Brookside

Saturday, 08 December 2012

Brookside 2000- Shelley Sleeps Wih Jackie

BROOKSIDE FUNNIEST EPISODE EVER SHEILA GRANT GOES CLUBBING PART 1

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Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital city of and largest urban area in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร, pronounced [krūŋ tʰêːp máhǎː nákʰɔ̄ːn] ( listen)) or simply Krung Thep ( listen), meaning "city of angels". Bangkok is by far the most densely populated city in Thailand with about 12 million people. Bangkok was a small trading post near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century. It eventually grew in size and became the site of two capital cities: Thonburi in 1768 and Rattanakosin in 1782.
Because of its strategic location in Southeast Asia, Siam (later Thailand) acted as a buffer-zone between the French and British colonial empires. Bangkok itself has gained a reputation as an independent, dynamic and influential city. Bangkok is the political, social and economic centre of Thailand, and one of the leading cities in Southeast Asia.
Due to the 1980s and 1990s Asian investment boom, many multinational corporations make their regional headquarters in Bangkok and the city is a regional force in finance and business. Its increasing influence on global politics, culture, fashion and entertainment underlines its status as an Alpha global city. In 2009, it was the second most expensive city in South-East Asia behind Singapore. The city's many cultural landmarks and attractions in addition to its nightlife venues has made it synonymous with exoticism. Its rapid modernization, reflected in the cityscape and the urban society, has left untouched the historic Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Vimanmek Palace Complex and hundreds of Buddhist temples draw about 10 million international visitors each year, second only to London.

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Basingstoke
Coordinates: 51°16′00″N 1°05′15″W / 51.2667°N 1.0876°W / 51.2667; -1.0876
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is 48 miles (77 km) southwest of London, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Southampton, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Reading and 19 miles (31 km) northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of 82,913. It is part of the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and part of the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke. Basingstoke is often nicknamed "Doughnut City" or "Roundabout City" because of the number of roundabouts.
Often mistaken for a new town, Basingstoke is an old market town expanded in the 1960s as part of a tripartite agreement between London County Council, Hampshire County Council and Basingstoke Borough Council. It was developed rapidly, along with Andover and Tadley, to accommodate part of the London 'overspill' as perceived under the Greater London Plan, 1944. Basingstoke market was mentioned in the Domesday Book and Basingstoke remained a small market town until the 1950s. It still has a regular market, but is now bigger than Hampshire County Council's definition of a market town.

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Brussels
Brussels (French: Bruxelles, pronounced [bʁysɛl] ( listen); Dutch: Brussel, pronounced [ˈbrʏ.səɫ] ( listen); German: Brüssel, pronounced [ˈbʁyː.səl]), officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (help·info), Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (help·info)), is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jure capital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community.
Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by a descendant of Charlemagne into a metropolis of more than one million inhabitants. The metropolitan area has a population of over 1.8 million, making it the largest in Belgium.
Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a main centre for international politics. Hosting principal EU institutions as well as the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the city has become the polyglot home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants.

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Childwall
Coordinates: 53°23′42″N 2°52′52″W / 53.395°N 2.881°W / 53.395; -2.881
Childwall is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located to the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Wavertree, Belle Vale, Broadgreen, Bowring Park and Mossley Hill. In 2008 the population was recorded as 14,085.
The earliest recorded reference to Childwall was in the Domesday Book of 1086.
"Four Radmans held Childwall as four Manors. There is half a hide. It was worth eight shillings. There was a priest, having half a carucate of land in frank almoign."
Childwall was known as Cileuuelle in the 1086 Domesday Book meaning 'a stream where youngsters meet' from the Old English words cild and wella. Historically the name has been recorded as Childewalle (1212 and 1332), Chaldewall (1238), Childwall (1261), Childewelle (1291), Chaldewal (1305) and Childewall (1354).
Childwall was traditionally part of the West Derby Hundred. It was an urban district from the Local Government Act 1894 until it was annexed to Liverpool in 1913.

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Coronation Street
Coronation Street is an English television soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The show has been on the air for over 51 years. Coronation Street is produced by ITV Granada Television under ITV Studios and shown in all ITV regions. It has been filmed in Manchester at the Granada Studios since inception, but filming will move to a new set at Media City in Trafford in 2013.
Since first being aired, it has been one of the most financially lucrative programmes on British commercial television, underpinning the success of its broadcaster ITV and its franchise Granada Television. On 17 September 2010, it became the world's longest-running TV soap opera in production, after the United States soap opera As the World Turns ended.
The first episode was aired on 9 December 1960 and was not initially a critical success; Daily Mirror columnist Ken Iriwin claimed the series would only last three weeks. Granada Television commissioned only 13 episodes and some inside the company doubted the show would last its planned production run. Despite the criticism, viewers were immediately drawn to the serial, won over by Coronation Street's 'ordinary' characters. The programme also made use of Northern English language and dialect; affectionate local terms like "eh, chook?", "nowt" (IPA /ˈnaʊt/, means nothing), and "by heck!" became widely heard on British television for the first time.

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Dallas
Dallas ( /ˈdæləs/) is the third-largest city in the state of Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Divided between Collin, Dallas, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties, the city had a population of 1,197,816 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau.
The city is the largest economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area (the DFW MSA) that according to the March 2010 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of 6,371,773. The metroplex economy is the sixth largest in the United States, with a 2010 gross metropolitan product of $374 billion.
Dallas was founded in 1841 and was formally incorporated as a city in February 1856. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, computer technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, transportation and logistics. The city is home to the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation. Located in North Texas and a major city in the American South, Dallas is the main core of the largest inland metropolitan area in the United States that lacks any navigable link to the sea.

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Dole
Dole may refer to:
A dole/dule of doves (@see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_collective_nouns_for_birds) one can see the connection to feeding doves (often grain) and various charities described in this article.

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Florida
Florida (ⁱ/ˈflɒrɪdə/) is a state in the southeastern United States, bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Florida is the 22nd most extensive, the 4th most populous, and the 8th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The state capital is Tallahassee, its largest city is Jacksonville, and the South Florida metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S.
Much of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida. Its geography is marked by a coastline, by the omnipresence of water and the threat of hurricanes. Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, encompassing approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state to border both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and its terrain is characterized by sedimentary soils. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. Its symbolic animals like the American alligator, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the Everglades, one of the most famous national parks in the world.

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Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains (or fells) but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets.
The majority of the area was designated as the Lake District National Park in 1951. It is the largest of the thirteen National Parks in England and Wales, and the second largest in the UK (after the Cairngorms). It lies entirely within the modern county of Cumbria, shared historically by the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire. All the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level lies within the National Park, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and longest lakes in England, Wastwater and Windermere, respectively.
The precise extent of the Lake District was not defined traditionally but is approximated by the boundary of the National Park, the total area of which is about 885 square miles (2,292 km²). The Park extends just over 32 miles (52 km) from east to west and nearly 40 miles (64 km) from north to south, with areas such as the Lake District Peninsulas to the south lying outside the National Park.

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Leeds
Coordinates: 53°47′59″N 1°32′57″W / 53.79972°N 1.54917°W / 53.79972; -1.54917 Leeds (ⁱ/ˈliːdz/) is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 (2011 est.), making it the 24th-most populous city in the European Union
Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area, which at the 2001 census had a population of 1.5 million, and the Leeds-Bradford Metropolitan Area, of which Leeds is the integral part, had a population of around 2.3 million, making it the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. In addition, the Leeds city region, an economic area with Leeds at its core, had a population of 2.9 million. Leeds is the UK's largest centre for business, legal, and financial services outside London, and its office market is the best in Europe for value. Leeds is considered a Gamma World City, alongside cities such as Phoenix, St. Petersburg and Valencia.

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Liverpool
Liverpool ( /ˈlɪvəpuːl/) is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Liverpool was 445,200 and was part of a larger urban area of 816,216.
Historically a part of Lancashire, the urbanisation and expansion of Liverpool were both largely brought about by the city's status as a major port. By the 18th century, trade from the West Indies, Ireland and mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade furthered the economic expansion of Liverpool. By the early 19th century, 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks, contributing to Liverpool's rise as a major city.
Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also colloquially known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish known as "scouse", a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. Liverpool's status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population, which, historically, were drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, particularly those from Ireland. The city is also home to the oldest Black African community in the country and the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

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London
London ⁱ/ˈlʌndən/ is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's leading financial centre alongside New York City and has the fifth-largest city GDP in the world (and the largest in Europe). London has been described as a world cultural capital. It was the world's most visited city during 2011 and London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.

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Sefton Park
Sefton Park is a public park in south Liverpool, England. The park is in a district of the same name within the Liverpool City Council Ward of Mossley Hill, and roughly within the historic bounds of the large area of Toxteth Park. Neighbouring districts include modern-day Toxteth, Aigburth, Mossley Hill, and St Michael's Hamlet.
The park is 235 acres (0.95 km²) in area and has been designated a Grade II* Historic Park by English Heritage^{[citation needed]} making it one of three such parks in the city, along with the nearby Princes Park and St James Cemetery.
The site of the park was once within the boundaries of the 2,300-acre (9.3 km²) Royal Deer Park of Toxteth which became "disparked" in 1591. The land eventually came under the control of the Earl of Sefton.
As Toxteth rapidly grew, the green fields and woodland of Toxteth Park grew into narrow streets and courts packed tiny uninhabitable houses where the air was stagnant, there was little or no sanitation and running water consisted of one tap in the middle of the court. At the same time there was demand for large aristocratic mansions in the South of Liverpool. In 1862 the Borough Council Engineer recommended a site for this development. An Act of Parliament^[which?] in 1864 permitted corporations to borrow sums of money up to half a million pounds to be repaid over thirty years. This allowed steps to be taken towards the purchase of land for Sefton Park. In 1867 the Council purchased 375 acres (1.52 km²) of land for the development of the park for £250,000 from the Earl of Sefton.

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United States
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km²) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.

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Wales
Wales ⁱ/ˈweɪlz/ (Welsh: Cymru;Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkəm.rɨ] ( listen)) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain,bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km² (8,023 sq mi). Wales has over 1,200 km (750 mi) of coastline, including its offshore islands; the largest, Anglesey (Ynys Môn), is also the largest island in the Irish Sea. Wales is largely mountainous, with its highest peaks in the north and central areas, especially in Snowdonia (Eryri), which contains Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), its highest summit.
During the Iron Age and early medieval period, Wales was inhabited by the Celtic Britons. A distinct Welsh national identity emerged in the centuries after the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, and Wales is regarded as one of the modern Celtic nations today. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was recognised as King of Wales in 1057. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's death in 1282 marked the completion of Edward I of England's conquest of Wales. The castles and town walls erected to ensure its permanence are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Owain Glyndŵr briefly restored independence to what was to become modern Wales, in the early 15th century. Wales was subsequently annexed by England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 since when, excluding those matters now devolved to Wales, English law has been the legal system of Wales and England. Distinctive Welsh politics developed in the 19th century. Welsh Liberalism, exemplified in the early 20th century by Lloyd George, was displaced by the growth of socialism and the Labour Party. Welsh national feeling grew over the century; Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925 and The Welsh Language Society in 1962. The National Assembly for Wales, created in 1999 following a referendum, holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters.

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Walsall
Coordinates: 52°35′N 1°59′W / 52.58°N 1.98°W / 52.58; -1.98
Walsall ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.
Walsall is the administrative headquarters of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, though it has changed its name to Walsall Council. In the 2001 census, the town had a population of 170,994 with the wider borough having a population of 253,500. Neighbouring towns in the borough include Brownhills, Willenhall, Bloxwich and Aldridge.
The name Walsall is thought to have derived from the words "Walh halh", meaning "valley of the Welsh speakers" (referring to the Brythons). Walsall is first referenced as 'Walesho' in a document dated 1002. Possibly as a result of a clerical error, it is not referenced in the Domesday Book, while the settlements of Aldridge, Bescot, Shelfield, Pelsall, Bloxwich, Great Barr and Rushall within the Metropolitan Borough are. However, it is believed that a manor was held here by William FitzAnsculf, who held numerous manors in the Midlands. By the first part of the 13th century, Walsall was a small market town, with the weekly market being introduced in 1220 and held on Tuesdays. The mayor of Walsall was created as a political position in the 14th century. Walsall is known as "the town of a hundred trades". (This appellation is a nod to the fact that nearby Birmingham is known as "the city of a thousand trades".)

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Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral /ˈwɪrəl/ is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally (and interchangeably), although the merits of each form are the subject of local debate. People from the Wirral are called Wirralians, which is also the name of a local rugby club.
The roughly rectangular peninsula is about 10 miles (16.1 km) long and 7 miles (11.3 km) wide. Under the Local Government Act 1972 the northern part constitutes the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, and the southern part is administered as part of Cheshire West and Chester. Historically part of Cheshire, the Wirral's boundary with the rest of Cheshire was officially "Two arrow falls from Chester City Walls", as mentioned in the Domesday Book. On this larger definition, even places such as Ledsham, Puddington and Saughall would be part of Wirral. The peninsula has also been a hundred.

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Woolton
Coordinates: 53°22′26″N 2°51′54″W / 53.374°N 2.865°W / 53.374; -2.865
Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located at the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Allerton and Halewood. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,836.
Originally a separate village, it was incorporated into the City of Liverpool in 1913. The area was referred to as Uluentune in the Domesday Book, with the name translating as "farm of Wulfa". Shortly after the Domesday survey, which was completed in 1086, Woolton became part of the Barony of Halton and Widnes. In 1189, a charge was granted by John, Constable of Chester, to the order of Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, a religious order who protected the routes for Christians who were on a pilgrimage to The Holy Land. These Knights Hospitallers held land in Woolton for over 350 years, until it was confiscated from them in 1559 by Queen Elizabeth I. The manorial rights to Woolton passed from Queen Elizabeth to James I who sold them to William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby. Woolton then passed to Isaac Green, and through his daughter to her son Bamber Gascoyne of Childwall (MP for Liverpool 1780-96 and an ancestor of Bamber Gascoigne who hosted University Challenge for many years), and is presently owned by the Marquis of Salisbury.

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York
York (local ⁱ/ˈjɔːk/) is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city offers a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural and sporting activities.
The city was founded by the Romans in 71 AD, under the name of Eboracum. It became in turn the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jorvik. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained.
In the 19th century York became a hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing centre. In recent decades, the economy of York has moved from being dominated by its confectionery and railway-related industries to one that provides services. The University of York and health services have become major employers, whilst tourism has become an important element of the local economy.

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Alan Rothwell
Alan Rothwell (born 9 February 1937) is a British actor and television presenter. He was born in Oldham, Lancashire. He first came to fame in 1960, playing the character David Barlow in the then new ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He remained in this role in 1968, and the character was killed off two years later. He also featured as a regular character in all 26 episodes of the 1961-1962 British spy series Top Secret in the role of "Mike".
Rothwell then became known as a presenter to a generation of children, appearing on the children's television programmes Picture Box from 1969 to 1990 and Hickory House from 1973 to 1978.
He returned to soap operas in 1985, this time as the heroin addict Nicholas Black in Brookside. In 2002 he appeared in the television drama film Shipman. He also played Gerry Stringer in all six episodes of Dead Man Weds in 2005. Among his many other television credits are parts in Casualty, Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Doctors, Shameless and Bedlam. In 2004, Rothwell guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio adventure The Twilight Kingdom.

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Alexandra Fletcher
Alexandra Fletcher sometimes credited as Alex Fletcher (born 8 July 1976 in Allerton, Liverpool) is a British actress best known for her role as Jacqui Farnham in the now defunct soap Brookside.
Fletcher joined Brookside in 1990 and played the role of Jacqui Farnham (née Dixon) until the series ended in 2003. In addition to her role in Brookside, she has made a number of other television appearances, both in acting and presenting roles. These include parts in Doctors and MIT: Murder Investigation Team, and a guest presenting role on the chat show Loose Women. She was also an occasional presenter of the children's series Why Don't You?
She took some time away from acting in the late 2000s and trained as a fitness instructor. She qualified in 2009 and now teaches at a number of locations.
Fletcher joined Hollyoaks in August 2010, playing the role of Diane O'Connor.
She also appeared as a contestant on the BBC cookery programme Celebrity Masterchef, on 21 July 2010.
Alex appeared on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff on 22 February with presenter Matthew Wright, Craig Revel Horwood and Anne Diamond.

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Alexandra Pigg
Alexandra Pigg (born 1962 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool) is a British actress who first came to prominence as Petra Taylor in the TV soap opera Brookside. Her best known film appearances are as Elaine in Letter to Brezhnev (1985), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA award, and as Bridget Baines in A Chorus of Disapproval (1988). She also starred alongside Keifer Sutherland and Emily Lloyd 'Chicago Joe and the Show Girl' (1990). She has been married twice, first to film director Bernard Rose with whom she has a daughter and producer Tarquin Gotch with whom she has another daughter and a son.
Alexandra was originally cast in the role of Kochanski in the Pilot episode of Red Dwarf but was unavailable for new recording dates following an electrician's strike, so the part then went to Clare Grogan

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Alexandra Wescourt
Alexandra Michele Wescourt (born July 12, 1975) is an English actress.
Wescourt was born in London, England, the daughter of Gordon Wescourt Sr. and Gillian Margaret Elvins. Her father, an American residing in Los Angeles, California, was the son of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants and made a career as an actor. Her mother was a vicar's daughter who had met Gordon in London, in the early 1970s. Gillian was a member of the famous dance troupe, The Bluebell Girls in Paris in the 1960s, who then went into modeling and performing in television shows. Wescourt spent the early part of her childhood living in Los Angeles before returning to London.
Wescourt studied at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in Kensington, London, graduating in 1998. Her first part out of acting school was to play Shelley Bower in the Liverpool based television drama Brookside in the summer of 1999. She received much publicity from her characters' lesbian love affairs. Despite being offered a contract renewal she decided to quit the series in the Winter of 2000 to pursue a career in America.

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Alyson Spiro
Alyson Spiro is a British actress who played Sarah Sugden on the British television soap opera Emmerdale from 1994–2000. She also appeared in the programs Brookside,Casualty, The Bill, Doctors, Holby City, Sapphire and Steel and Fell Tiger.
Spiro portrayed Astrid Kirchherr in the 1979 film Birth of the Beatles.

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Amanda Burton
Amanda Burton (born 10 October 1956) is an award-winning actress from Northern Ireland. Burton is best known for her high-profile television roles as Karen Fisher in Waterloo Road (BBC), Sam Ryan in the BBC crime drama series Silent Witness, Clare Blake in The Commander, Beth Glover in Peak Practice, and Heather Black in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.
Burton was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. She is the youngest of four girls. Her father was a primary school headmaster. After attending the Londonderry High School (now part of Foyle and Londonderry College) she moved to England at 18 where she spent three years studying drama at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre. Whilst there she met theatre technician Jonathan Hartley, whom she married when she was 20.
Although best known for her television roles, Burton had worked almost exclusively in the theatre prior to landing the role of Heather Black in Channel 4's Liverpool-based flagship drama series Brookside. After nearly four years in the role, during which time Heather had become one of the show's most-popular residents of Brookside Close, she began to lose sympathy with her character and decided to leave. Following her departure her television work consisted mainly of guest appearances, with parts in a number of peak-time drama series including Minder, Inspector Morse, Boon, Medics, Van Der Valk, Stay Lucky, and Lovejoy.

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Angela Morant
Angela Morant (born 1943 in Warwickshire, England) is a British actress.
She is remembered for playing Octavia Minor in the 1976 BBC television adaptation of I, Claudius, and Barbara Harrison in the soap opera Brookside.
Other TV credits include Dixon of Dock Green, Callan, Inspector Morse,Bergerac and The Bill. She was also featured in the Lord Peter Wimsey series "Have His Carcase"
Her film roles include the lead in the 1979 film Victims.
She was the first wife of actor Ben Kingsley; they were married in 1966 and divorced in 1972; They have two children, Thomas and Jasmine.
The actress Penelope Wilton, is her cousin.

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Anna Friel
Anna Louise Friel (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She rose to fame in the UK as Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap Brookside.
Friel was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the daughter of Julie, a special needs teacher, and Des Friel, a former teacher of French and owner of a web design company. Friel's Irish Catholic father, a former folk guitarist, was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Donegal, Ireland. Her brother Michael starred in Hovis television adverts.
She attended Crompton House Church of England High School, in High Crompton, Shaw and Crompton.^{[citation needed]} She then attended Holy Cross College in Bury.
She started off her Training at Oldham Theatre Workshop where she met Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton.
At the age of 13, she was hired for her first professional acting job in the Channel 4 drama serial G.B.H., as the daughter of Michael Palin's character. Her performance led to a series of appearances on various British television shows, including Emmerdale. In 1992, she was added to the cast on the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, where she gained greater exposure in the role of Beth Jordache. She stayed on the programme for two years.^{[citation needed]} Friel's on-air lesbian kiss was the first in British soap history. In 1995, Friel won the National Television Award for Most Popular Actress for her work on Brookside.

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Anna Keaveney
Anna Keaveney (born 5 October 1949, Runcorn, Cheshire, England - 20 November 2004) was an English actress best known for her role as Marie Jackson in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.
She also appeared in the films Shirley Valentine, The 51st State, and in several other TV series including Ali G Indahouse, Emmerdale, Divided We Stand, Footballer's Wives, and Peak Practice. Anna made her final film appearance as Nellie in the award winning British crime drama Vera Drake (2004).
She died of lung cancer at the age of 55.

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Annette Ekblom
Annette Ekblom (born 1956) is a British actress. She is the mother of actress Amelia Warner.
She starred as Linda in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers when Bill Kenwright's production opened in London in 1988. She can also be heard on the 1988 revival cast recording with Kiki Dee.

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Annie Miles
Annie Miles (born 5 May 1958 in Tyneside, England) is an actress who is best known for her roles in television soap opera. She played Sue Sullivan (née Harper) in Brookside from 1987 to 1991, and Maria Simons Starr in Family Affairs from 1997 to 2000.
Annie lives between London & Suffolk and is married to Bobby Aitken, a sound designer for musical theatre with whom she has two children.

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Barry Grant
Barry Grant is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Paul Usher and was in the series from episode one in 1982 until 1995 with several sporadic guest appearances in 1997, 1998 and the final episode in 2003.
Barry Grant is arguably the most dislikeable and feared soap villain of all time.^{[citation needed]} Because of the rawness of Brookside, Grant would take things a step further than his counterparts in other UK soaps, once shoving a gun up the behind of Calum Finnegan as he attempted to rape his girlfriend (Lindsay Corkhill). Finnegan was eventually locked in a container and ended up in Kenya and subsequently had to have a kidney transplant.
Bobby and Sheila Grant initially raised their three children Barry, Karen and Damon on a run-down Liverpool council estate. Barry, the eldest, was always the black sheep of the family. Barry was expelled from school at age 15 for attacking a group of bullies who constantly picked on and bullied his best friend Terry Sullivan.

