It’s an exciting time to be a Brookside fan – the show is returning, sort of, in a unique crossover with Hollyoaks next week.
The special edition is to mark 30 years of Hollyoaks, which was created by the same man – Phil Redmond.
For a number of years the two shared the same production base in Childwall, Liverpool, with ‘Oaks inheriting the Brookside Parade set once it ended in 2003.
Quite a few notable faces from Brookie past are set to reprise their roles for the first time in decades for the occasion.
You can expect to see Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson as Sheila and Bobby Grant, as well as Philip Olivier as Tinhead and Suzanne Collins as Nikki Shadwick.
We’ll also meet a new resident of the cul de sac – Esme Dixon, who is daughter of 90s favourite Jacqui. In a strange soap twist, Esme is portrayed by Yasmin Davies, the real life daughter of Alex Fletcher who played Jacqui.
And, to make things even stranger, Alex is now in Hollyoaks as Diane Hutchinson. A completely different character.
But what are the stars that made the likes of the Jordaches, the Corkhills, the Dixons, the Shadwicks, the Grants and the Farnhams so iconic up to now?
Let’s find out.
Claire Sweeney (Lindsey Corkhill)
Claire Sweeney started out in Brookside as fiery Lindsey Corkhill in 1991, playing the role for ten years until 2001 before returning briefly again for the final episode in 2003.
What’s she been up to since?
Known for her singing credentials as well as her acting, after Brookside Claire went straight into the first-ever series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2001. She finished in second place behind comedian Jack Dee.
While she’s appeared in TV shows including Mersey Beat and Clocking Off since, she has also trod the West End boards in musical Chicago and in 2015 and 2016 played Velma Von-Tussle in the UK tour of Hairspray.
She also took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and since 2015 has presented her own series, Magic of the Musicals on Magic Radio.
Claire joined the cast of Coronation Street as Cassie Plummer in June 2023.
Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkhill)
Sue Jenkins played the long-suffering wife of Jimmy Corkhill, Jackie Corkhill, from 1991 to 2001.
What’s she been up to since?
Having Brookside and Coronation Street (she played Gloria Todd from 1985 to 1988) under her belt, Sue has continued working as an actress in both TV and theatre. Acting credits include Merseybeat, just like Claire Sweeney, who played her on-screen daughter Lindsey, Holby City, Dalziel & Pascoe, Heartbeat, Doctors, Emmerdale and even a presenting role on Loose Women and some theatre work.
Sue’s son is Richard Fleeshman, who starred as Craig Harris in Coronation Street from 2002 to 2006.
Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill)
Dean played Jimmy Corkhill – arguably the staple of Brookside – from 1986 to 2003, right until the very last episode.
What did Dean do after Brookside?
Dean dabbled in radio, as well as an appearance in TV series Doctors, and he’s tried his hand at screen-writing.
Sullivan wanted to revive Brookside after it bowed out in 2003. So keen was he, he was going to buy Brookside Close in 2008 but sadly it went to another buyer.
He died from prostate cancer at the age of 68 in November 2023.
Michael Starke (Sinbad)
Michael played lovable Sinbad from 1984 to 2000. He’s one of the names coming into the crossover next week, reprising his Hollyoaks role as taxi driver ‘Benny’.
But how will they explain the striking resemblance between ‘Benny’ and Sinbad?
What’s he been up to since?
Since leaving Brookside Close, Michael has appeared in TV shows including The Royal, Doctors, Holby City, Casualty and Coronation Street.
He appeared as Jerry Morton in Corrie in 2008 too but left just a year later when his entire on-screen family was axed.
Jennifer Ellison (Emily Shadwick)
Jennifer Ellison played Emily Shadwick from 1998 to 2003.
What’s she been up to since?
Jennifer is one of those faces that keeps on cropping up. She’s been quite the busy bee since leaving Brookside.
Reality TV credits include Hell’s Kitchen, which she won in 2004, Dancing On Ice, in which she made it to the semi-finals in the 2012 series and in 2014 and 2015, hosted Dance Mums with Jennifer Ellison, the UK version of American series Dance Moms.
She also runs a theatre school, called Jelli Studios.
As well as theatre work, she’s even had a taste of Hollywood, appearing as Meg Giry in the film version of The Phantom Of The Opera in 2004.
And we can’t forget her short-lived pop career which saw her releasing singles Baby I Don’t Care and Bye Bye Boy with some very Britney-esque music videos.
