'', commonly referred to as "Brookie", was a
Soap Opera based in
Liverpool , introduced with the new British television network,
Channel 4 . Produced by
Mersey Television , it aired from the channel's first night on
November 2 ,
1982 . Although the series had a long and successful run, by the 2000s its viewing figures were in decline and low ratings eventually called for its cancellation. The final episode was broadcast on
November 4 2003 and watched by around 3.5 million viewers.
It became well known for its tackling of realistic and socially challenging storylines. In the
1990s it began raising more controversial and sensitive issues under the guidance of new producers such as
Mal Young . It is especially well-known for broadcasting the first pre-
Watershed lesbian kiss on British television in
1994 .
''Brookside'', based in a
Cul-de-sac in Liverpool, first appeared on November 1982 with the launch of the fourth British terrestrial channel, Channel 4. It differed from other soap operas because it was filmed in real houses in a real street, in an attempt by the producers to add to the show's realism. In the mid
1980s it attracted its highest viewing figure of 8 million people with a plot involving a deranged killer. Conceived by
Phil Redmond , who also devised ''
Grange Hill '', the soap was set to become Britain's gritty soap, with other compelling and challenging story lines.
In the 1990s however, the plots of ''Brookside'' became increasingly sensationalised, with
Murder ,
Incest , evil
Cult s and mystery diseases running amok in the cul-de-sac. One infamous plot was the storyline of wife beater and
Child Abuse r Trevor Jordache. In
1993 , his wife and daughter killed him and had him buried underneath their
Patio , where his body remained for almost two years. Another was the love story of Nat and Georgia Simpson. Nat and Georgia knew full well that they were brother and sister, but this did not stop them from having an affair. As a result, ''Brookside'' lost its original sense of realism and this alienated many viewers, who soon started to tune out of the show.
In June
2003 Channel 4 announced the demise of the soap due to falling ratings and the final episode was screened on November 4, 2003.
The most famous character in Brookside was probably
Jimmy Corkhill , played by
Dean Sullivan , who joined the cast in 1986. He was involved in a string of criminal activities including drug taking, robbery and car crime. In October 1993, his drug-influenced driving resulted in a car crash which resulted in
Frank Rodgers dying later the same day in hospital and Frank's young passenger
Tony Dixon spending four months in a coma before he too died. Jimmy later admitted causing the accident to his wife Jackie, but no criminal action was taken.
In the final episode, Jimmy Corkhill was the last resident of Brookside Close to leave their house. As a last act of defiance he broke into the houses and left all the taps running and then painted ''Game Over'' on the boarded-up windows of two houses and an extra ''D'' on ''Brookside Close'', to spell ''Brookside Closed'' at the end of the episode. He then went to live with his daughter
Lindsey , who had married
Barry Grant .
Two 'soap bubbles' were produced in the late
80s . ''
Damon And Debbie '' (1987) followed the two characters absconding to
York , while 1988's ''South'' saw Tracy and Jamie seeking a better life in
London . The latter was part of an ITV For Schools English programme.
As of
2006 ''Brookside'' remains out of production. When it was announced that the show would be finishing there was talk of keeping the project going via DVD releases. The first DVD featuring the climax to a long running storyline involving Tim "Tin'ead" O'Leary and his mate Steve Murray called ''Unfinished Business'' was released in 2003, and there was talk of another DVD involving a storyline with Barry Grant tracking down his brother Damon's killers. The status of this DVD is not currently known, but it's rumoured that it won't be released even though trailers for this story entitled ''Settlin' Up'' appear on the ''Unfinished Business'' DVD.
With the sale of
Mersey Television it is rumoured that
Phil Redmond has now moved onto pastures new. If this is the case then it is unlikely we will see any further ''Brookside'' projects.
Originally it was hoped that the DVD idea would take off with each DVD following the lives of those who had left the 'Close'. Many thought this idea couldn't work due to the limited storyline possibilities, many critics claimed that this would be a pointless project and
Phil Redmond was just clinging on to ''Brookside''.
The houses used as locations for the show are still in existence and used to be seen in ''
Hollyoaks '', another
Channel 4 Soap Opera until they were sold off in
2005 . The public bar in ''Brookside'' which resided on ''Brookside'' parade is now used as the Student Union bar in ''
Hollyoaks '' and ''Brookside'' parade itself can now be seen in ''
Grange Hill ''.
The Grants 1982- 1989
The Rogers 1989 - 1993
Simon Howe ( The Cult ) 1993 - 1994
Barry Grant 1994 - 1995
The Johnsons 1995 - 2001
The Gordons 2002 - 2003
Alan Partridge 1982 - 1984
Harry & Edna Cross and Ralph Hardwick 1984 - 1990
The Johnsons 1990 - 1993
Dave & Jean Crosbie 1993 - 1995
Jacqui, Katie, and Rachel 1995 - 1997
David Crosby 1995 - 1998
The Shadwicks 1998 - 2003
Harry & Edna Cross 1983 - 1984
Sandra Maghie, Pat Hancock & Kate Moses 1984 - 1987
The Rogers 1987 - 1989
The Chois 1989 - 1990
The Farnhams 1990 - 2002
The Dixons 2002 - 2003
The Collins 1982 - 1990
The Dixons 1990 - 1997
The O’Learys and Sinbad 1997 - 1998
The Musgroves 1998 - 2000
Mike and Rachel, Ron and Anthea Dixon 2000 - 2002
Max & Jacqui Farnham 2002 - 2003
Heather & Roger Huntington 1982 - 1983
Heather Haversham ( Maiden name ) 1983 -86
Heather & Nicholas Black 1986 -1987
Jonathon & Laura Gordon-Davies then Jonathon with Terry Sullivan as lodger 1987 - 1990
Terry & Sue Sullivan 1990 - 1991
The Harrisons 1991 - 1993
The Banks 1994 - 1996
The Simpsons 1994 - 1998
Lindsey Corkhill owner 1999 - 2000
Nathan, Darren, Victoria, Jacqui
1999 - 2000
The Murrays 2000 - 2003
Gavin & Petra Taylor 1982 - 1983
The Jacksons 1984 - 1985
The Billy Corkhill family 1985 - 1993
The Jordaches 1993 - 1995
The Jimmy Corkhill family 1995 - 2003
