Excitement continues to build ahead of the Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode this autumn. Fans of the iconic Scouse soap were thrilled to hear the news that Brookside Close would once again be allowing cameras in as the much-loved families return for a final time.
Channel 4 has confirmed the one-off return to Brookside will be broadcast next Wednesday, October 22. Camera crews returned to the famous L12 cul-de-sac last month for one day only, as production got underway for a special crossover episode with Hollyoaks.
The programme, which will be broadcast on E4 at 7pm, is in celebration of Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary and will honour Sir Phil Redmond, who created both shows. 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.
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.”
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!”
As Ricky and Sue return to our screens once more, Sue said: “Ricky and I have chemistry and history, obviously, because after Brookside we did The Royle Family.
“I remember Caroline Aherne telling us we were going to be her mum and dad, she loved Bobby and Sheila and wanted to bring us back together. I love Ricky, but we work very differently, he calls me ‘the classical actress’ just because I went to drama school!”
It’s now been over 40 years since much-loved soap Brookside first came to our screens. Affectionately known as ‘Brookie,’ the Liverpool-based soap, created by Phil Redmond, was a Channel 4 hit and aired its first episode on November 2, 1982.
When Brookside first hit our screens nobody could’ve predicted its success. The show would often get audiences in excess of seven million at its peak in the mid-1980s.
What set Brookside apart from the rest of the British soaps was the boundaries it pushed. With storylines that changed the face of British TV forever, including the first ever openly gay character and a domestic abuse storyline resulting in murder.
By 2003, after a 2,915-episode run, Brookside ended and we said goodbye to the Close. In recent years, it has been possible to stream the soap from the start for the first time ever on STV Player. In the popular soap, over 20 stars made it past 100 episodes of the show.