Anna Friel (Beth Jordache)
Despite appearing in Brookside for just two years from 1993 to 1995, Anna Friel is perhaps the biggest success story of the Channel 4 soap.
She famously played the part of Beth Jordache, achieving notoriety forever for staging the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British TV screens when her character kissed Margaret (played by Nicola Stephenson)
What’s she been up to since?
Anna made her film debut Land Girls in 1998 and for her role as Charlotte Charlies in Pushing Daisies, she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She is more recently known for playing troubled detective Marcella.
Other acting credits include playing the lead in TV series American Odyssey, and roles in the 2016 films I.T., nd The Master Cleanse.
Ray Quinn (Anthony Murray)
Ray Quinn is famous for playing the adorable Anthony Murray in Brookside from 2000 to 2003.
What has he been up to since?
Ray is another ex-Brooksider to have enjoyed a stint on Dancing On Ice. In fact, not only did he win the 2009 series, he was invited back for the Dancing On Ice All Stars series in 2014 which he also won. But before DOI, Ray tried his hand at singing and ended up finishing in second place just behind Leona Lewis in the third series of X-Factor in 2006.
He did produce a swing album but Simon Cowell ditched him from his label shortly after. Clearly a fan of reality TV, he also starred in the first series of Get Your Act Together and, you guessed it, won that too. Other TV roles include Doctors and Mersey Beat.
From 2018-2019, he played Jonny Baxter in Hollyoaks, whose character was part of a far-right extremist group.
He now works as a carpet fitter for the family business.
Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant)
Something of a Brookside stalwart, Ricky played the role of Bobby Grant from the very first episode in 1982 to 1988.
We can’t wait to see him back on our screens next week.
What’s he been up to since?
While Bobby Grant remains an iconic soap character, Ricky is undoubtedly now better known for playing the role of Jim Royle in The Royle Family, in which he starred alongside his on-screen wife Sue Johnston, who played Sheila Grant. He’s also had other notable film and TV roles including Hillsborough, Mike Bassett: England Manager, Playing the Field and Clocking Off.
In 2020, Ricky, alongside his Royle Family co-star Ralf Little, presented a travel series called Ricky & Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip for Gold.
Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant)
That brings us nicely on to Sue Johnston, who played Sheila Grant in Brookside from 1982 to 1989, making brief reappearances until 1995.
Long separated from husband Bobby, we can’t wait to see how they explain their reunion next week!
What’s she been up to since?
Sue’s had a long acting career since her days in Brookside. As well as playing Ricky’s on-screen wife in Brookside, she also played his on-screen wife in The Royle Family, taking on the role of Barbara Royle.
Other roles include starring in Jennifer Saunders’s Jam & Jerusalem, Waking The Dead and appearing as Gloria Price in Coronation Street.
From 2014-2015 she played Miss Denker in Downton Abbey and in 2018 she played Ivy-Rae in the BBC drama series, Age Before Beauty.
Alex Fletcher (Jacqui Dixon)
Alex played the feisty Jacqui Dixon in Brookside from 1990 until the soap ended in 2003.
What’s she been up to since?
She’s another member of the Brookside alumni to have taken a role in Doctors.
Most recently, fans will know her as Diane Hutchinson in Hollyoaks – a role she’s played since 2010. She’s going to be at the centre of next week’s action, although not in her Jacqui role.
Phillip Oliver (Tinhead)
Phillip starred as Timothy ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary in Brookside from 1996 right the way through to the soap’s cancellation in 2003.
What’s he been up to since?
Apart from stripping off for a bunch of magazine covers, Phillip has had TV roles in shows including Benidorm, Pleasureland, Holby City and Doctors.
In 2019, he appeared in the LGBTQ+ short film Just Me which addressed the theme of accepting your sexuality, and heterosexual men who have sex with men.
Vince Earl (Ron Dixon)
Vince played Ron Dixon in the Channel 4 soap from 1990 until the final episode in 2003.
What’s he been up to since?
Vince doesn’t seem to have done much since his time on Brookside, However, he was involved in the Liverpool music scene of the 1960s as a singer with the Vince Earl and the Talismen, and Vince Earl & the Attractions.
Sarah White (Bev Dixon)
Sarah White played Bev McLoughlin, and then Bev Dixon, from 1993 to 2003.
What’s she been up to since?
Since Brookside she’s had some roles in shows including Doctors and Edge Of Heaven, but nothing as high profile as the Channel 4 soap.