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Barry Sloane
Barry Paul Sloan(e) (born February 10, 1981 in Liverpool) is an English actor. He trained as a musician and actor before landing his first professional acting role in the film In his Life: The John Lennon Story. He has appeared in numerous TV shows, notably the BAFTA award-winning dramas Pleasureland and The Mark of Cain. In 2006 Sloane made his West End Debut in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers. In December 2007, Sloane began playing Niall Rafferty, the long-lost son of Myra McQueen, in Channel 4's, Hollyoaks. The character left in 2008. In 2010 he appeared in the ITV Drama adaptation of Peter Robinson's Aftermath and later that year he also played Kieran Callaghan in the BBC serial medical drama Holby City.
Sloane is engaged to Katy O'Grady, the fourth-place runner-up of the most recent series of Sky One programme Project Catwalk. The couple have a daughter together (born c. 2010).
In the summer of 2009 Sloane appeared as Troy Whitworth in Jez Butterworth's critically acclaimed new play Jerusalem at The Royal Court Theatre London. The play received amazing reviews and was given a West End transfer in January 2010; after a record-breaking sellout run it was announced that the play would transfer once again, this time to Broadway.

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Ben Hull
Ben Hull (born 8 November 1972) is an English Actor and Presenter.
Ben's first appearance was in 1994 when he appeared ITV Drama, Revelations. He then went on to appear as Martin Wells in Children's ITV series Children's Ward. In 1995 he got his big break playing Lewis Richardson in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, a role which he also played in a couple of the soap's spin-off TV series Hollyoaks: Movin' On and Hollyoaks: Breaking Boundaries; he left this role in 2001. In 2002 he starred in another of Channel 4's soaps, the now defunct Brookside, playing Dr Gary Parr, but this was not Ben's first appearance in the soap, as a few years before he played a character called Syd Watts in one of the soap's spin-off videos, Brookside: Double Take. In 2003 he joined the BBC1 medical drama Casualty for 3 episodes, playing Dale Charters. Ben returned to soap operas when, in 2005, he joined Five's now defunct Family Affairs, playing Adam Green, and in 2006 he starred in BBC1's day-time soap Doctors, playing John Myson. In 2007 it was announced that Ben would be starring in all 50 episodes of new ITV1 TV series The Royal Today, which is a modern day spin-off from ITV1's 1960s TV series The Royal, playing Charge nurse Adam Fernley. The series was aired in 2008. Ben has appeared in BBC1 show Missing as well as Holby City.

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Bernie Nolan
Bernadette Therese "Bernie" Nolan (born 17 October 1960^{[citation needed]}) is an Irish actress, singer and television personality, formerly lead vocalist of The Nolans. Her siblings are Anne, Brian, Denise, Maureen, Tommy, Linda and Coleen Nolan. She is the second youngest. She was raised in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.
Nolan's parents were Tommy, a violent heavy drinker who died of liver cancer aged 73 in 1998, and Maureen Nolan, who died aged 81 of Alzheimer's disease in Blackpool on 30 December 2007.
Before The Nolan sisters became household names, she and her sisters, parents and brothers would perform in clubs and pubs in Blackpool. She originally found fame in a pop group which included her five sisters and they had hits such as "I'm in the Mood for Dancing" (their biggest hit), "Don't Make Waves", "Attention to Me" and "Gotta Pull Myself Together". The Nolans sold millions of records worldwide, particularly in Japan where they sold over 9 million albums. Nolan also turned her hand to song writing during this time when she wrote two tracks for their 1982 album Portrait.

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Betty Alberge
Betty Alberge (22 January 1922, Manchester, England – 18 May 1991) was an English actress best known for her soap opera roles as cornershop owner Florrie Lindley in Coronation Street and as Edna Cross in Brookside (1983–85). She played Florrie Lindley for 4 and a half years from the very first episode in 1960 until 1965.
After she left Coronation Street in 1965, she mainly acted in theatre productions, but also appeared in TV shows, including Z-Cars, The Ken Dodd Show, Rentaghost and Juliet Bravo. Her last TV appearance was in an episode of Casualty.

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Bill Dean
Bill Dean (3 September 1921 – 20 April 2000) was a British actor who was born in Everton, Liverpool. He was born Patrick Connolly but took his stage name in honour of Everton football legend William 'Dixie' Dean.
Dean served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, seeing action in North Africa and Italy. He worked variously as a tram driver, pipe fitter, insurance agent, ship's steward, docker and local government officer, whilst also appearing as a stand-up comedian in Lancashire clubs and pubs, before making his breakthrough in Ken Loach's The Golden Vision.
He was most notable in his later years for playing miserly Harry Cross in the soap opera Brookside. He joined the soap in 1983, a year after its inception, and remained there for seven years before departing in 1990. He briefly returned to the series in 1999 for three episodes, when his character re-appeared in Brookside Close suffering from Alzheimer's disease and wrongly believing that he still lived there.
The same character was the inspiration behind the 1980s group 'Jegsy Dodd and the sons of Harry Cross' who hailed from the Wirral.

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Bobby Grant
Bobby Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Ricky Tomlinson. Bobby appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1988. Bobby was the first character in the series to have a spoken line after a milkman and then Annabelle Collins had silent appearances.
The Grant family originally consisted of Bobby Grant, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant, Karen Grant and Damon Grant. The whole family appeared in the first episode and were the first to move into the new houses on Brookside Close, moving into No. 5.
Prior to moving onto Brookside Close, the Grant family were from a run-down inner-city council estate, however through Bobby and Sheila's thrift and hard work had managed to move to the 'middle class' Brookside Close.
A fourth child, Claire, was born on 8 January 1985 - the very first baby to be born in the series, more than two years after its inception.
Bobby Grant could be a domineering man over his family, and throughout the series was shown to regularly hit his son Damon for minor misdemeanours. Bobby Grant's role as patriarch of the Grant family was tested in 1986 when wife Sheila was raped. The character was a longtime friend of Matty Nolan and also endured a difficult relationship with neighbour, Paul Collins.

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Brian Murphy (actor)
Brian Murphy (born 25 September 1933) is a British actor.
Murphy was born in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Although a prolific actor in many films and theatre productions for almost half a century, Murphy's most famous role was as the henpecked husband George Roper in the sitcom Man About the House and spin-off George and Mildred.
He was called up to do his military service at RAF Northwood, where he met future The Good Life actor Richard Briers. On leaving the RAF the two aspiring actors both performed in productions by the Dramatic Society at the Borough Polytechnic Institute, now London South Bank University. Murphy was a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop (alongside Yootha Joyce), and a jobbing actor in the 1960s and early 1970s, combining his theatre work with appearances in television shows such as The Avengers, Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green, before being cast in the role which would make him a household name.
In Man About The House, Murphy played the lazy and scheming George Roper, the landlord of a house converted into flats who had a young man and two women renting the flat above. His wife, Mildred, was played by Yootha Joyce. Her domineering, social-climbing characteristic was a sharp contrast to George's desire for an easy and quiet life and the pairing were an instant hit. A contributing factor to their immediate chemistry was the fact they had been friends for many years. Aside from their Theatre Workshop years, Murphy starred in Joyce's first movie, Sparrows Can't Sing in 1963. When Man About The House reached a conclusion in 1976, a spin-off was created for Murphy and Joyce, entitled George and Mildred. This ran for five series until 1979. Murphy reprised his role in feature films of both sitcoms. Joyce died in 1980.

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Brian Regan (actor)
Brian Regan (born 2 October 1957 in Liverpool)^{[citation needed]} is a British actor known for playing Terry Sullivan, one of the lead roles in the Channel 4 soap Brookside, during the 1980s and 1990s. He has also had small parts in other television series. On 12 April 2011, Regan was charged with the murder of a doorman in Liverpool and remanded in custody to await trial. He was cleared of the murder early the following year but was still imprisoned for nearly five years on a lesser charge.
Regan grew up in the Dovecot area of Liverpool and attended the Yew Tree Comprehensive School in that area of the city. He trained as an actor at the Liverpool Playhouse and, in addition to his role in Brookside, has also appeared on television in The Bill, Paparazzo and Murphy's Mob. He also appeared in the early years of Sky TV's Soccer AM as 'The Cat'.
He joined the cast of Brookside in 1982, first appearing in episode six. The character of Terry Sullivan was featured in some of the soap's most dramatic storylines, and he was a regular mainstay of the soap until he finally left the series in February 1997. He had previously left the show for a short time to move to London, where he pursued his acting career, but later rejoined. According to an article in the Daily Mail in April 2011, Sullivan and his fellow Brookside character Barry Grant (played by Paul Usher) were the inspiration for comedian Harry Enfield's Scousers.

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Bryan Murray (actor)
Bryan Murray (born 13 July 1949) is an Irish actor. He is currently playing Bob Charles in the soap opera Fair City.
Murray was born in Dublin, Ireland. As a stage actor he began his career in Dublin at the Abbey Theatre where, as a member of The Abbey Company, he appeared in over 50 productions. He has appeared many times at the Gate Theatre in Dublin most recently in Celebration by Harold Pinter for the 2010 Dublin Theatre Festival. In the 2010 Dublin Fringe Festival he appeared in the award winning production of Medea at The Samuel Becket theatre. In London he has been a member of The Royal National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company and has been in many productions in London and the West End.
He is widely known for his extensive television work which includes Fitz in Strumpet City, Flurry Knox in The Irish RM, Shifty in Bread (for which he won BBC TV Personality of the Year), Harry Cassidy in Perfect Scoundrels, Trevor Jordache in Brookside and Bob Charles in Fair City. He appeared on the second season of Charity You're a Star where he sang duets with his Fair City co-star Una Crawford O'Brien. The duo were voted off the show after performing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". He played the role of Lynch in the film, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1977).

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Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944) is a British Conservative politician and administrator. He is the current chairman of the BBC Trust, and was the last Governor of British Hong Kong.
Patten was Member of Parliament for Bath, eventually rising to a cabinet minister and party chairman. In the latter capacity, he orchestrated the Conservatives' unexpected fourth consecutive electoral victory in 1992, but lost his own seat in the House of Commons. He then accepted the post of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong, and oversaw its handover to the People's Republic of China in July 1997. As Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Patten presided over a steady rise in the living standards of ordinary Hong Kongers while encouraging a significant expansion of Hong Kong's social welfare system.
From 2000 to 2004 he served as one of the United Kingdom's two members of the European Commission. After leaving that post, he returned to the UK and became the Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2003, and he was made a Life Peer in 2005.

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Claire Sweeney
Claire Jane Sweeney (born 17 April 1971) is an English actress, singer and television personality, best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and her appearance on the first series of the reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.
Born in Walton, Liverpool, she is the daughter of a butcher who had a shop in Toxteth. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and worked on the weekends in her fathers shop.
Her first singing gig, at the age of 14, was in the Montrose Club in Liverpool. She was then educated fulltime at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair. Following this production, she auditioned for a part in the Southport Arts Centre's Centre Stage Company production of Chicago but was turned down because she was considered too young; she later went on to star in a West End version of the same show.
After leaving stage school, Sweeney had many singing engagements before landing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside in 1991. She entertained cruise ships for P&O as a singer for four years before returning to England. On her return, Sweeney reprised her role of Lindsey and remained on the show as a leading character until its demise in 2003.

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Damon Grant
Damon Grant is a fictional character in the defunct British soap opera Brookside, played by Simon O'Brien. The character was part of the initial cast, appearing from episode one in 1982 until 1987. At the time of the soap's inception, Damon was the youngest son of Bobby and Sheila Grant, with an older brother, Barry, and older sister, Karen.
Damon was introduced after having broken into the Collins' house in the first episode on 2 November 1982, aged 14. When questioned about the theft of a lavatory and vandalism that occurs by Paul Collins, Bobby lashes out at Damon. Barry defends Damon after the occurrence, pointing out that he did not have the tools to remove the lavatory in the way it had been done and that the graffiti could not have been Damon either as "he only spells 'bollocks' with one 'l'".
The Brookside soap opera was regarded as tackling social issues, and this was no less true when dealing with the Grant family, and Damon. One of the first of the show's many teenage characters to capture the viewing public's imagination, the role saw O'Brien catapulted to fame as a teen heart throb, and his adoption of the "mullet" hairstyle proved to be in keeping with the zeitgeist of the times, and saw the character further entrenched as a cultural reference point.

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Danny Webb (actor)
Danny Webb (born 6 June 1958) is a British television and film actor. He may be best known for his role as the prisoner Morse in Alien 3. He has appeared in many famous British television programmes including The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Emmerdale Farm, Our Friends in the North, A Touch of Frost, Agatha Christie's Poirot, The Bill, Silent Witness, Shackleton and he starred in two episodes of Doctor Who - "The Satan Pit" and "The Impossible Planet". He has also starred in Britannia High as Jack Tyler and New Tricks as a DJ.
In 1985, Webb starred alongside of Jon Pertwee in a television adaptation of Karl Wittlinger's Broadway play, Do You Know the Milky Way? playing Kris, a psychiatric patient who believed he came from another star.
He has also had a recurring role in several television series, including Brookside, Cardiac Arrest and Life Begins. He also has a role in Honest playing Mack Carter.
He also appeared in the video to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes.
In 2008, Webb appeared as journalist Noel Botham in the BBC Four drama Hughie Green, Most Sincerely, as well as narrating the Games Workshop Black Library audiobook The Lightning Tower/The Dark King and the Gotrek and Felix audiobook Slayer of the Storm God. He also had a small part as a Nazi communications officer in the film Valkyrie.

wn.com/Danny_Webb_(actor)
David Easter
David Easter (born 11 November 1959 in Eastleigh, Hampshire) is an English actor.
He is best known for his role as Pete Callan in the television soap opera Family Affairs from 1997 to 2005. He had previously been a regular cast member on Brookside, playing Pat Hancock from 1984 to 1987. In the 1991 London Palladium revival production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat he played the role of Pharaoh & Levi alongside Jason Donovan's Joseph and Linzi Hateley's Narrator. He has also guest starred in episodes of Birds of a Feather, The Bill, Holby City and Doctors.
He was married to Denise Welch from 1985 to 1988. He is also known for his small role in Waterloo Road. A BBC 1 drama.

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David Yip
David Yip (born 4 June 1951) is an English actor.
Yip, of Asian and English descent, was born in Liverpool and trained at East 15 Acting School, London. He is the son of a Chinese father, a seaman from the Canton area of China, and an English mother from Liverpool.
He is known for playing the lead role of Johnny Ho in the 1981 BBC drama The Chinese Detective, notable for its frontlining of an ethnic British cast. He also played Michael Choì in the soap opera Brookside between 1989 and 1990. He also had a small part in the 1979 Doctor Who story Destiny of the Daleks and played a factory owner in Casualty.
His film credits include playing Wu Han in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and CIA liaison agent Chuck Lee in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill. Both his characters died early in the films.
He performed the radio play The Inventor of Fireworks, written by Benjamin Yeoh for BBC Radio 3 on 22 January 2004.
David Yip is a practising Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International. He currently lives in North Oxfordshire with his wife Virginia and his dog Buddy.

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Dean Sullivan
Dean Sullivan (born 7 June 1955 in Liverpool) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4's soap opera Brookside.
He joined Brookside in February 1986 and remained with the show until it was axed in November 2003, featuring in many of its ratings-pulling storylines during that time.
In 1994, he offered to resign from the series when reading in his scripts that his character was to take ecstasy; he urged producers to kill his character off in an attempt to warn youngsters about the danger of taking drugs. However, his offer to resign was rejected and he remained in the series until it was discontinued nearly a decade later.
Dean is BEd (Hons) graduate of Lancaster University and was a primary school teacher for six years before becoming an actor and then continued to work as a supply teacher between roles. He was a member of the Liverpool based Neptune Theatre Company and appeared in the Willy Russell stage play Breezeblock Park and the Phil Redmond play Soaplights at the Liverpool Playhouse.

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Dicken Ashworth
Dicken Ashworth (born 18 July 1946 in Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actor who has made several appearances in film and television.
His film credits include: Force 10 from Navarone, Tess, Krull, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
On television, can be a regular cast member in several soap operas – playing Alan Partridge in Brookside from 1983 to 1985, Geoff Horton in Coronation Street from 1992 to 2000 and he played the role of Duke Woods in Emmerdale from June 2007 until early 2008.
Other TV credentials include: Juliet Bravo, Minder, Blake's 7, The Chinese Detective, Doctor Who (in the serial Timelash), C.A.T.S. Eyes, The Bill, Boon, Inspector Morse, Dangerfield and Where the Heart Is.
Dicken appears in the video to The Pretenders' 1986 single "Don't Get Me Wrong".

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Doreen Sloane
Doreen Sloane (24 February 1934 in Birkenhead, Wirral, Cheshire, England – 8 April 1990 in Liverpool, England) was an English actress best known for her roles in the soap operas Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Brookside.
She trained at the Elliott Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool and appeared in repertory theatres before being cast in the first of four roles in Coronation Street.
She also appeared in the films Yanks and Chariots of Fire. Other TV appearances include Nearest and Dearest, Emmerdale and Last of the Summer Wine.
She died of cancer at the age of 56.

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Gabrielle Glaister
Gabrielle Glaister (born 27 July 1960, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, England) is an English actress.
She was a school friend of Ben Elton at Godalming Grammar School on Tuesley Lane in Godalming, Surrey; Glaister was in the year below Elton. She attended Chichester College where she studied English and Drama, then trained at the National Youth Theatre, before appearing in Broadway. One of her first major TV appearances was in Blackadder II, which Elton co-wrote.
Glaister appeared in the title role in a stage production of Oliver Twist, alongside long-time friend Ben Elton's Artful Dodger. Notable television roles include three appearances as "Bob" in the Blackadder series and the part of Patricia Farnham, the long-suffering partner of Max Farnham (Steven Pinder), in Brookside. In 1983, she returned to the stage in Daisy Pulls It Off.
She has appeared in several TV series, among them:
She has also appeared in several films including:
She also appeared in the play Rent.
Her partner is Simon Nelson. They had a son in November 2003.

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Gerard Kelly
Paul "Gerard" Kelly (27 May 1959 – 28 October 2010) was a Scottish actor who appeared in many comedies, most notably in City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt, and Scotch and Wry. He had more serious roles, including PC David Gallagher in Juliet Bravo (1982), villain Jimmy in EastEnders (1994) and the villainous Callum Finnegan on Brookside (1997–2000). He is perhaps best known, however, for his starring role in City Lights as the hapless would-be author Willie Melvin which ran for six series, several Christmas specials and two stage tours from 1986 to 1992.
He had a small part in the 1987 critically acclaimed film Comic Strip Presents... Mr Jolly Lives Next Door.
In 1983, he was featured in "Killer", the pilot episode of crime drama series Taggart.
Between 2005 and 2007 he appeared in Ricky Gervais's comedy Extras as Ian "Bunny" Bunton.
From 2007 to 2010 he appeared regularly as Father Henderson, a camp Doctor Who-loving priest in the award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy Fags, Mags and Bags. The role has not been re-cast, with the 2011 series referring to Father Henderson's move to another parish, noting that the new priest can never replace him.

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Greg Milburn
Greg Wood is a British actor. He was previously known as Greg Milburn. Greg's first acting role was in Hollyoaks, playing one of the bullys in the ground breaking portrayal of Luke Morgan's rape. Greg would then go on to play what is possibly his best known role in the now defunct soap Brookside playing a drug dealer called Terry Gibson, he later reprised the role for the spin-off DVD Unfinished Business and was one of four nominated for Soap Villan of the Year.
Since leaving Brookside Greg Wood has appeared in The Courtroom, Casualty 1907 and has appeared twice in Emmerdale.
Greg is the brother of Matt Milburn who played Joe Spencer in Hollyoaks
His most recent role has been playing a loan shark, Rick Neelan, in Coronation Street. Greg will be going up for the 'Best Villain' award for Coronation Street in the British Soap Awards this year.
On April 14, 2010 Coronation Street was cleared by Ofcom for broadcasting a scene where Greg's characher Rick Neelan pushed a burning newspaper through someone's letterbox. 31 people complained about the scene, claiming that the show had incited and encouraged crime. However Ofcom ruled that it was "not likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime or lead to disorder".

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Heather Black
Heather Black (née Huntingdon, previously Haversham) was a regular character in UK Channel 4 soap opera, Brookside, played by Amanda Burton from 1982 until 1986.
Heather was a driven career woman who had a habit of henpecking her first husband Roger. Heather and Roger represented the young urban professionals on Brookside Close.
Heather's marriage to Roger Huntington was often difficult. Roger's boss implied to Heather that if she put out to him Roger would get the promotion he was due. In 1983 Heather found Roger to be having an affair with a client, Diane McAllister and she throws him out.
In November 1985, she was involved in a car collision with Nicholas Black.A relationship swiftly formed and they were married on 30 June 1986.
However she later finds out about his heroin addiction. Nicholas later overdoses on heroin and his ex-wife advises that Heather leave him. Nicholas takes to stealing from Heather in an attempt to feed his heroin addiction. In November 1986 Heather tells him to leave and four days later he is found dead on a park bench in Sefton Park.

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Helen Grace
Helen Grace (born Helen Scragg, 20 August 1971 in Hertfordshire) is an English actress who trained at the Drama Centre London, now part of the University of the Arts, London. She grew up as an only child in Northwood, attended St. Helen's School and obtained a psychology degree from Durham University.
Her career began with her 1996 portrayal of Georgia Simpson in the controversial Channel 4 television soap opera Brookside, the role for which she is probably still best known. The character of Georgia Simpson was in an incestuous relationship with her younger brother, and the storyline attracted considerable press attention at the time. She undertook this role "for the experience" and as a springboard for her career more than for celebrity and was less than pleased with some of the early attention she received. However, she won her share of praise from respectable quarters for her handling of this difficult role and, at the beginning of 1997, appeared alongside fellow soap stars of the day Patsy Palmer and Tracy Shaw in a Vogue magazine issue celebrating the British woman.

