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Brookside is returning after 22 years off the air (Credits: Clive Limpkin/ANL/Shutterstock)
After 22 years buried under the patio of TV purgatory, a beloved soap is set to return to our screens this year.
As Hollyoaks celebrates its 30th anniversary this October, Channel 4 is bringing back Brookside.
Running from 1982 to 2003, Brookside, or Brookie to its fans, was set on the titular Brookside Close and was infamous for dealing with controversial subjects that other soaps were too afraid to take on.
At the height of its popularity, the show was Channel 4’s highest-rated programme and went down in UK pop culture history for featuring the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be shown on TV.
Sadly, declining viewership in the 2000s saw the series end in November 2003 with Hollyoaks replacing it as Channel 4’s flagship soap.
Now, though, as part of the crossover, fans will see Brookside characters return to the screen for a special one-off episode.
Character from Brookie will appear on the 30th anniversary special of Hollyoaks. (Picture: Channel 4)
Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers said in a statement: ‘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.’
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
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Running from 1982 to 2003, Brookside, or Brookie to its fans, was set on the titular Brookside Close and was infamous for dealing with controversial subjects that other soaps were too afraid to take on.
At the height of its popularity, the show was Channel 4’s highest-rated programme and went down in UK pop culture history for featuring the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be shown on TV.
Sadly, declining viewership in the 2000s saw the series end in November 2003 with Hollyoaks replacing it as Channel 4’s flagship soap.
Now, though, as part of the crossover, fans will see Brookside characters return to the screen for a special one-off episode.
Characters from Brookie will appear on the 30th anniversary special of Hollyoaks. (Picture: Channel 4)
This special episode is being written by Hollyoaks’ Steve Hughes, who began his career on Brookside and is intended to honour the soap and its creator, Sir Phil Redmond.
Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers said in a statement: ‘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.
The series came to an end in 2003 (Credits: Lime Pictures/REX/Shutterstock)
Bookside used to be Channel 4’s flagship show (Picture: Mersey Television Company)
‘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.’
According to Channel 4, the episode will imagine where all our favourite residents of the Close have been twenty years on from its cancellation.
Speaking about the revival, Sir Philip said: “It is always bittersweet 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.
Brookie became increasingly outlandish as it went along (Picture: Mersey Television Company)
“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 permission granted by the owner of the close and the Liverpool Film Office, as the former set in West Derby is now home to residents.
The cancellation of Brookside remains controversial with soap fans. While the series had seen declining viewership since the mid-90s, fans blame increasingly ridiculous storylines for it getting the axe.
They believe that the series was at its best when it dealt with grounded, down-to-earth issues and not sensationalised stories around cults, armed sieges and helicopter crashes.
Brookside is available to watch on STV player.
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