Last month she had a guest role as Deena Becker, a mediator, in Corrie.
Louis Emerick (Mick Johnson)
Louis Emerick played Mick Johnson from 1989 to 2001 in the Channel 4 soap.
What’s he been up to since?
Apart from Brookside, Louis is also known for starring in Last Of The Summer Wine as PC Walsh, as well as other appearances in shows including New Tricks, The Bill, Waterloo Road, Doctors and Casualty.
Film fans might recognise him from a small role he had in 2004 film Layer Cake.
In 2018, he appeared in Coronation Street as Liz McDonald’s boyfriend Mike Thornberry.
He joined Hollyoaks last year as detective Donny Clark, but what brings him back to Brookside?
Bryan Murray (Trevor Jordache)
Bryan Murray was only in Brookside briefly in 1993 as the evil Trevor Jordache, but he is perhaps one of the soaps most iconic characters as he was an integral part of the soap’s most famous storyline – the body under the patio. His wife Mandy and daughter Beth had murdered him in 1993 before the discovery of his body in 1995.
What’s he been up to since?
He’s had many more other roles over the years, including Holby City, Casualty, The Bill, Bread, Silent Witness, The Tudors and, most recently Fair City.
The star received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2019, but continued to make regular appearances as The Hungry Pig cafe owner Bob alongside co-star and real-life partner Una Crawford O’Brien, who plays Renee Phelan.
He retired from the show earlier this year.
Sandra Maitland (Mandy Jordache)
Sandra played the role of Trevor Jordache’s long-suffering wife Mandy Jordache from 1993 to 1995.
What’s she been up to since?
Since Brookside, other roles have included Doctors, Casualty, Misfits, Uncle and, most recently Holby City.
In 2023, she appeared in the film Ferryman.
Suzanne Collins (Nikki Shadwick)
Suzanne played Nikki Shadwick from 1998 to 2003 and was involved in the infamous date-rape plot where she was drugged and then raped at a party by Luke Musgrove.
She later turned to alcoholism, also being the only remaining Shadwick after her brother, sister and dad all died.
What’s she been up to since?
Brookside has been her most high-profile role, but Suzanne has also enjoyed appearances in Doctors and The Bill.
She is the director of a drama company and In 2019, she portrayed the role of Mrs. Trantor in the 5Star prison drama Clink.
Brookie fans will be glad to hear that Nikki is back on the Close next week.
Steven Pinder (Max Farnham)
Steven Pinder played the role of Max Farnham in Brookside from 1990 until 2003, although he wasn’t in the final episode.
What’s he been up to since?
Since Brookside, Stephen has starred in, The Bill, Casualty and Holby City, as well as Hotel Babylon and Doctors from 2005 to 2014.
Karen Drury (Susannah Morrisey)
Karen took on the role of Max Farnham’s first wife Susannah Morrisey from 1991 until her character’s death in 2000 when Max pushed her down the stairs, which was revealed after a ‘whodunit’ plot.
What’s she been up to since?
Karen has been seen in roles in TV shows such as Heartbeat, Casualty, Holby City and appeared in Doctors from 2001-2015.
Paul Usher (Barry Grant)
Paul Usher played iconic soap villain Barry Grant from the very first episode in 1982 right until 1995. He reappeared in 1997, 1998 and 2003 for the final episode.
What’s he been up to since?
Paul is also well known for having played PC Des Taviner in The Bill from 2001 to 2004. He’s also appeared in London’s Burning and Liverpool 1.
Since 2019, he has played the role of Danny Hardcastle in Eastenders.
He is reprising his Barry Grant part next week.
Paul Byatt (Mike Dixon)
Paul Byatt is one of the longest-serving members of the Brookside cast, playing the part of Mike Dixon from 1990 to 2003.
What’s he been up to since?
Other than Brookside, Paul’s IMDB page is fairly empty apart from a stint in Holby City and TV mini-series Mobile, which aired in 2007.
Amanda Burton (Heather Huntingdon)
Amanda Burton played Heather Huntingdon in Brookside from 1982 to 1986.
What’s she been up to since?
Amanda has starred in, Peak Practice, The Commander and was in Silent Witness for a whopping eight years.
She’s since noted for TV show Inspector Morse and playing headmistress Karen Fisher in Waterloo Road, before quitting the show in 2011.
In 2020, Amanda played Katherine Maguire in the ITV detective series Marcella.