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Jack McMullen
Jack Michael McMullen (born 22 February 1991) is an actor from Liverpool. He is best known for his role as Finn Sharkey in Waterloo Road, as well as smaller appearances in Brookside and Grange Hill.
McMullen started at Nikki Lindsay Casting and Drama at the Scout hut in Crosby soon after. He passed countless LAMDA exams with high marks but was unlucky with auditions. After three years he auditioned for the part of Josh McLoughlin on the long-running Channel 4 drama Brookside and he got the part. He played the role from 2002 until the show was axed by Channel 4 in 2003.
He won two British Soap Awards for his role in the show. The first for best newcomer, beating EastEnders star Shane Richie to the accolade. And in the same awards ceremony in 2003, he won the best on-screen partnership with co-star Sarah White, who played his on-screen mother, Bev McLoughlin. He appeared as Timothy "Tigger" Johnson in Grange Hill from 2004 initially in a guest role, and later a regular cast slot until 2008. Tigger was the younger brother of Togger and nephew of original Grange Hill pupil Peter "Tucker" Jenkins. Both Brookside and Grange Hill were produced by Phil Redmond.

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Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas (born 21 April 1980) is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.
Lomas was born in Manchester. Before joining Hollyoaks in 2006 he had minor roles in Heartbeat playing Craig Harker in 2005 and in Casualty playing Nathan Simmonds in 2005. His most notable appearance is in the Sky One series Dream Team as Alex Dempsey. He also appeared in Brookside in 2002 and Blue Murder in October 2006. Lomas left Hollyoaks in the summer of 2009, in a dramatic fire scene. He said,
Lomas has a son named Billy (born January 2006) with his former girlfriend, Haley Lever. He and Coronation Street star Kym Marsh publicly announced their relationship in July 2008. In December 2008, Lomas and Marsh announced they were expecting a baby together, due in the summer of 2009. On 12 February 2009, Marsh released a statement on behalf of the couple, announcing their son, Archie Jay Lomas, had been born 18 weeks early on 11 February, and had died moments after birth. Marsh stated "Archie is our beautiful angel and we will miss him so much. Thank you all for your support." Marsh gave birth to their daughter, Polly Lomas, on 23 March 2011 five weeks early; weighing in at 4 lbs 1oz.

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Jim Wiggins
Jim Wiggins (born 13 March 1922 in Birkenhead - died 1999, London) was an English actor, best known for his role as Paul Collins in the long running television soap Brookside.
An amateur actor for many years, he finally turned professional in 1978, having had careers in the Army, civil service and as a teacher. As well as his role in Brookside (from 1982 to 1990), he appeared in a number of other television series. These include The Gentle Touch, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, Emmerdale Farm and The Professionals.

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Jimmy Corkhill
James 'Jimmy' Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Dean Sullivan. He joined the series in 1986, originally arriving in a recurring basis appearing along side his on-screen brother, Billy Corkhill, he then became a regular, remaining in the show until its demise 17 years later. He is also cited as one of the show's most popular characters and was the longest featured character. Jimmy has often been cited as a lovable rogue by the media.
Jimmy is played by actor Dean Sullivan. He later became the longest serving cast member in the serial's history. Sullivan was initially only contracted to appear in six episodes as a recurring character, however due to his popularity he was taken on full time and remained for seventeen years. When the serial was axed Sullivan stated he felt bereaved and it was like losing an old friend.
Jimmy is often described as a rogue. He is also described a the "bad boy" character.

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John Burton (actor)
John Burton is a British stage and television actor.
John has appeared in numerous productions throughout the UK, including West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, An Inspector Calls, Outside Edge, They Don’t Grow on Trees, Confusions, Bells Are Ringing, Cabaret, Me and My Girl, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a national tour of Peter Nichols’ award-winning play Blue Murder, a national tour of Four Nights in Knaresborough a residency for Hull Truck Theatre prior to a national number one tour of The Glee Club playing Walt Hemmings and most recently "The Midnight Hop" by Soweto Kinch for Birmingham Rep playing Sir Percival Henshaw.
John’s television credits include: DC Cody in Coronation Street, James Ogley in Emmerdale, PC Steve Watson in Noah’s Ark, Sgt Bob Ellis in Undercover Customs, Sgt Major Atlee in Dalziel and Pascoe, Dave Edwards in Where the Heart Is, Rob Bonner in Cold Feet, DS Reynolds in Hollyoaks, Paramedic Steve in Clocking Off, Peter Phillips in Always and Everyone, Keith Palmer in Merseybeat, PC Joe Sambrook in The Bill, Steve Brooks in Crossroads, Alan Gordon in Brookside, Ansell in EastEnders, Tony in All About Me, Dean Forster in Casualty, Daniel Carey in "Flood", and Captain Steve Simmonds in "Hostage", two episodes from the BBC series Crisis Command, Simon Marshall in the TV movie All in the Game, Bill Durrant in the second series of Afterlife, Martin Foreman in the last ever episode of Dream Team, 3 episodes of Coronation Street which included the 50th anniversary live episode as watch commander John Dow, and most recently DS Andy Nicoll in Catch me if you can for the BBC.

wn.com/John_Burton_(actor)
Judith Barker
Judith Barker (born 22 June 1943) is an English actress, best known for her role as the upwardly mobile homewrecker Janet Reid on the soap opera Coronation Street, which she played from 1969 to 1977.
Since her departure from Coronation Street, Barker is mostly a character actress on television drama, with exceptions being her role on Brookside, playing the role of Audrey Manners from 1995 to 1996. She appeared in the first series of Waterloo Road as Estelle Cooper and had a small role in the film Mrs. Potter.
In 2012 she appeared in the second series of Scott & Bailey as Dorothy Parsons, the mother of Lesley Sharp's character DC Janet Scott.
Judith also runs her own drama classes at Springhead Congregational Church, along with choreographer Adele Parry and musical director Dave Bintley. Recent achievements have seen her classes performing at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Students have included Hollyoaks actor Ellis Hollins.

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Karen Drury
Karen Drury (born 1958, Wetherby, West Yorkshire) is a British actress best known for her role as Susannah Farnham (later Morrissey) in Channel 4 soap, Brookside. She has also had small roles in several Yorkshire Television programmes including A Bit of a Do, Emmerdale and Heartbeat and a role in Granada Television soap, Coronation Street in 1978.
On 13 July 2011 she appeared on the BBC1 daytime soap Doctors.

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Karen Grant
Karen Grant is a character in Brookside portrayed by Shelagh O'Hara from 1982 until 1986 with returns in 1988 and 1990.
The Grant family consisted of Bobby Grant, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant, Karen Grant and Damon Grant. The family moved onto the Middle Class Brookside Close from a rundown council estate.
Karen Grant was not seen in the first episode; instead, Bobby was heard to be shouting at her through the bathroom door. Karen then appeared in the second episode. 16-year-old Karen represented youth subculture and was moody, keeping herself apart from her parents. Karen had a boyfriend, Duanne, in the early episodes, whom Bobby and Sheila thoroughly disapproved of.
Karen is close in age to younger brother Damon. The two have a love-hate relationship, often engaging in arguments. At the same time, however, they are often allies in rebelling against Sheila's staunch Catholic upbringing (refusing to go to church with her, for example). As Karen became a more settled character, she often tried to calm hot-headed Damon.

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Kazia Pelka
Kazia Pelka (born 1960 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire) is a British actress. She trained at the LAMDA where she was awarded the Wilfred Foulis prize. She has worked extensively in the theatre with roles ranging from classical to contemporary." She has had major roles in Brookside (as nanny/prostitute Anna Wolska), Heartbeat (as district nurse Maggie Bolton), Coronation Street, and more recently five's soap Family Affairs, where she played Chrissy Costello from September 2003 until the show's final episode on December 30, 2005. Pelka won the award for "Best Dramatic Performance" at the 2005 British Soap Awards, the first award ever to be won by Family Affairs. She has recently appeared in The Bill as DAC Georgia Hobbs. She has also appeared in Casualty.
She recently appeared in a Toviaz commercial in the US.
Her brother is Valentine Pelka who starred in the TV series Queen of Swords and guest appearances in the TV series Highlander: The Series. They appeared together in the Heartbeat episode Sitting off the Dock of Bay. Their mother is Irish stage actress Alma Herley, whose brother Randal Herley is also an actor, and their maternal grandmother was opera singer Anne Herley.

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Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Tamsin Faulkner (born 18 February 1972)^{[citation needed]} is an English actress and television personality.
Faulkner was born in Merton, London. She was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.
When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer. She has discussed in several interviews her feelings about her mother's death.
At the age of 16, she was approached by a modelling scout while she was waiting on the platform of a London tube station.
In 1992, she made her first acting appearance in The Lover, starring Jane March. At age 21, Lisa played the part of Alison Dangerfield in the British TV drama Dangerfield. She also starred in the 1994 British film A Feast at Midnight. In 1996 she appeared in And The Beat Goes On. Two years later, she played Louise Hope in the Channel 4 soap Brookside. Between 1998 and 2001, she played Dr Victoria Merrick on Holby City, before her character was stabbed to death in her own home by the father of a patient whose life she couldn't save.

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Louis Emerick
Louis Emerick, born 10 June 1960, Liverpool, England, UK, is a British TV actor, best known for his portrayal of Mick Johnson in the soap opera Brookside.
He played a police officer in the BBC One series Last of the Summer Wine and had a minor role in the British film Layer Cake. He has made an appearance on BBC's Strictly African Dancing as part of Africa Lives season. He pulled last place.
He is also starring as Mike Bateman in the BBC One hospital series Casualty.
During 2006 Louis' familiar sounding voice could be heard advertising certain products for radio (especially for Manx Radio station "Energy FM").
Louis Emerick was born in the Toxteth area of Liverpool to a white British mother and a Liberian father. He is one of six children.
He started out his theatrical life acting and singing in amateur productions, in particular being a long time member of Genesis Theatre, who were active from 1974 - 1982 in the Manchester area of the UK. At the time he still had a daytime job. In this theatre group he took lead parts in Hair, Stag, Demolition Man, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Marilyn and others. After the theatre group broke up in 1982 he went on to further his career and subsequently turned professional.

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Mal Young
Mal Young (born 26 January 1957) is a British television producer and executive producer.
His initial career was in the Graphic Design industry, and it was not until the age of 27 that he began working in television, on the acclaimed Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.
Working on the show for nearly a decade, he worked his way up to become its producer in the early 1990s, although his tenure was criticised by some for taking the show away from its social realist roots towards a more sensationalist, ratings-chasing format. He achieved all time record ratings for the series and for C4. He also co-created and produced his own successful drama series for C4 And The Beat Goes On. He then moved on to become Head of Drama at the independent production company Pearson Television, where he oversaw work on ITV police drama The Bill and another soap opera, Channel 5's Family Affairs, which he created, and was Executive Producer on C5's legal drama series, the BAFTA nominated Wing And A Prayer.
In 1997, he moved to the BBC to become the Controller of Continuing Drama Series for the Corporation's in-house production arm, a position he held until 2004. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all of the organisation's in-house continuing episodic drama series (as opposed to short-run multi-episode-storyline serials, which are handled by the Head of Serials). Programmes he oversaw for the BBC included the soap opera EastEnders; medical dramas Doctors (which he co-created), Casualty and the latter's spin-off series Holby City, which he created; police dramas Dalziel and Pascoe, Waking the Dead and Merseybeat; anthology shows The Afternoon Play and Murder in Mind; legal drama Judge John Deed; rural-set Down to Earth; comedy-drama Being April and science-fiction series Doctor Who.

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Mark Moraghan
Mark Moraghan (born Mark Stephen Moraghan on 27 January 1963) is a British actor and singer. He has appeared in many British drama series including Peak Practice and Heartbeat. However he is most famous for his roles as Greg Shadwick in Brookside, Ray Wyatt in Dream Team, and Owen Davies in Holby City.
Moraghan was born in Toxteth, Liverpool on 27 January 1963. He started his acting career in 1978, when the BBC held auditions in his high school for the TV play Lies, and he was selected to play his first role. On 14 May 1988, Moraghan started his professional acting career playing a ferryman in the comedy Help!, and he subsequently went on to play in many TV series and several movies. His longest running role was Owen Davies, a Consultant Obstetrician, in Holby City which he played from 2001 until 2005. He also appeared in a television commercial for the fabric softener 'Bounce' in 1996 with fellow Liverpudlian Katy Carmichael.[1]
Moraghan is best known for his acting, but he also loves to sing and was inspired by Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and big band music. His fantasy is to combine singing and acting on the stage on the West End one day. He is currently starring in a musical production of Willy Russells "Our Day Out" at Royal Court Liverpool Theatre.

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Meg Johnson
Meg Johnson (born 30 September 1936) is an English actress who currently plays the role of Pearl Ladderbanks in ITV's popular soap opera Emmerdale. Prior to joining Emmerdale, Johnson was a part of the axed UK soap Brookside, playing Brigid McKenna for three years. In the early 1980s she also played the part of Eunice Gee in Coronation Street, a role she briefly reprised in 1999.
In November 1997, she was in the original cast of the London revival of Chicago playing the matron Mama Morton, the prison warder, for more than a year. She can be heard on the London Cast Recording of Chicago, singing "When You're Good To Mama", "Me And My Baby" and "Class".
Following her role in Coronation Street she appeared sporadically on television, and was a part of the cast of Victoria Wood As Seen On TV (from 1985 to 1987) alongside Wood, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie and others. Johnson is married to the former Granada Television continuity announcer, Charles Foster.

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Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey (born 22 May 1959), known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career, making the top ten of the UK Singles Chart on ten occasions. Widely regarded as an important innovator in indie music, Morrissey has been described by music magazine NME as "one of the most influential artists ever," and The Independent has stated "most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status he has reached in his lifetime."Pitchfork Media has called him "one of the most singular figures in Western popular culture from the last twenty years."
Morrissey's lyrics have been described as "dramatic, bleak, funny vignettes about doomed relationships, lonely nightclubs, the burden of the past and the prison of the home." He is also noted for his unusual baritone vocal style (though he sometimes uses falsetto), his quiff haircut and his dynamic live performances. His forthright and often contrarian opinions have led to a number of media controversies, and he has also attracted media attention for his advocacy of vegetarianism and animal rights. Morrissey moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 1990s.

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Nicholas Black
Nicholas Black was a regular character in UK Channel 4 soap opera Brookside between 1985 and 1986, played by Alan Rothwell.
He married Heather Huntingdon on 30 June 1986, just months after they met when she crashed into his car. Heather was a young attractive career lady and it seemed strange that she would fall for the dull-looking middle aged divorcee Nicholas.
As with the later character, John Harrison, the writers attempted to make the character more interesting by giving him a flaw.
In this case, Nicholas and his best friend Charlie, were heroin addicts. Nicholas lied to Heather about his addiction and despite Barry Grant's warnings, Heather ignored this until it was too late.
Nicholas overdosed on heroin and his ex-wife advised Heather to leave him. Heather stayed with him, however it wasn't long before he was stealing from her to fund his habit.
In November 1986 Heather finally told him to leave. Four days later he was found dead on a park bench.

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Nicola Stephenson
Nicola Stephenson (born 5 July 1971)^{[citation needed]} is an English actress. She is known mainly for her roles in television, which include Margaret Clemence in Brookside, Julie Fitzjohn/Bradford in Holby City, Suzie Davidson in Clocking Off, Jackie in ITV's Christmas Lights/Northern Lights/City Lights, and Sarah Williams in BBC's The Chase. She learnt and became a qualified fork-lift driver in order to play the part of Suzie in Clocking Off.
In 2007, she had a lead role in the BBC TV series Superstorm.
She was born in Oldham, Lancashire^{[citation needed]} and attended North Chadderton School for her secondary education.
In 2009, she gave birth to a baby girl, Esmé Rose Stephenson.^{[citation needed]}

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Noreen Kershaw
Noreen Kershaw is an English television actress and director.
She trained at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and, at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, originated the title role of the play Shirley Valentine, later made famous by Pauline Collins. She was seen in the BBC television series Life on Mars, as WPC Phyllis Dobbs, the desk officer.
She had previously played the roles of Kathy Roach in Channel 4's Brookside 1988-1990, Lynne Harrison in Granada Television's Albion Market 1985-1986, and been a star of the long running Granada TV sitcom, Watching
She has directed episodes of the top rated ITV1 soap opera, Coronation Street, as well as Channel 4's comedy drama, Shameless, ITV1 series Emmerdale and Heartbeat and BBC Scotland"s River City.
In 2008, she directed the feature film Act of Grace.

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Paul Marquess
Paul Marquess (born 23 June 1964) is a Northern Irish-born British television producer.
His credits include Brookside, The Bill and Family Affairs. He also originated the idea for the series Footballers' Wives. Due to the nature of his input and effect on the series he works on, Marquess has often been labelled "The Axe Man" and "The Queen of Trash" by television critics.
In 2002, Marquess took over as executive producer of The Bill where he made many changes to the show's format and cast. The show became serialised and many veteran characters were axed. The show also became more focused on officer's private lives (often at the expense of their work) and became heavily reliant on sensationalist storylines such as murder, rape, paedophilia and incest.
In 2003, Marquess was promoted to Head of Drama at Talkback Thames and also became executive producer on the Channel 5 series Family Affairs. The series was axed during Marquess' time in the position in 2005. Also during this time, he created and executive produced The Bill spin-off series MIT: Murder Investigation Team, which was panned by critics for being a blatant copy of the American series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and was a ratings failure. After its first run of eight episodes, it was taken off the air for two years, after which it returned for four 90 minute episodes in 2005. Ratings did not improve and the series was axed.

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Paul Usher
John Paul Usher (born 30 April 1961 in [[Garston, Liverpool is an English actor.
He was educated at [[St John Almond High School Liverpool, and is best known for playing Barry Grant in Brookside, from the first episode until the last (with a lengthy gap before the final episode in November 2003), and PC Des Taviner in The Bill from 2001 to 2004.
He has also appeared in Liverpool 1 and London's Burning and starred in Six Bend Trap, an Ironopolis Film Company with Lisa Riley and local actors from the Teesside Area. He appeared in Swing with Lisa Stansfield and Hugo Speer and in Robin Hood (2006, BBC), in the penultimate episode of series two. He met wife Lindsey who is also a fellow scouser whilist on night out in Liverpool city center in 2002. They married in June 2003 and have four children togeather. Lucas born 2004 leigh born 2006 Charley born 2008 kyla born 2010. The familey live in Newcastle upon tyne.

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Peter Christian
Peter Christian (born 14 August 1947 in Dingle, Liverpool) is an English actor best known for his roles on UK Television.
In 1983, he appeared in the original Liverpool Playhouse production of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers as Sammy.
On television he has appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside as Frank Rogers (from 1987 until the character was killed off in 1993), Boys from the Blackstuff, and Scully.

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Petra Taylor
Petra Taylor (neè Jones) is a fictional character portrayed by Alexandra Pigg in the soap Brookside from 1982 until 1983.
Prior to Petra and Gavin's arrival on Brookside Close, the neighbours were already finding conflict with Roger Huntingdon looking down his nose at the working class Grant family and inevitable conflict between the Grant and Collins families.
The arrival of the Taylors on a meat wagon however made it worse. The neighbours had already formed an impression of them before their arrival when gas cookers turn up of their lawn sometime before they move in. These gas cookers are in fact stolen and being sold by Gavin. Phil Redmond intended the Taylors to represent the black market economy.
Petra came from a working-class Liverpool family, her mother died when she was young and she was brought up by her father, Davy Jones.
From her arrival until Gavin's death, Petra is trying for a baby. Petra and Gavin argue somewhat during their stay. In February 1983 however Petra finds Gavin has died in his sleep, and is consoled by her and Gavin's brother-in-law, George Jackson.

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Phil Redmond
Phil Redmond CBE (born 10 June 1949) is an English television producer and screenwriter.
He is well-known for creating several popular television series such as Grange Hill (BBC One, 1978–2008), Brookside (Channel 4, 1982–2003) and Hollyoaks (Channel 4, 1995—). For over twenty years he also ran his own independent production company, Mersey Television, before selling the company off in 2005. Redmond also created the daytime legal drama, The Courtroom which was canceled after 38 episodes.
In 1989, Redmond was awarded the post of Honorary Professor of Media Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, where he is encouraging a new, practically-orientated, media studies course.^{[citation needed]}
In November 2010 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Chester.
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to drama.^{[citation needed]}
In February 2012 Redmond declared in interest in running for the role of Elected Mayor of Liverpool.

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Philip Olivier
Philip Olivier (born Philip Lee Borg-Olivier on 4 June 1980 in Liverpool, England) is an English actor, model and stage performer best known for playing the role of Tim O'Leary in the soap opera Brookside.

Philip spent his early childhood living in South Africa and the USA before returning to Liverpool when he was 7 years old. He attended St Edward’s College, Liverpool. In the evenings he attended a local amateur dramatic school in West Derby, Liverpool.
Philip's first role was in 1995 in the Channel 4 production Hearts and Minds with Christopher Eccleston.
In 1996 he starred in his first television, and most notable, role of Timothy 'Tinhead' O'Leary in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside until its cancellation in 2003. He also appeared in the one-off drama Brookside: Unfinished Business which followed the series in 2003.
Since leaving Brookside Philip has performed in several audio plays based on the Doctor Who television series by Big Finish Productions as a companion of the Seventh Doctor by the name of Hex. Philip has also appeared as one of the guest regulars in the Channel 4 comedy sketch show Bo Selecta.

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Ricky Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson (born 26 September 1939), known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor, comedian and activist best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family.
Tomlinson was born Eric Tomlinson in Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, but has lived in Liverpool nearly all his life. Tomlinson was born in Bispham because his mother, Peggy, was evacuated there due to the Liverpool Blitz in World War II. On 22 March 1962 he married first wife Marlene; they had three children.
A gifted and qualified plasterer by trade, he worked on various building sites for many years becoming actively involved in politics (firstly with the far-right, then more predominantly with the far-left). In 1968 he joined the National Front in support of less immigration after Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech. His views gradually changed over time and in 1972 he joined the flying pickets in a building workers' dispute in Shrewsbury. In 1973, Tomlinson was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of 'conspiracy to intimidate' as one of the so-called Shrewsbury Two. After his release in 1975, he disrupted the TUC conference by shouting from the wings after he had been prevented from speaking from the stage. It was revealed in 2002 that MI5 had monitored him during the 1970s.

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Rob Spendlove
Rob Spendlove (born 1 May 1953 in London) is a British actor best known for his roles on UK Television.
He studied drama at Middlesex Polytechnic, worked as a teacher and toured schools with a fringe theatre company.
He has appeared in many television soaps and dramas including; Brookside as Roger Huntington (the husband of Heather Huntingdon played by Amanda Burton), A Touch of Frost, Soldier Soldier (on which he had a major role as Company Sergeant Major Michael Stubbs) and most recently in all 17 episodes of The Last Detective as Detective Inspector Aspinall.

