Brookside R.I.P.

I watched it from about 85-91. Gave up after that stupid under the patio business.

Yeah, don't really care.

Still my favourite moment was when Sheila Grant and Marie [?surname] had a screaming catfight in the middle of the close. That was great.

Damon and his mates when they were still at achool, too... "Get yer stinking beasts out of me face."

g-kit. it was ziggy, the crazy scouser from Grange Hill, who was 'always up for it'. oh please.

I liked it when Damon did really well on his painting and decorating YTS but they didn't give him a job anyway. His speech was the most moving thing to come out of the Thatcher years.

(Not that ever watched it)

Brookside = exactly 20 years old?

It was like discovering the SIXTH terrestrial channel that broadcasrs in the Oxfordshire area (don't get excited - it is fairly rub).

I remember the C5 test transmissions. And Taunton TV. Never seen Channel M though.

...who's for "the corkhill/grant mob in newcastle" as a spin-off? they could have battles with Spender!!

jimmy's impassioned rant against reality tv/government/kids today was truly awful...

NB last night was the first time i've watched brookie in about, ooh, 5 years...

It felt like the end of a kids TV show or something, I can't put my finger on it but the final dialogue with Jimmy had this weird "we've had some laughs, but what did it all mean" feel to it. Basically like the writers had a gigantic orgasm of "look what we've achieved, not just a soap, a triumph for ordinary people which has been made obsolete by the vacuous society we now live in!".

And if they believe their schtick that much, it's clear that it's time to call it a day, nothing left.

Brookside to return to screens in Hollyoaks 30th birthday crossover

https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/brookside-to-return-to-screens-in-hollyoaks-30th-birthday-crossover/

The crossover episode will see the return of iconic, heritage Brookside characters as a treat for the audience and to mark the milestone.

Executive producer Hannah Cheers said: “This episode is a love letter to both Hollyoaks and Brookside. Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks – it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets. For everyone at Lime Pictures (originally Mersey TV), Hollyoaks’ history is deeply rooted in Brookside, and its legacy lives on through our crew and, of course, some of our cast.

“This special feels like both a moving and fitting tribute to our origin story and a chance for fans to revisit much-loved Brookside characters in honour of that legacy. These iconic Brookside characters are soap archetypes that helped define British TV; soap archetypes that new generations are still discovering now through Hollyoaks.

“As a lifelong soap fan who grew up watching with my mum, I was passionate about revisiting Brookside for the anniversary. With Sir Phil’s blessing – after I had the privilege of pitching the idea to him — and the support of Channel 4, we’re able to make it happen.

“Writer Steve Hughes, who began his career on Brookside, has reimagined where these characters are more than twenty years on. We hope audiences will enjoy welcoming these old friends back into their homes once again.”

Creator Redmond added: “It is always bitter sweet thinking back to Brookie, the reminders of its success and impact, but the thoughts of many, like Dean Sullivan and Bill Dean, who are no longer with us.

“But it is great that Lime Pictures are paying homage in their Hollyoaks anniversary crossover episodes. I can’t wait to see how all the gardens are coping in the heatwave, and who knows what might pop up if someone decides to re-lay their patio? I know we left something else down there.”

Filming will take 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 at the unadopted road in West Derby is now home to residents. Residents have been invited to share lunch with the cast and the crew from Lime Pictures. It will be the first time that Brookside Close has been on air, since it ended in 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.

No Jimmy Corkhill, no Brookie.

agree

Given that several Brookside alumni are now in the Hollyoaks cast, no-one anyone gave a shit about was left apart from Jimmy, and the entire street was sold to be demolished and they all moved out, I've no idea how this is going to work, or why it's even a thing. Ooh, let's all pretend to care about Nikki Shadwick for the first time since 2003.

Though it turns out Ron Dixon's still alive, so there's that.

I am dreading this because Hollyoaks has been particularly dreadful since the new producer took over. I know they had to cut the budget and reduce the episodes but every decision has been the wrong one - getting rid of fan favorites and bringing back terrible characters, an awful child trafficking storyline where they're now trying to redeem a character who was responsible, bringing Clare back from the dead even though we saw her get killed and disposed, a focus on gangsters. It's truly bizarre to watch now, and it's not like Hollyoaks was ever the most respectable show to start with. I wouldn't be surprised if they retcon Jacqui Dixon as Diane Hutchison secret twin

a focus on gangsters

Makers of British soaps seem obsessed with gangsters.

They do! I've never understood it. The storylines are always the same and the character archetypes are identical, Brendan Brady aside.

It's not like I'm the right age for peak Brookside either. I grew up with the late 90s version where blue lights and sirens were in it every week and it was still better than this.

Though if nothing else comes of this, I've now learned that Ron and Bev played versions of Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott in one of their videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcn_AV9S7RE

Bev’s best friend is the Brookside writer who did the lesbian screen kiss and now runs the Sonic Yootha club night in Liverpool.

Things soap characters never do: call the busies; find their way to a family planning clinic.

last Brookside spin-off I watched was Damon & Debbie and it was fucking garbage, this was when I was still at school. Didn't even know Hollyoakes was a Brookside spinoff, scouser erasure! Mick was my fave Brookside character because he was such a shit actor and would do some hilarious frowning at times.

One of the awful Musgrove family left the close to go and study in Chester and rocked up in Hollyoaks the same week.

Mick turned up in Corrie doing the same hilarious frowning. He's already in Hollyoaks though (or was)

also TIL that Barry Grant did a stint in Eastenders.

Be funny if they recast Jimmy Corkhill: actor required to play camp suicidal manic depressive Scouse drug addict, no experience necessary.

Ron and Mike Dixon were a pair of twats btw

Claire Sweeney is in Corrie just now playing Tyrone's junkie mother.

I met her at a press event years ago and did not like her at all.