What are your favourite Brookside stars up to now? (Pictures: Channel 4)
Fans of the iconic British soap Brookside received a special treat yesterday, as it was announced that from February 1.
Scottish TV channel STV is making the show available to stream from the very first episode.
Famous for its groundbreaking storylines – from the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to tackling drink and drug abuse, incest, the first British whodunnit and, not forgetting, the body under the patio – Brookside won nations of soap lovers over and is still missed to this day.
While the idea of a reboot was floated around a few year’s ago, nothing has yet to come into fruition, meaning fans will have to stick to watching old episodes over and over again.
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.
More: Trending
Claire Sweeney (Lindsey Corkhill)
Claire was a fan favourite as Lindsey Corkhill (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkhill)
Sue has had a variety of acting credits since Brookside (Picture: Channel 4, Getty)
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.
FUN FACT: Sue Jenkins’ son is Richard Fleeshman who starred as Craig Harris in Coronation Street from 2002 to 2006 (y’know, Rosie Webster’s boyfriend).
Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill)
Dean has said in the past that he would love to revive Brookside (Picture: Channel 4/ Getty)
Dean played Jimmy Corkhill – arguably the staple of Brookside – from 1986 to 2003, right until the very last episode.
What’s he been up to since?
Dean’s dabbled in radio, as well as an appearance in TV series Doctors, and he’s tried his hand at screen-writing.
Fun Fact 1: 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.
Fun Fact 2: Yep, we’ve got two fun facts on Dean. In 1994, when a storyline was written involving Jimmy taking ecstasy, he offered to resign from the show so producers could kill him off and show young audiences the real dangers of drugs. They declined.
Michael Starke (Sinbad)
Michael has appeared in a number of soaps since Brookside (Picture: Channel 4)
Michael played lovable Sinbad from 1984 to 2000.
What’s he been up to since?
Since leaving Brookside Close, Michael has appeared in TV shows including The Royal, Doctors, Holby City, Casualty, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.
He appeared as Jerry Morton in Corrie in 2008 too but left in 2009 as the producer wanted the soap to go in a different direction.
Michael is also a regular cabaret performer on P&O Britannia and is currently working on a new musical with his songwriting partner, Joe Wynne, about Everton FC.
More: Emmerdale
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)
Anna Friel is one of the biggest names to come out of the soap (Picture: Channel 4/Getty)
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.
More: Coronation Street
Ray Quinn (Anthony Murray)
Ray was one of the youngest members of the Brookside cast (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant)
Ricky Tomlinson is better known for his role in sitcom The Royle Family (Picture: Channel 4)
Something of a Brookside stalwart, Ricky Tomlinson played the role of Bobby Grant from the very first episode in 1982 to 1988.
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)
Sue Johnston also starred in The Royle Family (Picture: Channel 4/Getty)
That brings us nicely on to Sue Johnston, who played Sheila Grant in Brookside from 1982 to 1989, making brief reappearances until 1995.
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 starred in Brookside for 13 years (Picture: Channel 4)
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. Aside from acting, Fletcher is also a trained fitness instructor.
Phillip Oliver (Tinhead)
Philip has also starred in Benidorm (Picture: Channel 4)
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 was involved in the Liverpool music scene in the 1960s (Picture: Channel 4)
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 for 10 years (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Louis Emerick Grant (Mick Johnson)
Louis Emerick has had a variety of acting credits since Brookside (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Bryan Murray (Trevor Jordache)
Bryan Murray appeared in Brookside briefly in 1993 (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Sandra Maitland (Mandy Jordache)
Sandra was in Brookside for just two years in the 90s (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Suzanne Collins (Nikki Shadwick)
Suzanne’s Brookside character struggled with alcoholsim (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Steven Pinder (Max Farnham)
Stephen Pinder Played the role of Max in Brookside (Picture: Channel 4)
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’s character was killed off in 2000 (Picture: Channel 4)
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 appeared in both the very first and very last episodes of Brookside (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
Paul Byatt (Mike Dixon)
Paul has been fairly quiet since his time on Brookside (Picture: Channel 4)
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 played Karen Fisher in Waterloo Road (Picture: Channel 4)
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.
MORE : Emmerdale spoilers: 19 pictures reveal devastating news, surprise kiss and two icons sacked
MORE : EastEnders spoilers: Reiss goes to war over Sonia with her odd new lodger Jed
MORE : Coronation Street spoilers: Death horror for Daisy and Hope, terrorist fight, Damon targets Sam
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
The action from Brookside Close is now available to watch all over again