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Robert Pugh
Robert Pugh (born 1950) is a Welsh film and television actor.
Pugh was born in Cilfynydd and graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1976. In 2007, he co-starred alongside Genevieve O'Reilly and Geraldine James in ITV1 drama The Time of Your Life, where he played a parent whose 36-year-old daughter was recovering from an 18 year coma. He also starred as notorious Nazi Hermann Göring in a 2006 BBC drama-documentary Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial and he also played Harold Wilson in the Channel 4 drama Longford. In May 2010 he appeared as Tony in the two part Doctor Who story "The Hungry Earth" and "Cold Blood".
Pugh is also one of eight celebrities chosen to participate in an intense week learning Welsh in an eco-friendly chic campsite in Pembrokeshire in the series cariad@iaith:love4language shown on S4C in May 2012.

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Ron Dixon
Ronald Dixon (born May 28, 1976 in Wildwood, Florida) is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants in the National Football League. His most notable performance was his 97 yard kick return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV. Dixon's return was the only score for the Giants as they went on to lose to the Baltimore Ravens 34-7. He also recorded a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Giants win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional playoffs that year. As a result, he holds the record for the most kickoff returns for a touchdown in a postseason campaign (2).
Dixon's career was once promising but was prematurely ended by a PCL injury in his left knee.
Ron had try outs with the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints in the spring of 2005, but his knee injury was not healed enough for him to be effective, so he officially retired from the NFL as a vested veteran in 2005.
Dixon has now moved to Orlando, Florida where he is a health insurance agent and the Director of Public Relations for the Tenncom Group, an insurance agency and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) brokerage. He is now in the process of developing a health/disability insurance program for athletes to insure against career ending injuries.

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Samuel Kane
Samuel Kane (born 1968) is a British actor, who has appeared in the soap operas Brookside, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Kane was born in Huyton; his father is Ken McGlashan, a local Labour Councillor. He is married to actress and former glamour model Linda Lusardi, and they have two children together, both born in Enfield, Greater London: Lucy Anne (born 1996) and Jack Francis (born 1999). He is an avid fan of Everton F.C. He also enjoys kayaking and is known for raising rabbits on his ranch.

wn.com/Samuel_Kane
Sarah Lam
Sarah Lam is a British-Chinese actress, noted for her television roles.
She played Susannah in the sitcom No Problem!, Linda Mo in Angels, Anna Lee in Howards' Way and Caroline Choi in Brookside.
Other TV credits include: Two Thousand Acres of Sky, The Chinese Detective, C.A.T.S. Eyes, A Very Peculiar Practice, The Adventure Game, Virtual Murder, Inspector Morse, The Bill and Holby City.

wn.com/Sarah_Lam
Stephanie Chambers
Stephanie Chambers (born 9 March 1971) is an English actress, born in Birmingham, Warwickshire. She is known for playing Gabby Parr in the British soap Brookside, but has also appeared in New Tricks, Doctors, Emmerdale and the American horror film Seed of Chucky. Chambers trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London.
She is engaged to Brookside co-star Steven Pinder and they have a daughter Scarlett Rose.

wn.com/Stephanie_Chambers
Steven Pinder
Steven Pinder (born 30 March 1960 in Whalley, Lancashire, England) is an actor.
Pinder was born on March 30, 1960, and comes from a small family with just one younger sister, Catherine, who is 11 years younger and works in agriculture. He grew up on Downham Avenue in Great Harwood. His father was the bank manager of the NatWest in Blackburn.
He got his first job working in a cemetery when he was 15. He joined Blackburn Arts Club then Manchester Youth Theatre at 17.
He attended Norden High School on Stourton Street in Rishton near Blackburn, where he took his A levels. He went to the Drama Centre London (now part of the University of the Arts London) in Clerkenwell.
He is known for his role in the television soap opera Brookside. He played Max Farnham in the series from 1990 to its conclusion in 2003 with his three wives Patricia (Gabrielle Glaister), Susannah (Karen Drury), and latterly Jacqui (née Dixon), played by Alexandra Fletcher.
Previously in his career, he played the part of Roy Lambert in Crossroads the owner of Kings Oak corner shop. After the programme was cancelled, he appeared in two series of the sitcom Foxy Lady. He has also appeared in C.A.T.S. Eyes and the BBC Scotland comedy series Scotch and Wry.

wn.com/Steven_Pinder
Sue Jenkins
Susan Elizabeth Jenkins (born 31 July 1958, Liverpool) is an English actress and one of two daughters of Albert and Marjorie Jenkins. Sue has one sister,Pam.
Sue Jenkins became an actress at the age of eighteen having studied at drama college. She worked in repertory theatres across the UK for the first 11 years of her career, performing in over a hundred plays, playing everything from Alan Ayckbourn to Shakespeare. Alan Bleasdale wrote the lead female role in Having a Ball for Jenkins, which she played at the Theatre Royal, York.
She then started to work more on television including How We Used To Live and the cult TV programme, The Beiderbecke Affair. She first came to prominence in 1985 when she joined the cast of top rated British soap opera, Coronation Street, playing barmaid Gloria Todd in 238 episodes. She left the show in 1988 after becoming pregnant with her second child, Richard, who played Craig Harris in the soap from 2002 until 2006. She returned to television in the series Coasting with Peter Howitt and in 1990 playing the part of the much loved Jackie Corkhill in the Liverpool based, and often controversial, Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.

wn.com/Sue_Jenkins
Sunetra Sarker
Sunetra Sarker (born 25 June 1973 in Liverpool) is an English actress.
Sarker has a degree in Information Systems for Business with French from Brunel University.
She has played a wide variety of roles in her career. Her initial success came when she was cast as Nisha Batra in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1988 to 1990 and then returned in 2000 until 2003.
She also starred in the short-lived regional soap London Bridge. This was followed by one of her biggest roles as Anji Mittel in No Angels from 2004 to 2006.
Her next large role was playing the part of Clare Burns in the BBC drama The Chase until the show was pulled after its second series. She can currently be seen in a major role on one of the BBC's longest running series Casualty as Dr Zoe Hanna.
In 2007 she was a contestant on the celebrity version of popular cooking show MasterChef. In 2008, Sarker provided the voiceover for the new Liverpool One shopping centre advertisements.
Sarker married Nick Corfield in August 2003, and gave birth to their first child, Noah, on 9 June 2005.

wn.com/Sunetra_Sarker
Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins (born August 10, 1962) is an American television writer and novelist, best known for writing The Hunger Games series (which comprises The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay).
Collins was born on August 10, 1962 in Hartford, Connecticut. She is the daughter of a U.S. Air Force officer who served in the Vietnam War. As the daughter of a military officer, she and her family were constantly moving. She spent her childhood in the eastern U.S. She attended high school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she was a Theater Arts major. She graduated from Indiana University with a double major in Drama and Telecommunications.
Collins' career began in 1991 as a writer for children's television shows. She worked on several television shows for Nickelodeon, including Clarissa Explains It All, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, Little Bear, and Oswald. She was also the head writer for Scholastic Entertainment's Clifford's Puppy Days. She received a Writers Guild of America nomination in animation for co-writing the critically acclaimed Christmas special, Santa, Baby!

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Suzanne Packer
Birth Name: Suzanne Jackson Birth Date: June 20th 1958 Birth Place: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Suzanne Packer (born Suzanne Jackson) is the stage name of a Welsh actress who is best known for playing the role of Tess Bateman in the long running television series, Casualty. Suzanne is currently the second longest serving cast member as she joined Casualty in September 2003. In the early 1990s, she was mostly well known for her role as Mick Johnson's wife Josie in the Channel 4 soap Brookside
Whilst at Llanedeyrn High School in Cardiff, she already showed an interest in acting, playing the lead in school plays including Oklahoma and The King and I.
She is the elder sister of the Olympic athlete Colin Jackson.
Suzanne Packer at the Internet Movie Database

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Tiffany Chapman
Tiffany Chapman (born 3 September 1979 in Oldham, Greater Manchester) is an English actress. She played Rachel Jordache (later known as Rachel Dixon) in the soap opera Brookside from 1993 until the show's conclusion in 2003. She has also released a fitness video and appeared in Celebrity Wrestling.
She is also the daughter of former footballer and football manager Les Chapman who played around 1000 games for various clubs in the Football League.
In June 2007 she starred as social worker Meg in the popular UK drama Hollyoaks.
In February 2008 she appeared as nurse Cindy Burton in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale.

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Tim O'Leary
Timothy "Tinhead" O'Leary is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Philip Olivier from 1996 until the final episode of the series in 2003. Tim subsequently appeared in a video spin-off, Brookside: Unfinished Business.
Tinhead made his first appearance in Brookside as a school bully at Brookside Comprehensive in 1996. Danny Simpson was Tinhead's main target, as he tried to bully him into helping him with his schoolwork. Tinhead was the leader of a gang of boys who continued to terrorise other pupils despite protests made to the head teacher by their parents.
One day Danny gave Tinhead some schoolwork knowing that he was going to take the credit for it, but Danny deliberately made the project complete nonsense so Tinhead was made to look a fool in front of his classmates. Tinhead decided to teach Danny a lesson, so after school he chased Danny and his mate Leo intending to give Danny a good beating, but when he escaped it was Leo who was left battered and bruised.

wn.com/Tim_O'Leary
Trevor Jordache
Trevor Jordache is a character played by Bryan Murray in Brookside. The character only appeared in the soap briefly in 1993, but was a feature in the programme until his body was discovered in 1995 and one of the most memorable of its history.
Trevor Jordache had been the head of the middle class Jordache family prior to their arrival on Brookside Close. He worked in a management position for a building society and the family lived a comfortable lifestyle.
Trevor, however, was a bully towards his wife Mandy (who he'd married in 1973) and sexually abused his teenage daughter Beth. He was finally jailed for this.
In 1993 Mandy, Beth and Rachel Jordache arrived on Brookside close in a 'safehouse' as Trevor was due to be released from prison. The family lived there for a short while before Trevor traced Beth at college. When Trevor approached her, she ran away, however she was followed home by Trevor revealing the family home on Brookside Close.
Trevor then approached his wife Mandy. Mandy refused to take pity on him, however she agreed to meet him at his bedsit. Upon seeing the squalor he had to live in and finding he had been burgled, Mandy naively allowed Trevor to stay at her house, much to the delight of youngest daughter Rachael and the disgust of eldest daughter Beth.

wn.com/Trevor_Jordache

Brookside 2000- Shelley Sleeps Wih Jackie

Episode of Brookside in 2000 starring Alexandra Wescourt, Karen Drury, Sue Jenkins, Claire...

published: 12 Sep 2011

author: frodoireland

Brookside Close: RARE Documentry

BROOKSIDE DVD OUT NOVEMBER 12TH 2012!!! BROOKSIDE: BEST STORYLINES '30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITI...

published: 07 Jan 2011

author: Lee Brady

Brookside - Eddie finds the body

Infamous episode where the body under the patio is discovered...

published: 10 Jan 2009

author: tellyisgood

Brookside: 10 Of The Best (part 1)

From the dvd "Unfinished Business"...

published: 15 Oct 2008

author: LiverPhilTV

BROOKSIDE FUNNIEST EPISODE EVER SHEILA GRANT GOES CLUBBING PART 1

PART 1 OF 2 SHEILA GRANT DITCHES THE KITCHEN SINK FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH CATHY WHICH SHE WIL...

published: 23 Oct 2012

author: maddonna666

Brookside | 4th April 1997

Brookside episode from 1997....

published: 06 Nov 2012

author: EmmerdaleFanx

Brookside - Opening Credits - UK TV

Brookside - Opening Credits - UK TV...

published: 15 Jan 2008

author: Nina Perez

Brookside

...

published: 05 Jul 2012

author: swampy3666

Brookside 1997- Farnhams Car Crash

Back in 1997 in of the most moving storylines Brookside ever produced. Brilliant perfroman...

published: 06 Aug 2011

author: frodoireland

Brookside - Parade Explosion 1

Ron decides to install a gas cooker in his flat that he bought off Sinbad by himself which...

published: 30 Mar 2010

author: hadj0587

Brookside 26th December 1988 - part 1

It is a rowdy Christmas Day at the Corkhills', and there is a surprise arrival. Chrissy ha...

published: 25 Sep 2010

author: sinbad0p

Brookside 2002 Episode of Brookside

Episode of Brookside in 2002....

published: 11 Sep 2011

author: frodoireland

Damon & Debbie - Brookside - The death of Damon Grant

Poor Damon Grant meets an extremely untimely end after an afternoon of ultimate pleasure, ...

published: 20 May 2007

author: Xihymn

By The Brookside

A video segment taken from my lost movie- Revenge Of The Forgotten...

published: 01 Mar 2009

author: drnatebrown

<li class="playlistitemli thumbnail border_color">
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            <a href="http://web.archive.org./web/20121208191853/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://wn.com/brookside&t=<%= title %>" title="Share this video" data-title="Share this video" target="_blank" style="target-name: new; target-new: tab;"></a>
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photo: AP / Bullit Marquez

Residents cross a river in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012.

About 350 die in Philippine typhoon, 400 missing

Herald Tribune

06 Dec 2012

NEW BATAAN, Philippines - A powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed almost 350 people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. More bodies were retrieved from hardest-hit Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental provinces and six others impacted by Tuesday's storm, the Office of Civil Defense reported ... "It was horrible ... --- ... Location....(size: 8.0Kb)

photo: US Navy / Matthew Stroup

Afghan and coalition forces kill insurgent leader in Kunar province

The Examiner

05 Dec 2012

ISAF today issued an operational update on combat operations in Afghanistan. It noted, among other things, that Afghan and coalition security forces conducted an operation in Watahpur district yesterday that resulted in the “death of insurgent leader Mohammad Yar Gul.” ... Mohammed Yar Gul coordinated the movement of insurgent fighters throughout Kunar province ... ....(size: 1.7Kb)

photo: AP / Photo

Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, center, is escorted by officials upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.

Champions League: Lionel Messi injured in Barca-Benfica draw

Joy Online

06 Dec 2012

Lionel Messi missed out on a chance to match Gerd Mueller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year as he was injured during Barcelona's draw with Benfica. Messi, who hurt his left knee in a collision with Benfica keeper Artur, was taken off 30 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. Benfica knew a win would see them finish second behind Barca in Group G ... FC Barcelona's official Twitter account tweeted after the Benfica game....(size: 2.5Kb)

photo: AP / Guatemala's Human Rights Ombudsman's office

In this photo released by Guatemala's Human Rights Ombudsman's office, software company founder John McAfee is pictured in an immigration detention center in Guatemala City, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012.

McAfee hospitalized after being denied asylum

The Salt Lake Tribune

07 Dec 2012

By SONIA PEREZ-DIAZ. The Associated Press. First Published Dec 06 2012 09.10 am • Updated 1 minute ago ... ....(size: 0.8Kb)

photo: AP / Vahid Salemi

File - Iranian worshippers listen to a sermon during Friday prayers as an Iranian flag flutters at Tehran University, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 6, 2012.

Can Saudi Arabia and Iran Reestablish the Medina Pact?

WorldNews.com

07 Dec 2012

Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. The in- and out-fighting between present-day Saudi Arabia and Iran is a mirror image of what occurred to Prophet Muhammad's Islamic Movement right after his death ... Still, and due to prosperity and wealth, an influx of trade goods, religious toleration, an emphasis on learning, and increased food supplies, Islam was becoming a vast empire ... Recent U.S ... Dallas Darling (darling@wn.com)....(size: 7.5Kb)

timeline:
2012
2011
2010
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ZoÃ«s Kitchen to open in Brookside next month

Tulsa World

08 Dec 2012

Mediterranean healthy-eating restaurant ZoÃ«s Kitchen is making big changes to the Brookside building it plans to call home in January. Essentially all that is left of the former Flying Burrito Co. structure at 3629 S. Peoria Ave. is two walls ... The company is spending more than $1 million on the renovation project, he said ... "All of our food is fresh-made ... Original Print Headline. Brookside awaits Greek-style ZoÃ«s chain ... All rights reserved ... ....(size: 4.3Kb)

Zoës Kitchen to open in Brookside next month

Tulsa World

08 Dec 2012

Mediterranean healthy-eating restaurant Zoës Kitchen is making big changes to the Brookside building it plans to call home in January. Essentially all that is left of the former Flying Burrito Co. structure at 3629 S. Peoria Ave. is two walls ... The company is spending more than $1 million on the renovation project, he said ... "All of our food is fresh-made ... Zoës Kitchen sample menu ... Greek Salad — $7.49 ... Brookside awaits Greek-style Zoës chain ... ....(size: 4.9Kb)

Girls roundup: Sac High reaches St. Hope Classic final - High School Sports - The ...

Sacramento Bee

08 Dec 2012

Hope Classic girls basketball tournament Friday at Sacramento High.Sac High will play Brookside Christian of tonight at 7 o'clock for the championship....(size: 0.7Kb)

Greenwood King Properties Launches New Mobile App That Makes Real Estate Browsing a Breeze

Houston Chronicle

08 Dec 2012

PRWeb . December 7, 2012. Comments (0) E-mail Print. Tweet. Page 1 of 1. Greenwood King Properties, A Texas based privately owned boutique luxury real estate company, Greenwood King Properties, launches a mobile app geared to providing instant, up to date, concise information and content regarding real estate listings directly to your mobile phone ... Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 07, 2012 ... BBPR. Becky Birdwell. 111 Brookside Drive ... m ... p ... Tweet ... P.O....(size: 12.3Kb)

The Star’s editorial | Good move in KC soccer dispute

Kansas City Star

07 Dec 2012

The Raytown School District has scored a crucial goal in its principled battle against Kansas City’s funding plans for an expanded youth soccer complex in Swope Park ... Raytown Superintendent Allan Markley said Thursday that district leaders are going on the offensive, telling city officials, TIF Commission members and Brookside Soccer Club supporters why it opposes using educational funds this way ... All oppose the plan ... ....(size: 2.5Kb)

Pfizer And Bristol's Search For Antidote To Blood Thinners And Lawsuits

Seeking Alpha

07 Dec 2012

In November 2012 European regulators have approved Eliquis (generic name ... In the U.S ... approval ... Portola's antidote ... Venture investors include Temasek, an Asian investment company, Eastern Capital Limited and original supporters like AllianceBernstein, Alta Partners, Apothecary Capital, Brookside Capital, China Investment and Development, DE Shaw, Frazier Healthcare, Goldman Sachs, IBT Management, Janus Capital and many others ... ....(size: 7.6Kb)

Deaths - 12/7/2012

Tulsa World

07 Dec 2012

Armstrong, Robert L. Jr., 44, medical collections specialist, died Tuesday. Memorial service 3.30 p.m. Saturday, Mary K. Oxley Nature Center. Freeman Harris. Boyd, Dewayne A., 49, construction worker, died Tuesday in McAlester. Services pending. Dyer. Bradshaw, Pansy Sue, 77, homemaker, died Wednesday. Service 2 p.m. Monday, Freeman Harris Funeral Home Chapel ... 27. Services pending. Freeman Harris ... Services pending ... 30 ... Saturday, Ninde Brookside ... 30 ... 4....(size: 10.3Kb)

HSGKC asks people to 'adopt the shelter' for the holidays

The Examiner

06 Dec 2012

The shelter is in particular need of the items listed below ... HSGKC has other items listed on its ... Pet adoption event. Meet HSGKC adoptable dogs—and a few cats—at Brookside Barkery & Bath’s Brookside location (118 W ... 15 ... ....(size: 1.2Kb)

Indy's newest gallery opens on First Friday

Indianapolis Star

06 Dec 2012

Is there such a thing as a First First Friday? ... Circle City Industrial Complex, home to many other artist studios and galleries on the Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association walking tour, is located at 1125 Brookside Ave ... ....(size: 1.1Kb)

Preps plus: Names and News - High School Sports - The Sacramento Bee --> 0 ...

Sacramento Bee

06 Dec 2012

Tavora's MVP award goes beyond points. Low-key Gabriel Tavora of Monterey Trail was named the MVP of Saturday's 38th annual Jack Scott Tournament at Rio Americano, adding his name to a list that includes former NBA players Kevin Johnson and DeMarcus Nelson, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes ... "We don't need him for his shooting," Monterey Trail coach Ken Manfredi said ... Francis vs. Brookside Christian, 5 p.m.; Benicia vs....(size: 2.9Kb)

Wolfgang Puck Bistro: New chef Michael Fusco aims for perfection

Tulsa World

06 Dec 2012

Chef Michael Fusco had left his namesake restaurant, Fusco's (now Riverside Grill), and was cooking for longtime friend Tim Inman at Stonehorse Grill when he received an intriguing phone call. The call came from Tony Henry, president and operating principal of Wolfgang Puck Bistro in Brookside. "Tony asked if I was interesting in taking over the kitchen at Wolfgang Puck," Fusco said ... "The Wolfgang Puck concept is the same as my own ... ....(size: 4.7Kb)

Charles "C.C." Ingram, former head of ONEOK, dies at 95

Tulsa World

06 Dec 2012

Digging ditches at 25 cents an hour was no big deal to C.C. Ingram, who had never minded a hard day's work. The problem was he was doing it for a natural gas company. Ingram had long wanted to break into oil. But with the country still emerging from the Depression, the petroleum engineering graduate felt compelled to take the job that was available ... 27 ... 30 at Brookside Baptist Church under direction of Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home ... ....(size: 5.8Kb)

Restaurant news: New chef joins oui3; Oklahoma Roadhouse opens in BA

Tulsa World

06 Dec 2012

California chef Joshua Roberts said he recently felt a need to spend some time with his father, a military veteran living near Mannford. After a short time here, he also felt an itch to get back into a kitchen and submitted his resume "at a number of the better-known places." ... "Joshua showed up the next morning ... Roberts said he was immediately attracted to the Brookside restaurant that opened last summer ... We'll see where things lead." ... ....(size: 6.7Kb)

timeline:
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
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2006
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2004
2003
2002
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For other uses, see Brookside (disambiguation).

Brookside
275px
Format	Soap opera
Created by	Phil Redmond
Starring	See here
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	2915 ^[1]
Production
Executive producer(s)	Colin McKeown
Producer(s)	Phil Redmond Paul Marquess Will Scarnell Lizzie Taylor Stuart Doughty Mal Young Christopher McCaw David Andrews David Hanson Jon East
Location(s)	Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Running time	30 mins (with occasionally special episodes of 60–90 mins)
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original run	2 November 1982 – 4 November 2003 (21 years, 2 days)
Chronology
Related shows	Hollyoaks (since 1995)

Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003. Originally intended to be called Meadowcroft,^[2] the series was produced by Mersey Television and it was conceived by Phil Redmond who also devised Grange Hill (1978–2008) and Hollyoaks (1995–present), the latter of which has taken Brookside's place as Channel 4's programme in the "Top 4" British soaps, alongside EastEnders (1985–), Coronation Street (1960–), and Emmerdale (1972–).

