusty Key, named after two of my grandkids.
“It would be a big commitment if Brookie came back full-time, but I’d seriously consider it, because it was very good to me and to the city of Liverpool.”
Ricky was at the centre of several hard-hitting storylines in his portrayal of Bobby on the Channel 4 soap between 1982 and 1988 and “didn’t hesitate” when offered the opportunity to portray the character again. He told producers “Just tell me where and when you want me and I’ll be there!”
On This Morning yesterday, Philip Olivier, who was famed for the role of “Tinhead” on Brookside was asked by Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about whether Brookside should return full time.
Ben asked: “I know that this is a one off but is there any suggestion, we have seen it happen in the past that sometimes they do a special and then the fan furore is so much that someone, somewhere, goes ‘oh, maybe we could bring it back’.”
Philip responded: “I think they really should. I think they really, really should.” Paul Usher, renowned for the role of Barry Grant, added: “Do you know what? When the first people talked about it or whatever, you thought, ‘it’s ridiculous’, but you know after going back on the Close and getting back that kind of vibe again that it might have something to say.
“You know, that was the thing about Brookside, in its heyday it had something to say about what was going on in the world.” Speaking about the one-off special, Sir Phil said: “All the cast have been asked over the years: ‘When is Brookside coming back?’ If something ends prematurely there’s a demand for it to return.
“It feels like unfinished business and that was very much the case with Brookside. The warmth, love, curiosity about how it will work, who’s involved – the reaction has been through the roof.”