Brookside became very successful for a number of years and is notable for its tackling of realistic and socially challenging storylines. It was at its most popular in the 1980s and the early 1990s. From the mid-1990s it began raising more controversial subjects under the guidance of new producers such as Mal Young and Paul Marquess. It is especially well-known for broadcasting the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television, as well as a powerful domestic abuse storyline resulting in murder. The series caused an uproar when it featured a storyline featuring a consensual incestuous sexual relationship between two sibling characters during 1996. Brookside was also the first British soap to feature an openly gay character when Gordon Collins came out in 1985, and it was also the first to depict serious drug addiction with a number of different characters. Although the series had a long and successful run, by 2000 its viewing figures were in terminal decline and low ratings eventually led to its cancellation in July 2003.^[3] The final episode was broadcast on 4 November 2003 and was watched by around 2 million viewers.^[4]^[5]

The first episode of Brookside was repeated as part of Channel 4 at 25 on 1 October 2007. The episode aired on More4 in a season of celebratory Channel 4 programmes to mark the channel's first quarter century. Several classic episodes have also been available to view on Channel4OD, an online service, since 2009.

Development [link]

Brookside differed from other serials because it was filmed in real, brand-new houses, in a real cul-de-sac, situated off Deysbrook Lane in the North West city of Liverpool.^[6] Built by Broseley Homes, the houses were custom built in an attempt by the producers to add to the show's realism. In early 1982, Mersey Television, with Phil Redmond at the helm, bought 13 houses altogether, six of which would be seen on-screen as sets. The remaining seven properties housed administration, post production and canteen facilities for the cast and crew. Phil Redmond was particularly enthusiastic about purchasing an entire 'close' of houses, partly as a means of achieving the desired realism of Brookside, but also in order to maintain total control of his creation.^[7]

Characters [link]

See: List of Brookside characters

Narrative [link]

Beginning [link]

File:Brookside, 1982 title card.jpg

The original title card, showing from left to right, number 8, 7, 6 (the Bungalow) and number 5 – 'number 4' was not used as a set in Brookside, it actually housed Mersey Television's canteen.

Brookside had a smaller ensemble cast than other soaps, focusing on six households. The early cast featured just 16 characters and it would be a full 12 months before the focal six houses in Brookside Close became fully occupied. The introductory episodes concentrated on the development of the anchor Grant family, with Sheila (Sue Johnston) and Bobby (Ricky Tomlinson) who had moved up the social ladder to a big, four-bedroomed house on the 'middle-class' Brookside Close from a run-down council estate. The Grants were the first family to have moved onto the Close and they lived at number 5 and were the focus of earliest advertising campaigns promoting the programme. Initially, only three of the six new-builds were occupied by characters and Episode 1 saw the arrival of the Collins family. In contrast to the Grants, these were on their way down the social ladder, downsizing from their lavish home on the upmarket Wirral, to the smaller number 8, Brookside Close. The contrast between the families was heavily featured, particularly Bobbie's left wing and Paul's right wing views. Other characters included Heather (Amanda Burton in her TV debut) and Roger Huntington (Rob Spendlove), two young professionals residing at semi-detached number 9 who took an instant dislike to the Grants. Low class newly-weds Gavin (Daniel Webb) and Petra Taylor (Alexandra Pigg) moved into number 10 during very early episodes, memorably selling stolen cookers from the front lawn, infuriating their new neighbours.^[8]

File:10&9Brookside.jpeg

number 10 (left), originally home to Gavin and Petra Taylor, and number 9 (right), the home of Heather and Roger Huntington, as seen in the very first episode.

The first episode was watched by 4.2 million ^[9] viewers but the initial reaction to the serial was far from positive. Critics were quick to point out various technical problems as well as the profanity now being screened before the watershed. As viewing figures plummeted, stabilising at around 1 million, the production team and writers started to iron out Brookside's teething troubles. Soundproof panels were placed on the ceilings of the houses to contain sound and eliminate echoing, and the scriptwriters toned down the language and removed a couple of poor performing supporting actors.^[10] The show's atmosphere changed with the arrival of new characters such as Alan Partridge (a character played by Dicken Ashworth and unrelated to the later comedy character of the same name) who moved into the bungalow (number 6) in April 1983, while pensioners Harry (Bill Dean) and Edna (Betty Alberge) Cross, who bought number 7, arrived in November. Their opening storyline involved the mysterious movement of their garden gnomes. These new characters expanded the cast whilst helping to bring humour and balance to the existing cast during 1983.^[11]

Further cast changes during 1983 saw the arrival of the Jackson family. Both Gavin and Petra Taylor departed Brookside very early in the year. Gavin was the first casualty of the soap, dying suddenly from a brain haemorrhage in February - Petra committed suicide a few months later, having disappeared from the Close in mysterious circumstances. Petra's sister, Marie Jackson (Anna Keaveney), her husband George (Cliff Howells) and their twin boys Gary and 'little' George, (Alan and Steven Patterson) moved into number 10. They became central to one of Brookside's first high profile storylines, when George was wrongly convicted of a warehouse robbery. In a bold move, the plotline was leaked to the tabloid press, and as Marie Jackson began the Free George Jackson campaign on-screen, the press followed, creating huge levels of media hype similar to those seen when US soap Dallas featured the 'Who shot J.R.?' plot of 1980, and Crossroads leaked the motel fire storyline of November 1981. Viewing figures rose as the hype continued; a record called "Free George Jackson" by Blazing Saddles was released, and merchandise was produced, including T-shirts and posters. Even though the storyline ultimately had a low-key conclusion (Cliff Howells who played George resigned and George Jackson stayed in prison), the plot helped Brookside on the pathway to success, particularly when the Corkhills arrived to replace the departed Jackson family in September 1985.^[12]^[13]

Other early storylines included Alan's turbulent love-life and eventual marriage to Samantha (Dinah May), Sheila's unexpected pregnancy in her forties, Paul's battles with unemployment, Edna's gambling addiction, Terry Sullivan's relationship with Petra's other sister, Michelle Jones (Tracey Jay), and his descent into petty crime along with Barry Grant. All the while, a strong political undertone was evident in the writing of Brooksides earliest episodes and characters would often be seen debating political issues of the time.

Taking issue [link]

File:Bobby, Barry and Paul.jpg

Barry (centre) tries to keep the peace as Bobby (left) and Paul (right) argue outside number 5. Much of the dynamic of the early episodes revolved around these characters.

Many of Brookside's early storylines were issue-led and strongly geared around Bobby and Sheila's turbulent marriage. Bobby's short-temper and frequent visits to union picket lines opposite Sheila's staunch Catholic faith and traditional family values made compelling viewing for many viewers, as did the antics of their children Barry (Paul Usher), Karen (Shelagh O'Hara), and Damon (Simon O'Brien). The Jacksons, although a relatively high profile family during the first two years of Brookside, departed Liverpool following inmate George's transfer to a different prison near Leeds in early 1985. Petra and Maries's other sister, Michelle (Tracey Jay), departed soon after, leaving number 10 vacant for some time.

1985 was a pivotal year for Brookside. Viewing figures had been steadily increasing since the popular Free George Jackson plot of 1984, but they rose massively in July 1985 with an extreme and hard-hitting siege storyline which saw three characters held hostage at gunpoint.^[14] At this point, Britain's newest TV channel and flagship soap opera was still only in its third year and number 7 Brookside Close was now home to two young nurses – Sandra Maghie (Sheila Grier) and Kate Moses (Sharon Rosita), and former hospital porter Pat Hancock (David Easter). They rented the property from Harry Cross who had moved into the bungalow next door, having recently suffered a serious angina attack, and through their nursing, they encountered John Clarke (Robert Pugh), whose elderly mother eventually died (of natural causes) in hospital, while under their care. Gradually, John's instability grew into insanity and he was unable to cope with the death of his mother. He forced his way into number 7, armed with a gun and ready to avenge his mother's death. He held the three nurses hostage for several days in a tense three-episode run with Brookside Close sealed off and surrounded by armed police. The siege culminated in three shots resulting in the death of Kate followed by John's suicide.^[14] Some critics took issue with the unlikely plot-premise; for example, former Daily Mail critic Hilary Kingsley described it as "ludicrous" in her book Soap Box, while others were critical of the producers decision to kill off Kate, the series only black character.^[15] Viewers disagreed and ratings were pushed to over 8 million for the first time.^[16] This year also saw the death of Edna Cross, who collapsed from a stroke in the kitchen of number 6, just weeks after the siege.^[17] Her death became even more poignant after she was rushed to hospital, only to be told there were no beds available. Sadly, Edna died, and long-time friend Ralph Hardwick (Ray Dunbobbin) moved into the bungalow to look after a devastated Harry.^[18]

In September, what would become Brookside's longest-serving family, the Corkhills, arrived.^[18] The first generation of Corkhills to appear in the Close were Billy (John McArdle) and Doreen (Kate Fitzgerald) who moved into number 10 with their children Rod (Jason Hope) and Tracy (Justine Kerrigan). Stories involving the Corkhills were strongly concerned with marital problems and debt and with Billy languishing on the dole, Doreen did whatever she could to raise money to support her desperate family. Another character to arrive at the same time as the Corkhill's was Doreen's interfering mother, Julia Brogan (Gladys Ambrose), who became a hugely popular comedy character. She was often seen dropping in to see her daughter's family, usually at the most inappropriate moments and remained in the series for over a decade.

File:Bobby and Sheila.jpg

Bobby tries to comfort Sheila after her rape ordeal.

In 1986 storylines were just as hard-hitting. The year saw a shocking and controversial sex attack on pivotal character Sheila Grant.^[19] Actress Sue Johnston's realistic portrayal of scenes showing Sheila coming to terms with her horrific rape experience and the impact this had on her family led to the storyline being named the second most popular Brookside storyline ever, as featured in the documentary Brookside: 10 of the Best,.^[19] Sue Johnston, one of many actresses that started their career in Brookside, went on to achieve even greater acclaim in the long-running drama Waking the Dead^[20] (2000–11) and as Barbara Royle in the hugely successful sitcom The Royle Family (1998-).^[21] Even with these accolades, when interviewed for the short Brookside: 10 of the Best DVD feature, Johnston confirmed that this powerful storyline is some of her proudest work ever as an actress.

The second big storyline of 1986 was the death of Heather's second husband Nicholas Black (Alan Rothwell). Having divorced her first husband Roger in 1983, Heather Huntingdon reverted to her maiden name, Haversham, and returned to her career as an accountant. In November 1985 and shortly after a stint engaged to rich businessman Tom Curzon, Heather met and quickly married Nicholas, but she was unaware that he was a secret heroin addict. Although Nick (as he was generally known) attempted to keep to his promise to his wife to give up heroin, the pull of the drug became stronger. After weeks of deceiving his wife to raise money for drugs (including stealing and selling her jewellery) he disappeared, subsequently dying of exposure in Sefton Park after overdosing on uncut heroin.^[22] As a result of this and realising there was nothing left for her in Brookside Close, she left the series for good. The storyline was intentionally shocking, and made Brookside the first British soap opera to tackle the issue of heroin addiction candidly - indeed Brookside would re-visit the issue of drug addiction several times during the rest of its long run.

This year also saw the introduction of the soap's longest-running character Jimmy Corkhill, played by Dean Sullivan. Initially a bit-part player, Jimmy was the brother of Billy Corkhill. His early appearances usually saw the character in many money-making schemes, along with characters such as Barry Grant, Terry Sullivan (Brian Regan) and Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney (Michael Starke). Jimmy Corkhill's first high profile storyline involved an insurance job on his brother Billy's house, whilst the Corkhills and most of the close were attending son Rod's graduation from Police training. Another famous Brookside storyline occurred in November 1987 and involved Doreen and Billy's crumbling marriage reaching breaking point. When Doreen admitted to Billy she had been sexually propositioned in return to pay off the family's spiralling debts, in an iconic scene, Billy drove around the Close, churning up his neighbour's gardens in a fit of anger, and a distraught Doreen walked out on her desperate family.

Following Heather's exit, Jonathan Gordon-Davies (Stephen Pinner) bought number 9, moving in with his fiancée, Laura Wright (Jane Cunliffe) in April 1987.^[23] Jonathan and Laura were both young professionals epitomising the 'yuppie' stereotype of the era and ostensibly filled the social demographic previously occupied by Heather. However, shortly after their marriage in August and following extensive character development in the scripts, Laura was soon hospitalised by an almighty electric shock.^[24] After leaving the bathroom and switching on a brass-faced light switch that had been incorrectly wired by her father, Laura tumbled down the stairs, and went into a coma for three months. Jonathan was faced with the impossible decision of allowing doctors to switch off her life-support machine in harrowing scenes originally aired in January 1988.^[25] Terry Sullivan then lodged at number 9 with Jonathan, and Terry's new girlfriend Sue Harper (Annie Miles) moved in soon after.

Peak of popularity [link]

Brookside Parade [link]

File:Sue&danny.JPG

The murder of Sue and Danny Sullivan on 'Brookside Parade' signalled a change in direction for Brookside.

The introduction of the Brookside Parade to the storyline saw Ron Dixon open his own convenience store called Dixon's Trading Post, Barry Grant opened a bar/nightclub initially called La Luz (The Light) and, Terry Sullivan opened Pizza Parade, where Matty Nolan (Tony Scoggo) and Owen Daniels worked for a while. Other businesses opened soon afterwards, including a salon run by Angela Lambert (Hilary Welles), DD Dixon opened a florist, next came the petrol station and, eventually, a health club complete with swimming pool. These business appearing on-screen for the first time meant that the main focus of Brookside shifted away from the houses and families of Brookside Close to this new, modern set – and many storylines went with it. To launch Brookside Parade in 1991, and coinciding with the soap's 1000th episode, the writers (now led by senior producer Mal Young)^[37] developed the controversial storyline of the double-murder of pregnant Sue Sullivan and baby Danny. The two were pushed off scaffolding, crashing through a glass canopy to their deaths, supposedly by lawyer Graeme Curtis (David Banks), in a grim 'whodunnit' plotline which saw ratings soar.^[38] It is at this point in the show's history that the whole format and focus of Brookside then changed and the emphasis on headline-grabbing and often sensational storylines replaced the grittiness and social realism with which the programme had been synonymous since its inception.

After newly-weds Billy and Sheila Corkhill left the Close, Billy's children remained in the series for a couple more years: Tracey became romantically involved with Barry Grant, leading to her aborting his baby and Rod married Diana Spence (Paula Frances) and then left the police force after he was viciously beaten on his wedding night. The Rogers divorced after Chrissie (Eithne Browne) walked out on the family to join teacher training college on Sammy and Owen's Wedding Day, and by the end of 1991, Jimmy Corkhill (Dean Sullivan), had become a series regular and he played a central part in the new-look and revamped Brookside. Jimmy was joined by his estranged wife Jackie (Sue Jenkins) who appeared from 1991 working at Dixon's Trading Post, and his elder children Little Jimmy Corkhill (George Christopher) and Lindsey (Claire Sweeney) were initially seen as recurring characters (it would be later that Claire Sweeney would join Brookside for a longer run as Lindsey). The character of Jimmy was used to further explore the dark and devastating effects of serious drug addiction. The long-running story-arc saw Jimmy descend into uncontrollable drug abuse, his addiction climaxing in a cocaine-induced car crash which killed off Frank Rogers (Peter Christian) in September 1993. Teenager Tony Dixon (Mark Lennock) was also involved in the crash and he eventually died of his injuries in February 1994 sparking a feud between Jimmy and Ron which continued until the very last episode of the series.

By 1993, the firm establishment of Brookside Parade was complete and it was fully occupied by businesses owned by residents of Brookside Close. Flats above the shops also provided new homes to various characters, such as former Brookside Close resident Mick Johnson, who would later be held at gun-point in his flat by obsessed stalker Jenny Swift (Kate Beckett).^[39] Mersey Television made full use of their former technical college buildings in Childwall and writers introduced headmistress Barbara Harrison (Angela Morant), who moved into number 9 Brookside Close in December 1991 with her recently retired husband John (Geoffrey Leesley). Many scenes saw Barbara at Brookside Comprehensive (in reality derelict parts of Childwall Technical College buildings) in charge of pupils such as teenagers Jacqui (Alexandra Fletcher) and Mike Dixon (Paul Byatt) from number 8, and Katie Rogers (Diane Burke) from number 5. The Harrisons' storylines included John's struggle with early retirement, his battle with asthma and his shoplifting sprees. Later, their son, Peter (Robert Beck), became involved in a lengthy date-rape plot with Rod Corkhill's wife, and next-door neighbour, Diana (Paula Frances). Following a court-case during 1993 in which Peter was eventually found not guilty of rape, the Harrisons left the Close and were replaced by the Banks family who arrived with much baggage of their own in January 1994.

The Body Under The Patio plot [link]

Brookside's most famous storyline began in February 1993,^[40] with the story of wife beater and child abuser Trevor Jordache (Bryan Murray). His wife, Mandy (Sandra Maitland) and daughters Beth (Anna Friel) and Rachel (Tiffany Chapman) moved into number 10 under a shroud of mystery. The house had been vacated by the remaining Corkhill clan, and unbeknown to anyone, had been sold off to become a safe house for abused families. After the Jordache family moved in (initially posing as the 'Shackletons'), some disturbing facts began to emerge. It transpired that not only had Mandy suffered years of mental and physical abuse, but also that Beth and her young sister Rachel had been sexually abused by their father. Before long, Trevor had found them in Brookside Close and bullied his way back into the family home. As the abuse and torture got worse, Beth encouraged her mother Mandy to plot to kill Trevor. After several attempts by the pair to poison him failed, Mandy and Beth stabbed him in the kitchen of number 10 and, with the help of Sinbad, buried him underneath their patio, where his body remained until January 1995, when neighbour Eddie Banks (Paul Broughton) dug him up whilst investigating a leaking water pipe. Mandy and Beth were immediately charged with Trevor's murder, launching the Free the Jordache Two campaign and ratings soared with Brookside achieving its highest ever viewing figures of 9 million.^[41] The story was inspired by a real life case in Walsall, West Midlands, where a woman killed her abusive husband and buried his body under the patio of their house in 1990; it was discovered two years later.

File:Brookside lesbian kiss.jpg

The first lesbian kiss on pre-watershed British television between Beth Jordache (left) and Margaret Clemence (right).

The Jordache family, particularly the character Beth (Anna Friel), were among the most popular ever featured in Brookside and contributed massively to the soap opera's overall popularity at the time, especially when Beth shared British Television's first pre-watershed lesbian kiss with the Farnhams' nanny Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) in January 1994.^[42] Mandy, meanwhile, developed a close relationship with popular Sinbad, eventually falling pregnant to him. However, many viewers were disappointed with the conclusion of the Jordache's most famous storyline in 1995 when Beth suddenly died off-screen from a genetic heart condition whilst still in prison after Anna Friel quit the role. Phil Redmond explained to disappointed viewers he felt the only way for Beth to leave Brookside was to die. He felt it would not have been right to leave the incredibly popular character languishing in prison.^[43] Once Mandy was finally acquitted and released having won a successful appeal, she gave birth to Sinbad's baby (and named her after his mother, Ruth) but then moved to Bristol to work in a refuge for abused women, leaving unlucky Sinbad alone once again.^[43] The youngest Jordache, Rachel (Tiffany Chapman), remained in Brookside Close, however, and was still there at the end, having married Mike Dixon (Paul Byatt) and given birth to their baby daughter, Beth, named in honour after her deceased sister.

Decline [link]

Following the huge ratings success of the 'body under the patio' and lesbian kiss plots which had seen ratings peak at 9 million, the writers of Brookside persisted with controversial subjects that other British soaps did not. Storylines progressively became sensational, creating headline grabbing attention in a fierce chase for high ratings: A religious cult headed by Simon Howe (Lee Hartney) brainwashed Terry Sullivan and Katie Rogers, taking over and then blowing up number 5 in a suicide pact during 1994,^[44] and a mysterious 'killer virus' saw the Close quarantined and the death of three guest characters George (Brian Murphy) and Audrey Manners (Judith Barker), and garage owner Gary Salter, in the summer of 1995.^[39] It was, however, the arrival of the Simpson family in May 1996 and the quickly established incestuous relationship between brother and sister, Nat (John Sandford) and Georgia (Helen Grace), that drew the most substantial criticism – especially after their younger brother, Danny (Andrew Butler), caught them in bed together. Channel 4 was forced to broadcast an apology to viewers who complained to the ITC about the highly contentious plot and Phil Redmond was finally forced to admit "We got it wrong".^[45] Nat, Georgia, and their mother Bel (Lesley Nightingale) all left Brookside Close after the shocking revelation, the writers, however, persevered with the remainder of the Simpson family, with Ollie (Michael J. Jackson) meeting the Parade's new solicitor, Eleanor Kitson (Georgia Reece), and she moved into number 9 with Ollie and Danny.^[45] Eleanor was found by her long-lost daughter Louise (Lisa Faulkner) and together they tracked down Louise's father, Marcus Sneddon. This storyline culminated in another hostage situation where Ollie, Eleanor, Louise and Danny are held at gunpoint by a deranged Marcus in a secluded hideaway, after which, all four characters were abruptly written out and number 9 was sold to Lindsey Corkhill.

Although the offending Simpson characters had been quickly dispatched, other characters such as Jimmy and Lindsey Corkhill were used in many similarly sensational and often unbelievable storylines and viewers' dwindling interest in Brookside has been blamed on the overuse of these. The character of Lindsey was played by Claire Sweeney, and due to the popularity of the actress at the time, many storylines involved her and young daughter, Kylie (Hannah Dowd). In just two years, the character transformed from an ordinary single mother working in a chip shop, to a gun-toting, formidable bisexual gangster – a character change indicative of storylines now airing regularly in Brookside. During this continuous stint in the series between 1996 and 2000, Lindsey was stalked by her drug-dealer ex husband, Gary Stanlow (Andrew Fillis) and resorted to hiring a hit man to scare him off.^[46] She was arrested at a Bangkok Airport with Mike Dixon after vengeful Gary planted drugs in one of Kylie's teddy bears. She then had an on-off relationship with an increasingly deranged Barry Grant (Paul Usher) before he finally exited the series in 1998 (the last original character to do so) and this was followed by a very short marriage to philandering hairdresser Peter Phelan (Samuel Kane). There was then a lengthy stint where Lindsey became a big-suited, brash, business-woman (with a gun in her desk drawer) who was terrorised by gangland boss Callum Finnegan (Gerard Kelly). With scriptwriters resorting to yet more plots involving Lindsey and guns, Mersey Television's publicity department, perhaps intentionally pushing the boundaries of credibility and good taste, issued pictures to TV listings magazines showing Lindsey waving a firearm in a sexy and provocative way.^[47] Eventually, the writers calmed her down and turned her bisexual and she fell in love with a new lesbian character, the cunning Shelly Bowers (Alexandra Wescourt), who arrived in early 1999.^[47]

File:Brookside 1995.jpg

Many of the 1990s characters seen outside number 8 (from left to right) Jean Crosbie, David Crosbie, Barry Grant, Bev Dixon, Patricia Farnham, Max Farnham and Ron Dixon.

Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick) was one of the longest serving characters in Brookside appearing from April 1989 as a lodger of Harry Cross at number 6. He originally worked with Terry Sullivan driving taxis, and they went into business together. During the early 1990s, Mick's character was expanded and he was given a free-spirited wife (Suzanne Packer) who regularly came and went, usually causing trouble along the way, resulting in Mick raising their two young children, Leo (Leeon Sawyer) and Gemma (Naomi Kamanga) alone. The character eventually settled into life in the Close at number 5, but endured relentless racism, several disastrous relationships, became addicted to steroids and suffered unemployment and depression – but it was the euthanasia storyline in 1997 that saw Mick shockingly facing murder charges. His new wife Elaine (Beverley Hills) had brought with her a terminally ill mother, Gladys, and during the summer months of 1997, Gladys's health rapidly deteriorated and she begged her daughter and son-in-law to finally end her life. Eventually, both Mick and Elaine relented to her pleas and they smothered her to death. It wasn't long before both Mick and Elaine were both arrested on suspicion of murder, and following a bitter and acrimonious courtcase, Mick was eventually acquitted of Gladys's murder - but his marriage to Elaine was most definitely over and she left him and they quickly divorced, with unlucky Mick becoming a single father once again.

The character Max Farnham, played by Steven Pinder, was introduced as a young, middle-class professional businessman in 1990 and he had a turbulent residence at number 7 Brookside Close. Patricia (Gabrielle Glaister), his second wife, suffered breast cancer, and had to endure the regular returns of Max's first wife, Susannah (Karen Drury), who was determined to win him back. The Farnham's original nanny, Margaret, also caused controversy when she began an illicit affair with DD Dixon's brother, Derek O'Farrell (Clive Moore), a Catholic priest.^[48]- their next nanny, Anna Wolska (Kazia Pelka) was sacked and forced into prostitution. Patricia's parents David and Jean Crosbie (Marcia Ashton) moved into number 6 in 1993, and David took over the petrol station franchise on Brookside Parade. Jean and Patricia, meanwhile, opened up The Gift Box and Max relaunched Grants, a Restaurant on the Parade originally owned by Barry Grant.^[49] But after the birth of their second child, Alice, who was born with Down's syndrome, Max was arrested on suspicion of kerb crawling. Although he wasn't guilty, Patricia packed her bags and left him, taking Alice and Thomas to live in France – her mother, Jean, joined them soon after. After a quick divorce from Patricia in 1996, Max remarried his first wife, Susannah, and following the death of their two children, Emily and Matthew in 1997, they became involved in a lengthy surrogacy storyline with Jacqui Dixon (Alexandra Fletcher) after Susannah discovered she could no longer have children.^[50] Once Jacqui became pregnant, so did Susannah, resulting in two births 9 months later. Max was then abruptly written out in 1998^[51] when Steven Pinder decided to leave Brookside after almost nine years. His character's exit was unpopular and involved a retconned storyline where Max had supposedly had a 20 year-long affair with a woman ('Faye') never mentioned before in the script.^[51] This was considered a lazy way to write out the long-serving character, and Max abruptly departed, so Susannah returned to her maiden name, Morrisey, and now a single mum of two babies, she continued to live alone at number 7.^[52]

Like many of the families who came and went in Brookside, the Dixon family also ended in divorce after Ron (Vince Earl) had an affair with Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White), which ended his long marriage to his first wife Deborah "D.D" O'Farrell (Irene Marot) who then left the series. During the break up of Ron and DD's marriage, Bev had a one-night stand with Ron's eldest son Mike (Paul Byatt), resulting in the birth of Josh. Ron and Bev lived together for a while, renaming number 8 Cassa-Bevron.^[39] This was until Ron almost had an affair with his employee at the Trading Post, Jackie Corkhill (Sue Jenkins), and when Bev eventually found out, she set fire to Cassa-Bevron and fled the Close in 1996. Ron then moved out of number 8 and rented it to Sinbad and his new girlfriend, Carmel O'Leary (Carol Connor), the mother of troublesome teenager Tim 'Tinhead' O'Leary (Philip Olivier). Later in 1999, Ron met and remarried an old flame, Anthea Brindley (Barbara Hatwell), the mother of his long-lost (and quickly forgotten) daughter, Megan, who looked identical to his Ron's other daughter Jacqui.^[53] Although initially happy and starting up their own successful business together, Great Grannies, this marriage also ended in divorce when Anthea refused to lie in court after Ron shot dead Clint Moffat (Greg Pateras) whilst being held hostage in the kitchen of number 8. This was alleged to be an act of 'self defence', but resulted in Ron spending six months in prison. This storyline was based on the real-life case involving Tony Martin who shot an intruder on his property in an alleged act of self defence.^[54]

The viewing figures for Brookside had been steadily declining since their peak in 1995, and although the series was certainly still popular, Phil Redmond dated the beginning of the decline of Brookside to 1998 and changes in the programming policy of Channel 4 which he claims began that year. Channel 4 chief executive Michael Jackson was reported to be concerned about the serial's falling ratings, which had by now dropped significantly to below five million viewers, and was said to be considering cancelling and replacing Brookside. Attempts to boost ratings with explosions, shootings, and underworld gangster storylines had also drawn substantial criticism from television watchdogs.

In response to the scathing criticism and falling ratings, there were attempts at a renewed and more grounded approach to storylining after the frenetic pace of the previous few years.^[46] Two new families arrived in Brookside's well established tradition of rejuvenating itself by introducing an influx of new character-types with lots of baggage to unload. The Anglo-Irish Musgrove family arrived at number 8,^[46] renting the property from Ron Dixon, however, the Shadwicks, who bought number 6, were perhaps the more successful family introduced at around the same time.^[55] Greg (Mark Moraghan) and Margi Shadwick (Bernadette Foley) and their family marked an open attempt by the writers to return Brookside 'back-to-basics' with storylines again revolving around families and their dynamics within the close-knit community of Brookside Close.^[55] Phil Redmond commented in the book "Total Brookside" that the Brookside of 1998 was once again closer to the programme he launched in 1982.^[55]

The introduction of these two families also heralded one of Brooksides longest-running story arcs which linked the two new families; the date rape of Nikki Shadwick (Suzanne Collins) at a Christmas party held at number 5, home of the Johnsons. For the whole of 1999, Nikki accused neighbour Luke Musgrove (Jason Kavannah) of the attack and he was arrested on suspicion of rape, however, following a lengthy court case, he was found not guilty. After this and consistently denying the allegations, Luke then confessed to Nikki that he had, in fact, raped her that fateful night. The Musgroves were extremely unpopular and were described as "ghastly" by critics, and with ratings continuing to slide, the entire family was quickly written out in January 2000 and they fled Liverpool overnight in shame at Luke's confession of rape. However, in another British soap opera first, the character of teenage cannabis smoker Matt Musgrove (Kristian Ealey), immediately transferred to Brooksides sister-soap Hollyoaks where the character stayed until 2004.

Despite the attempts to return to being a more realistic and issue-led soap opera again, Brookside had ultimately become synonymous with plots involving guns and explosions, with no fewer than six catastrophic fires and explosions taking place during the soap's final few years. A gas cooker destroyed much of the Brookside Parade and left Ben O'Leary (Simon Paul) permanently paralysed in 1998,^[46] and a bomb detonated in the Millennium Club killed off both Jason (Vincent Price) and Greg Shadwick in 1999.^[56] Separate fires at number 6 (in 2002)^[57] and number 8 (in 1996)^[58] almost killed several characters. Susannah (Karen Drury) and Max Farnham's (Steven Pinder) children both perished in a car crash in 1997.^[59] Radio Times TV listings Editor, Alison Graham, remarked in May 1998 when Ron Dixon blew up Brookside Parade by incorrectly installing a gas cooker: "Brookside loves a good disaster. Someone in the production team must take a perverse pleasure in watching blue flashing lights and fire engines".^[60] She also jokingly renamed Claire Sweeney's character: Lindsey "Get Your Gun" Corkhill, the character now having gained a stereotyped association with plots involving guns. This was shortly before the soap was dropped from Graham's satirical page reviewing weekly soap opera plots, with Brooksides column handed over to BBC Radio 4 rural-soap The Archers. The series was becoming less and less popular, and as viewers abandoned Brookside, so did the support of the TV magazines and press.

Revamp [link]

In 2000, the Murrays, a much needed likeable family, were introduced and moved into number 9. They were the creation of the soap's penultimate producer, Paul Marquess, who joined Brookside after working on Channel 4 and Sky One's co-produced supernatural soap Springhill (also set in Liverpool). The Murray family were an important and key part of another attempted revamp of Brookside this year, and featured the popular singer Bernie Nolan in her first acting role, as Diane Murray, second wife of Marty (Neil Caple) and step-mother to Steve (Stephen Fletcher), Adele (Katy Lamont) and young Anthony (Raymond Quinn) – Diane's mother, Bridget McKenna (veteran actress Meg Johnson) became a series regular at this time as well. The producers surprisingly revived some past characters and they brought back lovable loud-mouth Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White). Sammy Rogers old school friend Nisha Batra (Sunetra Sarker) made an unexpected return, and a previous guest character, Leanne Powell (Vickie Gates), was re-introduced and she became the series new comedy character. Mick Johnson also had a visit from his long-departed ex-wife Josie (Suzanne Packer), although staying true to form, she didn't stick around for long, this time taking her daughter with her after Gemma's experimentation with the illegal clubbers' drug Ecstacy.

The return of the popular character Bev McLoughlin and the Murrays succeeded in sparking new viewer interest in Brookside and the Murray family became central to various plots, although many were considered re-treads of previously explored issues; these included Diane's lengthy IVF treatment, daughter Adele's (Katy Lamont) under-age pregnancy and abortion, and young Anthony's (Raymond Quinn) powerful bullying storyline, which culminated in Anthony accidentally killing vindictive schoolgirl Imelda Clough. Bev, meanwhile, became central to proceedings when she became the owner of the bar on Brookside Parade, renaming it Bev's Bar. The Liverpool 'scally' aspect, always traditionally at the heart of Brookside, was still strong at this time with eldest Murray son Steve (Steven Fletcher) teaming up with Tim 'Tinhead' O'Leary (Philip Olivier), who had married the rejuvenated character Emily Shadwick (Jennifer Ellison) who had been transformed from a shy, quiet, schoolgirl to a teenage, sexed-up vixen. Tim and Emily moved in with the increasingly isolated Jimmy Corkhill at cursed number 10, providing storylines for the character following the exit of his daughter Lindsey and his wife Jackie after a poorly received lesbian love-triangle involving Lindsey, Jackie, and Shelley Bowers.^[61] Of the unlikely storyline, Phil Redmond admitted things had gone too far; "NHS and child care – these are the things that engage and worry people in society now. The shorthand explanation is I'm giving up the lesbian-affair-with-the-mother-in-law syndrome. We've been there, done that and patented the T-shirt." But it was the departure of the soap's original scally, the hugely popular and truly long-running Sinbad (Michael Starke) in an on-screen child abuse scandal, that was most badly received, with the formerly upbeat and jolly character departing Brookside Close (after 16 years) under a cloud.^[61]

Although to a small degree Brookside's terminal ratings slide had been temporarily halted, plots started going around in circles before finally being resolved with Nikki Shadwick's date-rape storyline, Diane Murray's infatuation with pregnancy, and the long drawn-out breakdown of Jimmy and Jackie Corkhill's marriage being good examples of this. Another long term character, the notoriously accident prone Susannah Morrisey, was finally killed off when she fell down the stairs of number 7. This became a successful 2000 'Whodunnit' plotline which involved jilted former-lover Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick), vengeful Emily Shadwick (Jennifer Ellison) and returned ex-husband Max Farnham (Stephen Pinder) are all put in the frame when it is discovered that Susannah may have been pushed to her death. This was arguably the last time Brookside made a significant impact in the ratings, being pushed back up to over 6 million when Max was revealed to be the culprit, although a final twist was revealed in flashback; Susannah had actually tripped over a toy as she argued with Max at the top of the stairs resulting in the fatal fall. All murder charges were dropped, leaving Max free to marry his previous next-door neighbour, Jacqui Dixon (Alexandra Fletcher), who became his third wife in 2001. These unconvincing newlyweds even continued to live at number 7 where Max had resided with his previous two wives, before they swapped houses with Ron Dixon (Vince Earl) next door at number 8, where Jacqui had previously lived with her family. Mick Johnson, played by Louis Emerick for over 12 years, then fled the Close after a suicide attempt, and Jimmy Corkhill descended into madness, eventually being diagnosed bipolar, but these were storylines which, to viewers and critics alike, obviously demonstrated the writers were running out of steam and there were serious questions about the lack of direction the soap was now heading.

20th Anniversary [link]

Brookside had been renewed in 1997 but the four year contract renewal period ended in November 2001, by which point Paul Marquess left to become producer of The Bill.^[62] By this time, Brookside had become a far less important part of Channel 4's programming. Ratings had dropped to less than three million, and although regularly airing three times a week in prime time, sometimes double episodes were shown back-to-back and the audience could not keep up with the constant moves around the schedules to accommodate Channel 4's newer programming, including 'reality' series such Location, Location, Location, Property Ladder, Grand Designs, and to a much greater extent, the ratings powerhouse Big Brother which started on Channel 4 during 2000.^[63]

During late-2001, following a failed attempt by Channel 4 to lure former producer Mal Young back to the series [2], Phil Redmond resumed total control of Brookside^[64] to take the programme through its 20th anniversary, and he pledged to return the ailing programme back to its former glory.[3] At a meeting in which everyone from cast and crew were invited, Redmond announced "I'm back!" and that Brookside was going to be just like the "old days".^[64] The rather tired looking houses in Brookside Close received a much needed facelift; out went four established characters [4] [5]; in came new directors, new writers and new characters, including Ben Hull, a well-known face from sister-soap Hollyoaks as Doctor Gary Parr, and his demanding wife Gabby (Stephanie Chambers). Furthermore, after years of broken homes and waifs-and-strays making up the core-cast of Brookside, another new family arrived and the hard-working, middle class, Gordon family moved into number 5 in May 2002 which had been vacated by Mick Johnson. But, as Alan (John Burton), Debbie (Annette Ekblom) and their four teenage children settled into life on the Close, also running the petrol station on Brookside Parade, the comparisons to the earlier and popular Grant family were obvious, but their arrival did absolutely nothing to halt the rapid ratings decline. The Gordons were considered miscast and generally unlikeable. Eldest daughter Ruth (Lynsey McCaffrey) had returned home with her young son Luke (Callum Giblin) following her failed marriage to Sean Smith (Barry Sloane), meanwhile, young teenage scally's Stuart (David Lyon) and Ali (Kris Mocherrie) were regularly seen tormenting their other sister, Kirsty (Jessicca Noon), who also returned home just as the Gordon's moved into number 5 after a stint travelling.^[65] Although the Gordon family arguably came with strong characterisation and a back-story, the most interesting storyline Alan received was his failed attempts to give up smoking, whilst Debbie was only ever seen moaning at her four miserable children.

Just as Phil Redmond had promised in his vision of the new-look Brookside, characters were once again seen debating political and environmental issues of the time, and the Gordons were often seen discussing topics over the dinner table, much like the Grant family in the early years. However, critics on websites such as Off the Telly argued that the Gordons lacked any on-screen chemistry and this meant that scenes such as these were often forced and contrived. Doctor Gary Parr's frequent criticism of the National Health Service was also seen as unnecessary.

A much more grounded approach to storylining had been attempted during 2002 along with the influx of new characters but the programme's ratings failed to pick up. As the serial approached its 20th anniversary, ratings completely bottomed-out, dropping to below 1.5 million, and, as a consequence of this, it was announced that Brookside would no longer be aired during its weeknight prime-time slots but would continue in its traditional Saturday evening omnibus edition. Channel 4 was committed to Brookside contractually until November 2003 and this move was widely seen as damage limitation - the removal of the problem series from primetime would cease the channel's dwindling audience share and Brookside would quietly die playing out on Saturday afternoons. The announcement coincided exactly with the 20th Anniversary of Brookside, and it was something of a blow considering the programme was celebrating the milestone on-screen a brand new look: a post-production film-effect was added, a new title sequence launched with an updated theme tune – and all this started with a highly dramatic multi-episode story arc that saw the return of Lindsey Corkhill for a guest stint, not surprisingly arriving just as drug-laden armed robbers sped onto the Close, hotly pursued by police.

The November 2002 siege started with four armed robbers, having taken a wrong turn, cornered in the cul-de-sac and, in desperation, took many residents hostage in their homes in highly graphic scenes which led to a number of complaints from viewers. The relatively low-key storylines of 2002 were over – these episodes were designed to shock: teenagers Ali and Kirsty Gordon were violently terrorised at gunpoint in number 5, Steve Murray was shot and dumped unconscious outside the front door of number 9, Nikki Shadwick was almost raped again – and her sister, Emily O'Leary, fell to her death from an upstairs window of number 10, terrified and desperately trying to escape. Marty Murray was beaten and locked in a cupboard, there was the implied rape of Kirsty Gordon, blatant abuse of the drug cocaine, extremely strong language, and a realistic portrayal of a deranged, drug addicted bank robber called Terry 'Psycho' Gibson by Greg Milburn. The siege culminated the following week in a spectacular stunt involving a police helicopter being gunned down by Gibson which crashed onto the Brookside Parade car park, exploded, and instantly killed-off Diane Murray (a stunt vaguely reminiscent of the plane crash over Beckindale storyline in Emmerdale which Redmond had himself devised for that series in 1993). The storyline was considered unsuitable for pre-watershed viewing and, in particular, during the Saturday evening omnibus, broadcast from 16:30.^[66] Although these dramatic sequences were technically of a high quality and were well produced and directed, with absolutely no promotion by Channel 4, they barely made a ripple in the ratings.[6]

Final year [link]

On 30 November 2002, Brookside quietly transferred to its new 'graveyard' Saturday afternoon slot 16:30-18:00, and the programme was optimistically retooled to fit the new 90 minute daytime only slot. With an obviously significantly reduced budget, storylines would now revolve around only a handful of characters, often in just one location, giving the programme a much slower pace. Brookside Parade was phased out of the storyline, the entire set handed over to Hollyoaks to become the students' university bar. The recently introduced Gordon family started to be written out and the abrupt disappearance and eventual death of Alan in the 2002 siege aftermath, followed shortly after by Debbie dying in an unconvincing car crash, gave the remaining family a depressive on-screen presence. With long, 90 minute episodes featuring endless scenes of shouting, arguing and crying as the Gordon children dealt with the reality of becoming orphans, it became impossible for viewers to have sympathy for the unpopular characters that had been poorly integrated into the series and been given very little to do.[7] Other characters slowly drifted away with little or no explanation, experimental storylines (including the use of gimmicks such as flashbacks, dream sequences and split screen) were unsuccessful, and with ratings now at 400,000, it proved that only die-hard fans were still watching.

In 2003, and now with a much reduced cast, storylines focused strongly on Brookside's most popular remaining characters in more self-contained episodes, such as Bev's troubled relationship with her young son Josh (Jack McMullen) and the developing relationship between Jimmy Corkhill and Nikki Shadwick. Nikki had been raped, stalked, held hostage, and her father, brother and sister had all been killed during her time in Brookside Close. With her Mother, Margi, now living abroad, she became increasingly dependent on Jimmy and started to see him as a father figure, even agreeing to look after Jimmy so that he could be released from secure psychiatric care. Following the siege, however, she had a brief relationship with the sniper who had rescued her, Matt Henderson (Jamie Lomas), but when that storyline was quickly adandoned during the jarring transition to the 90-minute block format, Nikki began to become romantically interested in Jimmy. After pursuing him for some time, viewers cringed when the two slept together, but knowing a relationship would be impossible, the two resolved to move on. On the rebound, Nikki became involved with Sean Smith (Barry Sloane), Ruth Gordon's ex-husband from across the Close, while Jimmy became engaged to Nikki's returned mother Margi (Bernadette Foley). Ultimately though, Jimmy called off the wedding when he suspected he may have lung cancer (although it later transpired to be asbestosis), so Margi jumped up the first plane back to Brussels leaving Nikki all alone at number 6 once again until long running characters Sammy and Katie Rogers eventually moved back to the Close as Nikki's lodgers.

Further low-key storylines in the final year of Brookside included following Mike (Paul Byatt) and Rachel Dixon's (Tiffany Chapman) continuous problems with debt before they finally settled down away from the Close with their daughter Beth. Long serving character Katie Rogers (Diane Burke) found love with Nic Howard (James Sarsfield) and gave birth to their baby girl, although it was left up to the viewer to decide whether Katie and Nic were eventually married when they left the Close for Florida in the closing episodes. Anthony Murray's harrowing bullying storyline was happily resolved and his parents, Marty (Neil Caple) and recently returned real-mum Jan (Helen Sheals), eventually reconciled and renewed their wedding vows. Bev and Ron Dixon also got back together, finally forgiving all the problems of their chequered pasts, they gave their relationship another chance and got married, with young Josh (Jack McMullen) and little Holly completing their happy family. Some viewers were surprised to discover, however, that long-running characters Max and Jacqui Farnham had left Brookside off-screen, with Ron making a scripted, off-hand remark about their departure to a new life in Woolton. [8]

Channel 4 officially announced the end of Brookside on 11 June 2003, and the final episode would be shown just two days after its 21st Anniversary in November. The programme was then moved again to what would become its final timeslot, on Tuesdays in a 90 minute format, usually at 11pm. A final story arc, introduced eight weeks before the last episode, saw some of the (off-screen) Brookside Close residents selling-up to a company called Cinerco. The company intended to demolish part of the Close for the construction of an access road to a new waste incinerator site. The remaining characters of Brookside Close once again began integrating with each other as they dealt with the reality of losing their homes to the highly contentious plans. Taking full advantage of the new late-night timeslot, the writers re-introduced the raw language frequented in early episodes whilst unmotivated violence and drug abuse could now be seen in abundance. This approach, once again, did nothing to improve the ratings, having now fallen well below 400,000, although during the final six weeks, a rawness and energy previously captured in the very early years made a surprising return with a new character, the despised drug-dealer Jack Michaelson (Paul Duckworth), who moved into the recently vacated number 8. The fact that the entire neighbourhood was about to be demolished was an obvious plot loop hole, but the character nevertheless became the focus of the end of Brookside as all the remaining residents found themselves seriously affected by his destructive presence. Meanwhile, the rest of Brookside Close began to be boarded-up as the other residents started to move away.

The last episode [link]

In the extended final episode, screened from 22:30 and divided into three distinctive parts, Brookside shocked the audience one last time with the remaining residents of Brookside Close taking a stand against Michaelson, lynching him from number 8's bedroom window.

Written by creator Phil Redmond, the final episode started exactly the same way episode one had begun 21 years previously, with a milkman delivering provisions to the residents of the Close. This time, however, he was greeted with the sight of Jack Michaelson's dead body hanging from his bedroom window. When the police started investigating, all of the residents on Brookside Close gave false alibis, thus protecting each other from prosecution over Michaelson's murder. As had been seen in Brookside before, the culprits of the lynching were not revealed, with several characters seen to have the same blue rope with which Michaelson was hanged. Encouraged by the return of Barry Grant, Tim, Steve, and the remaining Gordon lads were all seen contemplating killing Michaelson, and whilst Jimmy was also aware there was a plan, the only male resident in ignorance of what was happening was Ron Dixon. During the darkness of the night, three masked residents broke into Michaelson's house suspended him from the front window, however, this is all that was revealed to the audience.

The last part of the episode, Phil Redmond had his final say in a rebellious scripted rant criticising religion, urban migration, public ignorance and the prohibition of drugs, which was voiced by Brookside's longest-running character, Jimmy Corkhill, sat in an armchair on the front lawn of number 10. Jimmy was also the last resident of Brookside Close to leave their house. As a last act of defiance, he broke into the abandoned houses and left all the taps running, he then painted Game Over on the boarded-up windows of several houses, and drew an extra D on the Brookside Close sign, to spell Brookside Closed at the end of the episode. He then went to live with his daughter Lindsey, who had married Barry Grant off-screen, the two characters having returned especially for the final episode, watched by a peak of 2.27 million viewers.^[67]

In the closing narrative, Jimmy and Lindsey went to live in Newcastle in Barry's mansion. Tim moved in with Steve Murray, sharing a flat in Liverpool City Centre, as shown in the Unfinished Business feature. Nikki left for Brussels to live with her mother Margi. The orphaned Gordon children then left with their elder sister Ruth, and her husband Sean Smith, now reunited as head of the remaining Gordon family. Jan, Marty and Anthony Murray followed soon after, refusing to tell anyone where they were going. Bev and Ron Dixon then said their goodbyes to long-time neighbour and arch-enemy Jimmy Corkhill, with Ron remarking candidly; "I hope I never see you again". The final shot in Brookside is a close-up of Jimmy Corkhill looking directly into the camera and, breaking the fourth wall, he winked to the audience. A caption states "The End of an Era...".

Theme music and opening titles [link]

The distinctive synthesised theme to Brookside was written by Dave Roylance, a local composer from Wirral, who died in October 2006.^[68] This version was used on the programme on 2 November 1982, the day the first episode was broadcast, and lasted until 28 December 1990.

With the advent of Dolby Stereo Surround Sound, the theme was updated and modernised, and the first episode to feature this music was broadcast on 31 December 1990. This version was the longest-running, and the last time this music was featured on the credits originally aired 31 October 2002.

The third version of the Brookside theme launched on 6 November 2002, a year before the programme was cancelled. A new arrangement at the start of this theme makes this version of the theme distinctive, although the mid-section and close remained similar to the previous versions.

Brookside had memorable opening titles which subtly changed many times over 21 years, particularly as the residents of Brookside Close came and went. The beginning of the sequence contained sweeping high shots of Liverpool life and landmarks, before showing a bird's-eye view of the estate leading to Brookside Close. Several views of the various residents' homes were shown, before the camera finally settled by the iconic Brookside Close sign. In the early episodes, Bobby Grant's blue Leyland Princess was always predominantly parked outside number 5, and in 1990, this became Frank Rogers' purple Ford Cortina when the Rogers replaced the Grants as the family occupying number 5. When Brookside Parade became part of the programme in 1991, shots of the Parade were regularly spliced into the title sequence as businesses came and went – these shots were shown after the existing landmark shots of Liverpool, but before the birds-eye views of Brookside Close and residents' homes.

The closing credits were originally scrolled against a royal blue background, however, this backdrop was soon changed to an aerial view of Brookside Close from episode 105 in 1983. The titles were originally transparent, but this changed to a bold typeface of the same font in 1987. The closing sequence was slightly changed on 7 October 1991 and lasted until 31 December 1993. The closing sequence was changed entirely, giving a bird's-eye view of the close which was used from 3 January 1994 and lasted until 25 June 1999.

In 1999, the titles were completely changed, and new shots were composed to fit into a split-screen box effect – these titles were specifically designed to reflect the programme's newly launched website. Early versions of this sequence followed a cyclist through the Close to Brookside Parade in one box, while the other box contained steadicam shots approaching each door to the houses on Brookside Close. At the end of each episode until the end of the series, there would be a Next time on Brookside continuity announcement with a preview of scenes from the next episode. This opening title-sequence launched on 29 June 1999.

The final set of opening titles launched on 6 November 2002. Again, following a split screen effect, one half of the (same) shot is presented in daylight, and the other half during night-time. Totally new shots were filmed for this title-sequence and it lasted until the final episode in 2003. These credits were often preceded by the strains of theme song and a Previously on Brookside... comment by various actors during a recap of previous episodes. The series finale's end credits music was cut off at the last portion by the closing of the original Grange Hill theme.

Unlike other British soap operas past or present, at the end of omnibus editions screened at Christmas (usually the last omnibus that year), the cast of actors and crew would stand waving at the camera for the entire duration of the closing credits, wishing all Brookside viewers a 'Happy Christmas'.

Soap bubbles [link]

Two 'soap bubbles' were produced in the late 80s. Damon and Debbie (1987) followed the two characters, Damon Grant and Debbie McGrath absconding to York, concluding in Damon's death.^[69]^[70] The second, 1988's South, saw Tracy Corkhill and Jamie Henderson seeking a better life in London; this was part of an ITV For Schools English programme and was notable for featuring a guest appearance by Morrissey playing himself.

Scheduling [link]

From its launch in 1982, Brookside was broadcast between 20:00 and 21:00, although some episodes would occasionally be shown at 21:00 or after for scheduling reasons. In Wales, S4C always screened Brookside at 22:00. The Omnibus was broadcast on Saturday evening, usually at 17:00–18:00.

During weekdays, Brookside was always broadcast from 20:00, first on Tuesday & Wednesday, then Monday & Wednesday, with a few special five-nighters, with these episodes always airing Monday to Friday.

On 1 July 1990, Brookside gained a third weekly episode which saw a regular broadcast pattern of Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 20:00. The serial's timeslot was far more consistent in the 1980s and early 1990s, however, from the mid-'90s, the schedules did keep changing. In 1994, when the BBC's soap EastEnders started broadcasting three nights a week, the third weekly episodes was broadcast every Monday at 20:00 which clashed with Brookside. This forced Channel 4 to move Brookside to Tuesdays at 20:00 (initially up against ITV's The Bill). The final weekday schedule, from 2001, was Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 20:00.

From 30 November 2002, as a consequence of declining ratings, it was removed from its traditional weekday timeslots and reduced to a 90-minute edition broadcast once a week on Saturday evening, usually from 16:30.

On 27 July 2003, Brookside was moved to its final broadcast time of Tuesdays, usually from 23:00, but some episodes did not start until on or after Midnight for scheduling reasons. The final episode was extended and screened slightly earlier, from 22:30–00:20.

1982–1990: Twice a week (30 minute episodes)

Tuesday & Wednesday: Week commencing 31 October 1982 – 17 November 1984
Monday & Wednesday: Week commencing 18 November 1984 – 29 December 1984, 31 July 1988 – 30 June 1990
Monday & Tuesday: Week commencing 30 December 1984 – 30 July 1988

1990–2002: Three nights a week (30 minute episodes)

Monday, Wednesday & Friday: Week commencing 1 July 1990 – 30 April 1994
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: Week commencing 1 May 1994 – 15 December 2001
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Week commencing 16 December 2001 – 23 November 2002

2002–2003: Once a week (90 minute episode)

Saturday: Week commencing 24 November 2002 – 5 April 2003, 13 April 2003 – 19 July 2003
Thursday: Week commencing 6 April 2003 – 12 April 2003
Tuesday: Week commencing 27 July 2003 – 8 November 2003

Repeats

Living (then called UK Living, and now known as Sky Living) repeated Brookside from episode 1, commencing in 1996 until the end of 2000. Originally, episodes were screened at 09:00, and repeated that evening at 21:00,later moved to 22:00. By 2000, however, it was only being aired in a morning slot, usually at 09:30.
Sky One took over the repeat rights to Brookside in 2001. It was shown at 10:30 and started with episodes that originally aired on Channel 4 in 1994. However, in 2002 this was changed to an early-morning 03:30 timeslot, before being dropped completely in June, ending with episodes originally shown in 1996.
No episodes from 1997, through to the final episode in 2003, have ever been repeated on any British TV channel.

Broadcast schedule history [link]

		Sunday		Monday		Tuesday		Wednesday		Thursday		Friday		Saturday		Number of Weekly Episodes
1982–1984																2
1984–1988																2
1984, 1988–1990																2
1990–1994																3
1994–2001																3
2001–2002																3
2002–2003																1
2003																1

Merchandise [link]

Video releases [link]

Brookside was one of the first British soap operas to have classic episodes released on video. In 1990, Channel 4 and Mersey Television released a series of videos showcasing some of Brookside's most memorable episodes and characters of the 1980s:

Brookside Classics Volume One: The Siege. This video contained three episodes and brought together the gripping 'number 7 Siege' as an extended omnibus edition of 75 minutes. These episodes originally aired in July 1985.

Brookside Classics Volume Two: The Sheila Grant Years. The much-loved character Sheila Grant, played by Sue Johnston, was the subject of the second video release in 1990. Sheila's rape ordeal was featured, along side a night out with Jimmy's then girlfriend Kathy Roach (Noreen Kershaw).

Brookside Classics Volume Three: That Man Harry Cross. The third video released in 1990 included three classic episodes featuring the popular character Harry Cross played by Bill Dean. This video contained memories of his time in Brookside Close with his wife Edna (Betty Alberge) and, later, his old friend Ralph Hardwick (Ray Dunbobbin).

Brookside: The Teenagers. A later release, from 1995, documents the Teenage characters in Brookside including Beth Jordache (Anna Friel), Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson), Damon Grant (Simon O'Brien) and Katie Rogers (Diane Burke).

Brookside: The Women. Also released in 1995, this video brought together the most popular female characters in the soap, including Mandy Jordache (Sandra Maitland), Sue Sullivan (Annie Miles) and Deborah 'D.D' Dixon (Irene Marot).

Brookside: The Men. Released two years after The Women video, similarly, The Men contained previously unseen footage and interviews with actors documenting the long-suffering male characters of Brookside Close.

In the late 1990s, there were several videos that contained extensions of plots that began in Brookside on-screen, or gave viewers a chance to see their favourite Brookside actors behind-the-scenes or outside their usual roles in the soap:

Brookside: The Lost Weekend. A feature length episode of Brookside reuniting characters old and new. This feature-length episode from 1997 detailed the reunion of Sheila and Barry Grant (Sue Johnston and Paul Usher) in an action-packed continuation of a storyline which began in the regular editions of the soap on Channel 4.

Brookside: The Backstage Tour. A behind-the-scenes documentary released in 1997, with the only opportunity to view the 'alternative' ending to the infamous Body Under The Patio Trial from 1995, where Beth and Mandy are proven not guilty of murdering Trevor.

Brookside: Friday the 13th. A dramatic storyline for selected characters of the television soap. Here, we are able to view Lindsey Corkhill's (Claire Sweeney) 'missing' journey to her wedding to Peter Phelan (Samuel Kane) and also another appearance of Shiela Grant, Sue Johnston, having reprised her role for a second time, especially for this one-off feature. It was released in 1998.

Brookside: Double Take. In 1999, this unusual video saw members of the Brookside and Hollyoaks casts playing alternative characters in a spoof-documentary style feature.

DVD releases [link]

When it was announced that the show would be finishing as a continuing series in 2003, on Brookside's official website, there was a suggestion by Phil Redmond that Brookside would continue with a succession of DVD releases. In fact, as early as 1988, Hilary Kingsley interviewed Redmond for her book, Soap Box, and even then, he confidently suggested that if Brookside were to end on Channel 4, he would attempt to continue the show off-screen:

"Redmond has even suggested the end of Brookside in that way—fittingly inspired and unusual. "Perhaps we will watch a character leave and follow him or her. Brookside will continue with its daily life, but not on-screen any more", he mused."^[71]

The first DVD after the final episode featured the climax to a long-running storyline involving Tim "Tinhead" O'Leary and Steve Murray finally getting revenge on Terry 'Psycho' Gibson in an 85-minute feature called Unfinished Business.^[72] Psycho killed Tim's wife Emily during the November 2002 siege, and Steve's stepmother, Diane (Bernie Nolan), died in the subsequent helicopter crash on Brookside Parade. The DVD was released in November 2003 to generally poor reviews. There was meant to be a follow-up DVD release involving a storyline with Barry Grant tracking down his brother Damon's killers, a story arc vaguely referenced during Brookside's final episode on Channel 4. A trail for a DVD-film called Settlin' Up was filmed and included in the Unfinished Business extra's. Simon O'Brien was slated to appear as Damon Grant's ghost, and it is believed that although scenes were shot for the Settlin' Up promotional trail, the actual feature did not make the production stages.

Also included as an extra was promo for a 21st Anniversary documentary called Brookside: 100 Greatest Moments. A heavily cut-down version of this documentary also appeared, called Brookside: 10 of the Best. Whilst recognising the existence of the 100 Greatest Moments documentary, Channel 4 say they have no plans to screen it in the future.

Following years of contractual wrangles over the rights to Brookside preventing the series getting a DVD release, March 2011, it was announced that talks between programme creator Phil Redmond, Lime Pictures & Channel 4 have been taking place to discuss the possible release of a DVD in 2012, the serials 30th Anniversary. Channel 4's DVD label 4DVD have confirmed they have also had input from fans with regards to which episodes should be included on the possible 30th Anniversary release.

An Update from 4DVD on 23 February 2012 stated that they were now working with a Production Company on a release of a 'Best of' Brookside DVD in the Autumn via their Twitter page.

On the 21st May It was announced that the Brookside DVD named as 'Brookside Best Storylines 30th Anniversary Edition' would be released on the 12th November 2012. You can Pre Order your copy now at: www.play.co.uk

[9]

[edit] After Brookside

When Brookside was removed from prime-time Channel 4, Mersey Television immediately started using some of the houses on Brookside Close in its other soaps Hollyoaks and Grange Hill. In Hollyoaks, the Dean family moved into what was number 7 Brookside Close, and the Burton-Taylor family moved into what was number 8 (as a result, the interior of number 8 was never again seen in Brookside with its occupant, Jack Michaelson, only ever shown at the door of the house). On-screen, the two identical houses had their exteriors clad in a mock-Tudor wood effect, net curtains covered the windows, and there were never exterior long-shots, but eagle-eyed viewers frequently spotted sights and props that made the use of these houses in Hollyoaks fairly obvious. In fact, prior to the use of these houses as sets, another house in Brookside Close was also used in Hollyoaks as the Cunninghams' home. However, although this would have been number 13 Brookside Close had it appeared on-screen, the house was never featured in any Brookside storyline and was never seen or referenced.

Following the sale of Mersey Television to All3Media in 2005, all the properties on Brookside Close became surplus to requirements so all the Hollyoaks characters based at this set quickly transferred to new homes at Mersey Television's Childwall site. The entire set was sold to a developer who then stripped, gutted and attempted to rebuild the entire interior of each of the 13 houses before making them available for sale to the public in January 2007.^[73] Of the houses on Brookside Close (that were used as sets), Numbers 7 and 8 were the cheapest at £199,000, while the famous number 10 was for sale at £295,000 according to the particulars of Off Plan Investments, who were selling the houses at that time. The houses were put up for sale in a semi-finished condition, and coupled with the extremely high asking prices, they did not sell, and the developer went into receivership soon after. The set then became neglected and fell into decay.[10]

Over a year later in February 2008, it was revealed by the auctioneers SHM Smith Hodgkinson that they would be taking offers for the 13 houses, considering bids in the region of £2 million.^[74]

Salvage: In the summer of 2008, Brookside Close was once again used as a production set; a local production company was given special permission to use the Close, but this time for a low-budget horror film called Salvage.^[75] The film received modest reviews but was not widely distributed – and, despite the best efforts of the set designers, some reviewers did comment: "it looks like it's been filmed in Brookside Close". [11] This was the last time the famous houses of Brookside Close were ever used as a set for a TV or film production.

It was then reported in November 2008 that the 13 properties were to be auctioned off collectively, with a guide price of £550,000–£600,000. There was speculation at this time that the series may be resurrected as Dean Sullivan (who played Jimmy Corkhill) had himself attempted to purchase the Close to revive Brookside. However, an unnamed Liverpool-based buyer purchased all 13 properties on 17 December 2008 for £735,000, although by this time, the Close was in a sorry state of disrepair and once again, speculation mounted as to what would happen to the disintegrating houses of Brookside Close.^[76]

Eventually, in February 2011, and after years of building work, Brookside Close was finally revived and returned to its former glory.[12] Over the period of three years, each house was restored from what was technically an individual film set, to a real home, fit for real-life occupancy. Now aligned and fully integrated into the housing estate that has always surrounded it, 'Brookside Close' is now simply Brookside (odd numbers: 43–67) and real residents now occupy the houses.[13] It is therefore highly unlikely that one of Britain's most famous housing estates will ever be used in a film or TV production again.

References [link]

General [link]

Kingsley, Hilary (1988). Soap Box. London: Papermac. ISBN 0-333-46949-6.
Tibballs, Geoff (1992). Phil Redmond's Brookside The First 10 Years. London: Boxtree. ISBN 1-85283-197-9.
Hayward, Anthony (1995). The New and Revised Guiness Who's Who of Soap Operas. Second Edition. Middlesex: Guiness Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-676-6.
Kibble-White, Graham (2002). Phil Redmond's 20 Years of Brookside. London: Carlton. ISBN 1-84222-764-5.
Brookside: Ten of the Best, 30-minute documentary included on the DVD release Brookside: Unfinished Business. FHED1759.

Specific [link]

^ http://www.brooksidesoapbox.co.uk/guide_70.htm
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 13
^ "Brookside is finally axed". BBC News. 11 June 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2982768.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ "Brookside bows out after 21 years". BBC News. 5 November 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3238427.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ "Two million watch Brookside's end". BBC News. 5 November 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3243589.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ "Brookside Close on Google Maps". http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Brookside+Close,+Liverpool,+United+Kingdom&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.275297,93.076172&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Brookside+Close,+Liverpool+L12+0,+United+Kingdom&z=16&iwloc=A. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Pages 14–19
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 90
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 16
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 19
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 18 and 19
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Pages 94 and 95 cover entire storyline
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Pages 27 to 29 cover entire storyline
^ ^a ^b Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 98
^ Kingsley, pg 47
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 35
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 98 and 99
^ ^a ^b Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 99
^ ^a ^b Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 101
^ http://www.imdb.com/find?q=waking+the+dead&s=all
^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129711/
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 102
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 103
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 104
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 106
^ ^a ^b Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 105
^ ^a ^b ^c Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 110
^ [1]
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 108
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 111
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 64
^ Brookside. The First 10 Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 120
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 67-68
^ Brookside: The First Ten Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. 1990 storylines covered Pages 112–115
^ ^a ^b ^c Brookside: The First Ten Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Page 16-17
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 69
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 75
^ Brookside: The First Ten Years. The Authorised History. Boxtree. Pages 20 and 21
^ ^a ^b ^c 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 103
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 89
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 107
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 96-97
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 102-105
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 98-99
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 111 to 113
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 124
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Picture on Page 122. 1999 storyline covered from Page 131 to 135
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 73 and Page 80
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 88
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page123
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 123
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 139
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble White. Page 124
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 145
^ ^a ^b ^c 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 125
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 131-132
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White.Page 151
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 109
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 118-119
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 129
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 140
^ "Brookside on the slide; Hospital drama may replace struggling soap opera", Daily Mail, 21 August 1998
^ Youngs, Ian (10 October 2002). "Brookside's two decades of trauma". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2317247.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ ^a ^b 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 152
^ 20 Years of Brookside by Graham Kibble-White. Page 151-153
^ "Complaints Reports: Programme Complaints & Interventions Report". ITC. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/complaints_reports/programme_complaints/show_complaint.asp-prog_complaint_id=589.html. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
^ "Channel 4 w/e 9 Nov 2003". BARB. 9 November 2003. http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview?. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ Dunn, Justin (18 October 2006). "Farewell to Brookside theme writer Dave...". Wirral Globe. http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/wirralnews/display.var.973349.0.farewell_to_brookside_theme_writer_dave.php. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
^ Plunkett, Jon (10 October 2002). "Brookside: the highs and lows". Media Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/oct/10/broadcasting.channel4. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
^ "CHANNEL 4 AT 25". Off the Telly. November 2002. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080117042846/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/features/c4/1987.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
^ Kingsley, pg. 49
^ "Brookside set for DVD comeback". BBC News. 15 October 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3193390.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ GVA Grimley steps into soapland for its latest project
^ icLiverpool – Brookside up for sale as all 13 houses set for auction
^ "Brookside Close becomes set for horror movie". Liverpool Daily Post. 19 March 2008. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/capital-of-culture/2008/03/19/brookside-close-becomes-set-for-horror-movie-64375-20643700/.
^ "Brookside Close sold for £735,000". BBC News. 17 December 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7787835.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.

External links [link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brookside Close

Museum of Broadcast Communications, detailed account of the career of Phil Redmond, the creator of Brookside
Channel 4 archive Brookside web page
Brookside Previews
When soaps die, article about cancelled British soap operas, including an extensive look at the demise of Brookside
Brookside at the Internet Movie Database
Satellite view of Brookside Close

Soap operas in the United Kingdom

TV soaps

UK-wide	Coronation Street Doctors EastEnders Emmerdale Hollyoaks

Regional	River City Pobol y Cwm Rownd a Rownd

Australian imports	Neighbours Home and Away

Radio soaps

The Archers
Ambridge Extra

Defunct

TV	199 Park Lane Albion Market Angels The Appleyards Brookside The Cedar Tree Compact Crossroads Echo Beach Eldorado Emergency - Ward 10 Families Family Affairs Family Pride Garnock Way General Hospital The Grove Family London Bridge Machair Market in Honey Lane The Newcomers Night and Day Park Avenue The Practice Quayside The Royal Today Springhill Take the High Road Triangle United! Weavers Green

Radio	Front Line Family Mrs Dale's Diary Silver Street Waggoner's Walk Westway

http://wn.com/Brookside

http://ru.wn.com/Бруксайд

http://fr.wn.com/Brookside (série télévisée)

http://nl.wn.com/Brookside (televisieserie)

http://de.wn.com/Brookside (Seifenoper)

http://it.wn.com/Brookside (soap opera)

http://pl.wn.com/Brookside (opera mydlana)

http://es.wn.com/Brookside (serie de televisión)

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Damon Grant

200px

Damon Grant in 1986

Brookside character

Portrayed by

Simon O'Brien

Created by

Phil Redmond

Duration

1982–87

First appearance

2 November 1982

Last appearance

23 November 1987

Classification

Former; regular

Spin-off appearances

Damon and Debbie (1987)

Profile

Date of birth

29 February 1968

Date of death

23 November 1987

Family
Father	Bobby Grant
Mother	Sheila Corkhill
Sisters	Karen Grant Claire Grant
Half brothers	Barry Grant
Sons	Simon Grant

Damon Grant is a fictional character in the defunct British soap opera Brookside, played by Simon O'Brien. The character was part of the initial cast, appearing from episode one in 1982 until 1987. At the time of the soap's inception, Damon was the youngest son of Bobby and Sheila Grant, with an older brother, Barry, and older sister, Karen.^[1]

1 Introduction
2 Social commentary
3 Damon and Debbie
4 Legacy
5 References

Introduction [link]

Damon was introduced after having broken into the Collins' house in the first episode on 2 November 1982, aged 14. When questioned about the theft of a lavatory and vandalism that occurs by Paul Collins, Bobby lashes out at Damon. Barry defends Damon after the occurrence, pointing out that he did not have the tools to remove the lavatory in the way it had been done and that the graffiti could not have been Damon either as "he only spells 'bollocks' with one 'l'".

Social commentary [link]

The Brookside soap opera was regarded as tackling social issues,^[2] and this was no less true when dealing with the Grant family, and Damon.^[3]^[4] One of the first of the show's many teenage characters to capture the viewing public's imagination,^[5]^[6] the role saw O'Brien catapulted to fame as a teen heart throb,^[7]^[8]^[9] and his adoption of the "mullet" hairstyle proved to be in keeping with the zeitgeist of the times, and saw the character further entrenched as a cultural reference point.^[3]^[10]^[11]

Storylines saw Grant presented initially as a cheeky, lovable character, with a close group of friends. The manner of Grant's characterisation, both by the writers, directors and by O'Brien,^[12] led Jane Root, writing in Open the Box: About Television, to cite the character as evidence of "complex male characters and masculine storylines". Root saw this focus as different from established soap operas.^[13]

As the character grew older and left school, the writers used storylines to comment on life in Thatcher's Britain. Unemployment was a serious social issue, especially in a dock city such as Liverpool, and Grant's character struggled to find work.^[14]^[15] Eventually he took a position as a painter and decorator through the recently introduced YTS scheme, the writers depicting the excitement and later despair when Grant's participation failed to lead to a full-time job to great effect.^[16]^[17]^[18]

Damon and Debbie [link]

File:Damon and debbie.jpg

Damon Grant, played by Simon O'Brien, presenting on screen girlfriend Debbie McGrath (Gillian Kearney) with roses. This storyline has come to culturally define the character.

The character was then shown to develop a relationship with Debbie McGrath, played by Gillian Kearney. McGrath was an underage school girl, and the relationship caught the heart of viewers.^[19] When O'Brien decided to leave the show, the producers of Brookside decided to spin this plotline into a separate show, Damon and Debbie, broadcast in a later timeslot than that in which Brookside was shown.^[20]

This three part series, credited as the first 'soap bubble'.^[21]^[22] moves the character out from Liverpool in search of work. In the first episode the couple squat on a boat on the River Ouse in York, in the second episode they move to Morecambe and then Bradford, where Damon gets a job as a groundsman at Valley Parade (the stadium of Bradford City football club) before they finally return to York in the third episode. Ultimately, the character is stabbed by Crosby actor Jonathan Comer, and dies at the end of the series at O'Brien's request,^[23] a move which sparked upset and outrage amongst fans of the show, and added to both Brookside's fame and notoriety.^[17]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]

Legacy [link]

Within the Brookside show the character's death was used as a catalyst for again exploring a number of issues, including the grief of the character's mother, played by Sue Johnston, and that of the character's father, Bobby Grant, played by Ricky Tomlinson, who was shown as blaming the death upon his unemployment.^[14] Ultimately, Damon's death led to the splintering of the Grant family within Brookside.^[31]^[32]

The character's funeral was watched by 7 million viewers, against Channel 4's record rating of 8.4 million set in 2005,^[33] and in The Daily Mirror, critic Clare Raymond claimed it to be one of the "most touching soap scenes".^[34] In 2001, Jim Shelley, writing for The Observer, claimed the character's death to be one of two contenders for the moment where it all went wrong for Brookside,^[35] while in 2002, with the announcement that Brookside was to end, the funeral scene was listed as the fourth greatest episode in the soap's history by The Daily Mirror.^[36] In 2003, producer Phil Redmond discussed plans to continue the show through a series of dvd's, with one planned storyline involving '"Brookside's greatest untold story" -what would happen if Barry caught up with Damon's killers.'^[37]

References [link]

^ "Telly Tardis ; We tune in to what was happening in TV-land this week in years gone by". The Daily Mirror (London); Nov 2, 2002; p. 11
^ Henderson, Leslie (2007). Social Issues in Television Fiction. Edinburgh University. pp. 32–5. ISBN 0-7486-2532-1.
^ ^a ^b "What will local talent do now?" Daily Post (Liverpool); Nov 5, 2003; Tony Barrett; p. 14
^ "Trainers, terraces and trend setters ; IT was the youth cult which linked fashion and football - author Phil Thornton tells PADDY SHENNAN about 'the casuals'". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool); May 31, 2003; PADDY SHENNAN; p. 6
^ "TV HIGHLIGHTS". Evening Telegraph (Coventry); Oct 4, 2000; MARION McMULLEN; p. 20.85
^ "SOAP". Mail (Birmingham); Oct 4, 2000; Graham Young; p. 23
^ "No escape from the houses from hell" Liverpool Echo (Liverpool); Aug 5, 2003; p. 19
^ "Doctor's dilemma". The Daily Mirror (London); Aug 24, 1996; p. 5
^ "Former TV actor aims to saddle up for store move". Daily Post (Liverpool); Oct 11, 2001; p. 13
^ "WHAT BRITAIN'S TOP TV CRITIC WATCHED LAST NIGHT". The Express 13 August 2003; TV EXPRESS EDITED BY CHARLOTTE CIVIL CHARLIE CATCHPOLE
^ "'This is a bunch of lies! Sneaky! Underhand!'". The Independent (London); Dec 26, 2007; p. 8
^ "TV insider: Whatever happened to..? - Simon O'Brien ; Behind the scenes with Nicola Methven". The Daily Mirror (London); Aug 2, 2003; Nicola Methven; p. 15
^ Root, Jane (1986). Open the Box: About Television. Routledge. p. 72. ISBN 0-906890-78-0.
^ ^a ^b Robert Clyde Allen, (1995).To be continued--: soap operas around the world, Routledge, p.72. ISBN 0-415-11006-8
^ "Sunset over Brookside - The decline in its credibility". The Times (London); Aug 5, 2003; David Housham; p. 29
^ Brandt, George W. (1993). British Television Drama in the 1980s. Cambridge University Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-521-42723-1.
^ ^a ^b "Screen: Television: Close encounters: Brookside is about to turn 18, making it as old as Channel 4 itself. Tina Ogle celebrates its highs, notes a few lows, and predicts a return to the form of its golden age". The Observer (London); Oct 29, 2000; Tina Ogle; p. 8
^ "Flashback: New chapter for the small screen ; Peter Grant talks to Merseyside's master of television". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool); Jun 25, 2005; Peter Grant; p. 33
^ "A shameless life of close encounters Ahead of her new play, Gillian Kearney tells Neil Cooper about growing up on television". The Herald (Glasgow); Feb 20, 2007; Neil Cooper; p. 16
^ Dorothy Hobson, (2007). Channel 4: The Early Years and the Jeremy Isaacs Legacy, I.B.Tauris, p.42. ISBN 1-84511-613-5
^ Plunkett, Jon (2002-10-10). "Brookside: the highs and lows". Media Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/oct/10/broadcasting.channel4. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
^ "CHANNEL 4 AT 25". Off the Telly. November 2002. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20080117042846/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/features/c4/1987.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
^ "Where are they now? ; Simon O'Brien". Daily Record (Glasgow); Oct 26, 2002; p. 33
^ "Rock 'n' roll sci-fi Arts: Killer B-musical Return To The Forbidden Planet is returning to the stage. Maureen Paton meets its creator". Evening Standard (London); Aug 13, 2001; MAUREEN PATON; p. 49
^ "Why my Hollywood dream turned sour ; When Simon O'Brien quit Brookside he went to Los Angeles to find his fortune but couldn't stand the Californian culture. Now he's back home, starring in another Liverpool drama." The Daily Mirror (London); Sep 11, 1999; Pauline Wallin; p. 17
^ "BROOKSIDE'S MOMENTS OF GLORY". Daily Record (Glasgow); Feb 24, 2000; VICKY SPAVIN; p. 20.21
^ "It's murder being in a soap". Northern Echo (Darlington); Nov 3, 2000; Steve Pratt; p. 15
^ "Characters are dying to attract your attention". The Times (London); Dec 19, 1997; Carol Midgley; p. 5
^ "CLOSE E ENCOUNTERS ; As Brookside prepares for its final episode after 21 years, TV Editor Frances Traynor takes a look at the soap's most controversial plotlines". Daily Record (Glasgow); Oct 31, 2003; Frances Traynor; p. 38.39
^ Hart, Andrew, (1991). Understanding the Media: A Practical Guide, Routledge, p.163. ISBN 0-415-05713-2
^ "Matt LeBlanc on life after Friends : SPIN-OFF CITY" Sunday Mail (Glasgow); Jan 30, 2005; p. 11
^ "Whatever happened to the first residents of . . . Brookside Close ; As Brookside celebrates its 20th birthday today, Dawn Collinson looks back at the original cast of the soap and how they have fared since leaving the Close". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool); Nov 2, 2002; Dawn Collinson; p. 14
^ "Owen Gibson. Record viewing figures for Channel 4 as 8.4 million watch climax to fourth Test", August 30, 2005, The Guardian.
^ "VIOLENCE IN SOAPS.. TUNE IN OR TURN OFF?" The Daily Mirror (London); Jul 28, 1997; CLARE RAYMOND; p. 6
^ "The Guide: Soft soap: It's Soaphead's favourite time of year. No, not the soap awards, much better than that - it's the culling season, and they're dropping like flies this month". The Observer (London); Jun 30, 2001; Jim Shelley; p. 12
^ "Brookside closed: 10 GREAT BROOKSIDES". The Daily Mirror (London); Oct 11, 2002; p. 8
^ "Show you couldn't ignore ... ; AS Brookside comes to an end after 21 years, its creator Phil Redmond tells Paddy Shennan what its epitaph should be". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool); Oct 29, 2003; Paddy Shennan; p. 6

http://wn.com/Damon_Grant

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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2009)

Johnny Saint
File:JohnnySaint.JPG
Ring name(s)	Johnny Saint
Billed height	5"8" 1/8
Billed weight	154 lbs. (11 stone)
Born	(1941-06-29) June 29, 1941 (age 70) Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England^[1]
Resides	Rhyl, Wales^[1]
Billed from	Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Trained by	Billy Robinson^[1] Colin McDonald^[1] George Kidd
Debut	June 1958

John Miller^[2] (born June 29, 1941) is a semi-retired English professional wrestler better known by his ring name Johnny Saint, who worked around the United Kingdom during the World of Sport era.

1 Career
2 Retirement and return
3 In wrestling
4 Championships and accomplishments
5 References
6 External links

Career [link]

After finishing school at the age of fifteen, Saint followed his father's footsteps and became a factory worker. By this time he was already an amateur boxer.

One day Saint's mother went to the hair salon, and her hair was cut by Billy Robinson's mother. They introduced the two and Saint started training at Robinson's father's gym.

During June 1958, Johnny Saint was defeated by Colin McDonald in Saint's debut match.^[1]

On May 5, 1973, Johnny Saint wrestled Jim Breaks for the British Lightweight Championship. Saint lost in the 5th round due to referee stoppage, due to a laceration on his forehead.

On November 3, 1976 Johnny Saint won his first World Lightweight title and would be featured in the World of Sport in England, though was underrated in America due to his strait-laced attitude to wrestling.

Retirement and return [link]

On October 10, 1996 Johnny Saint defeated Naohiro Hoshikawa at a Michinoku Pro Wrestling event in Saint's retirement match.^[1]

On November 27, 2007, more than 10 years after he retired, Saint returned to the ring under the banner of LDN Wrestling defeating Johnny Kidd.^[1] Saint has wrestled a further eight matches for LDN, including two very aggressive meetings against the three time LDN British Heavyweight Champion 'Gentleman' Jon Ritchie, In which Johnny gave tremendous account of himself but was defeated by the Heavier Champion.

He was defeated by Mike Quackenbush at Chikara's Tag World Grand Prix 2008 by KO after he did not get up from the referee's ten count after he suffered a knee injury while performing a knee breaker.

Saint made his debut in America at Chikara's King of Trios Tournament on March 27, 2009 with Mike Quackenbush and Jorge "Skayde" Rivera in "The Masters of a Thousand Holds" team. The team would win their opening round match against "Incoherence" (Delirious, Hallowicked and Frightmare), but would lose their quarter-final round match against "Team Uppercut", which consisted of Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Dave Taylor. Saint returned to Chikara on July 30, 2011, losing to Johnny Kidd in a match contested under World of Sport rules.^[3] The following day Saint, teaming with Mike Quackenbush, pinned Kidd, teaming with Colt Cabana, in a tag team match.^[3]

In wrestling [link]

Finishing moves
- Johnny Saint Special (Lady of The Lake)^[1]
- Russ Abbot Special (Saint performs a leapfrog, crawls backwards between opponent's legs and performs a school boy roll-up)^[1]

Signature moves

Nicknames
- The Man of a Thousand Holds

Championships and accomplishments [link]

British Championships
- British Lightweight Championship (1 time)^[1]
- European Lightweight Championship (2 times)^[1]
- World Lightweight Championship (10 times)^[1]

References [link]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p "Online World of Wrestling". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-saint.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
^ "Leeds Reunion March 2011". THE WRESTLING FURNACE. 2011-03-06. http://www.wrestlingfurnace.com/fraternity/leedsmar11/leedsmar11.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
^ ^a ^b "Past results". Chikara. http://www.chikarapro.com/results.php. Retrieved 2011-08-01.

External links [link]

Profile at Online World of Wrestling

Persondata
Name	Saint, Johnny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 29, 1942
Place of birth	Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England
Date of death
Place of death

This biographical article relating to a United Kingdom sportsperson is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This biographical article relating to professional wrestling is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

http://wn.com/Johnny_Saint

http://fr.wn.com/Johnny Saint

This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Saint

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.

Robert Brooks
Ring name(s)	Robbie Brookside Robby Brookside Rob Brookside
Billed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Billed weight	241 lb (109 kg)
Born	(1966-03-11) 11 March 1966 (age 46) Liverpool, England
Trained by	Liverpool Olympic Wrestling Club Carl McGrath Bobby Barron
Debut	1984

Robert Edward Brooks (born 11 March 1966),^[1] better known by his ring name Robbie Brookside, is a British professional wrestler. He has toured all over the world during his career including such countries as the United States, Japan, Germany, and Mexico. He was a regular tag partner of Steve Regal in the United Kingdom and he has competed in the New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual tournament, the Super J in 1997 where he picked up a victory over Chris Jericho.

1 Early life
- 1.1 Professional wrestling career
2 In wrestling
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 References

Early life [link]

Robert Edward Brooks was born in Liverpool. His father was a footballer, who played for Preston North End.^{[citation needed]}

Professional wrestling career [link]

Brooks was discovered by Bobby Barren, who invited him to wrestle at the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, and Brian Dixon, who got Brooks some jobs on the holiday camps with established wrestlers such as Steve Adonis.

Wrestling as Robbie Brookside, he won his first title after World Heavy-Middleweight Champion "Rollerball" Mark Rocco retired and Brookside won the vacant title in a tournament. The following year, he lost it to Frank 'Chic' Cullen^[2]

Brookside then teamed with Doc Dean as The Liverpool Lads, together winning the British Tag Team Championship. Frankie Sloan later teamed with Brookside as The Liverpool Lads in place of Dean.

In 1996, Brookside got the chance to wrestle in Germany for the Catch Wrestling Association through his contact with the group, Dave "Fit" Finlay. From then through to the turn of the century, Brookside could be found wrestling across many promotion in Europe, and won many titles during his travels.

Brookside spent 6 months in America wrestling for World Championship Wrestling, including several matches on Nitro, WCW's main TV shown worldwide.

On 25 April 2005, Brookside had a dark match on World Wrestling Entertainment's 'Raw' during a taping of the show in the UK, losing to Simon Dean. When WWE once again returned to England, Brookside joined other British wrestlers Thunder and Steve Lewington as part of the WWE security squad that helped keep the waring Raw and SmackDown! wrestlers apart.

Brookside continued to wrestle in and around the UK and remained one of the top British wrestlers, winning many of the top titles in the UK. Brookside became the first-ever Real Quality Wrestling Heavyweight Champion on 29 April 2006, defeating former WWE and WCW Superstar Billy Kidman during a match at RQW's A Night Of Champions event. Brookside would later go on to win the Frontier Wrestling Alliance's British Heavyweight Championship at the FWA Summer Classic in a no-DQ elimination three-way match, finally pinning Jonny Storm after then-champion Hade Vansen, who was eliminated first, returned to the ring and hit Storm with his 'South City Driller' finishing move.

Though FWA Champion, Brookside was in fact wrestling under the banner of another promotion, All Star Wrestling. Brookside would remain an All Star wrestler throughout his reign, with various FWA wrestlers trying to take back 'their' championship. During this time, Brookside would vacate his RQW Heavyweight title and leave the promotion. Brookside would also take an interest in the future of the business by going on to train future wrestlers, eventually opening his own Leicester based wrestling school, Wrestleicester, in late 2006.

Brookside appeared on the 23 April 2007 episode of WWE Raw, losing a no disqualification, 3-on-1 handicap match to Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, and Umaga. Brookside was introduced as a man that Shane McMahon had personally seen take down six men by himself in a fight at a local pub.

Brookside has also had WWE matches against Snitsky and Maven.

Brookside would also wrestle for Alan Ravenhill's Welsh Wrestling in 2008 where he defeated James Mason in a world of sport rules match at Maesteg Town Hall. In February 2008, Brookside won All Star Promotions British Heavyweight Championship for the second time but was forced to vacate the title in May 2009 due to injury.^[3]

Now, Brookside teaches students in wrestling in his Leicester-based gym, WrestLeicester.

At A WWE house show in Birmingham England on the 7th Nov 2011, William Regal announced Brookside was in the crowd that without Brookside guidance there would be no William Regal, Sheamus or Wade Barrett.

In wrestling [link]

Finishing moves
- Iconoclasm, sometimes floated over into a bridging double leg roll-up pin

Signature moves
- Northern Lights suplex

Managers
- Lisa Fury

Nicknames
- "Wildcat"

Championships and accomplishments [link]

All Action Wrestling

AAW North East Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

All Star Wrestling

ASW British Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[3]^[4]
World Heavy-Midddleweight Championship (1 time)^[2]^[4]
ASW British Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Doc Dean

Catch Wrestling Association

European Wrestling Promotion

EWP Intercontinental Championship (2 times)^[6]
Ironman Hardcore Knockout Tournament (2001)

European Wrestling Union

European Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
European Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doc Dean
Manfred Koch Memorial Cup (2001)

Frontier Wrestling Alliance

New Alliance of Wrestling Athletes

NAWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[8]

Premier Wrestling Federation

Worthing Trophy (1995, 1999, 2005)
Ken Joyce Trophy (2004–2006)^[9]
Wrestler of the Year (1995, 2005)

Professional Wrestling Alliance

PWA European Championship (2 times)^[10]^[11]

Real Quality Wrestling

RQW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[12]

The Wrestling Alliance

TWA British Heavyweight Champion (2 times)^[13]
TWA Hardcore Championship (1 time)
TWA British Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Williams (1)

westside Xtreme wrestling

wXw World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[14]

References [link]

^ "OWOW profile". onlineworldofwrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/robbie-brookside.html.
^ ^a ^b http://www.wrestling-titles.com/world/world-hm.html
^ ^a ^b http://www.wrestling-titles.com/europe/uk/bri-h.html
^ ^a ^b "All-Star Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/All-Star_Wrestling.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Catch Wrestling Association Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "European Wrestling Promotion Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/European_Wrestling_Promotion.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "X Wrestling Alliance Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/X_Wrestling_Alliance.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Newe Alliance of Wrestling Athletes Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/New_Alliance_Of_Wrestling_Athletes.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Independent Wrestling Results – December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2004-12.html. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
^ "Independent Wrestling Results – April 2003". onlineworldofwrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2003-04.html. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
^ "Professional Wrestling Alliance". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/Professional_Wrestling_Alliance.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Real Quality Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/Real_Quality_Wrestling.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Independent Wrestling Results – January 2002". onlineworldofwrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2002-01.html. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
^ "Westside Xtreme Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/Westside_Xtreme_Wrestling.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2008.

Persondata
Name	Brookside, Robbie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1966-03-11
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Date of death
Place of death

http://wn.com/Robbie_Brookside

This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Brookside

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.

Brookside

Cast

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Contents

[edit] After Brookside

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