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Brookside is a British television soap opera, set in Liverpool, England, which began on the launch night of Channel 4, 2 November 1982. It ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003. It was produced by Mersey Television and conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond.
Jimmy Corkhill is a fictional character from Brookside, played by Dean Sullivan, who joined the series in 1986. Jimmy originally appeared on a recurring basis appearing alongside his brother, Billy, before becoming a regular character, featured in major storylines, and remained in the show until its end 17 years later. He is 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 television critics.
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.
Katie Rogers is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Debbie Reynolds and Diane Burke. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 7 December 1987. Reynolds played the character until 1989 when Diane Burke took over the role and remained until 2003 when Brookside was cancelled. Katie was introduced as part of the Rogers family consisting of parents Frank and Chrissy Rogers and their three children Katie, Sammy and Geoff Rogers.
Susannah Morrisey is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Karen Drury. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 22 July 1991. Susannah was created as the ex-wife of established character Max Farnham and writers instantly used her to create problems in Max's marriage to Patricia Farnham. Susannah's feud with Patricia and desire to reunite with Max formed the basis of her early storylines. Susannah's initial characterisation was only that of a mean, disgruntled ex-spouse but Drury decided to play her more sweet and snobbish. Susannah's persona allowed writers the versatility to create both tragic and comedic stories for her. Susannah's tragedies were formed via her difficult marriage to Max, family bereavements and poor mental health. Writers later transformed her into a promiscuous and scheming woman which gained her infamy in the British press.
Michael "Mike" Dixon is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Paul Byatt. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 1 October 1990.
Samantha 'Sammy' Rogers is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Rachael Lindsay. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 7 December 1987. Sammy was introduced as part of the Rogers family consisting of parents Frank and Chrissy Rogers and their three children Sammy, Katie Rogers and Geoff Rogers. Lindsay secured the role in 1987 after she learned that Brookside was auditioning for a new family. Lindsay knew someone already working on the show and they introduced her to his agent who helped secure the role. Sammy is originally characterised as a rebellious and headstrong teenager and animal rights enthusiast. Sammy is Brookside's wild child character who never accepts responsibility for her actions. Producers created a long-running relationship story with Owen Daniels. They begin a romance while at school and writers developed them into a married couple with a child.
Chrissy Rogers is a fictional character in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside played by Eithne Browne from 1987 to 1991. She was married to Frank Rogers; they had two daughters, Sammy and Katie, and a son, Geoff. She left in 1991 on the collapse on their marriage, but briefly returned two years later, after Frank's death in a car crash.
Billy Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by John McArdle. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 27 August 1985. Billy was introduced as part of the show's new family, the Corkhills, consisting of Billy, his wife Doreen Corkhill and their teenage children Rod and Tracy Corkhill. Billy is characterised as the reluctant husband of Doreen, an aspiring woman who wants the Corkhills to own their own home. Her mission to present a good image for the family is marred by her secret spending which gets the family into debt. Writers explored their debt issues throughout Billy's early tenure. They portrayed him as desperate to provide, tampering with the electricity and committing fraud with the help of his brother Jimmy Corkhill.
Doreen Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Kate Fitzgerald. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 27 August 1985. Doreen was introduced as part of the new Corkhill family consisting of herself, husband Billy and their two children Tracy and Rod. Doreen was portrayed as the aspiring housewife who wants to buy her own home. Billy risks financial ruin to help Doreen get her ideal home on Brookside Close. She is characterised as competitive and wants to portray a positive family image to her neighbours. She is a shopaholic and over spender, a trait writers used to get the Corkhills into debt. Her behaviour causes her family many problems, Billy begins committing fraud and robberies to fund their lifestyle.
Margaret Clemence is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Nicola Stephenson. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 14 September 1990. Margaret is characterised as a college drop-out unsure about her future. She leaves her home town of Oldham to escape her ex-boyfriend, Kieran, and relocates to Liverpool. She takes a job working as a nanny for Max and Patricia Farnham and becomes their lodger. Stephenson has described Margaret as a domestic and organised character but when it comes to romance she is confused and unstable.
Leanne Powell is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Vickie Gates. The character debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 29 January 1992. Gates was sixteen when she joined the cast. Leanne is introduced into the series as a friend of Katie Rogers and is portrayed as bad influence on her friends. Brookside's executive producer Mal Young believed there was a need to include more teenage centric stories and created a peer pressure plot for the character. Leanne was portrayed as attempting to seduce Owen Daniels. Writers also explored the issue of teenage pregnancy with Leanne and her friend's mother, DD Dixon helps her arrange a termination in secret.
Diana Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Paula Frances. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 19 November 1990. Diana was introduced as a love interest of the established character Rod Corkhill and it was Frances' first television role. Diana is characterised as a kindly soul who is desperate to overcome hardships. Diana works as a sales assistant at a chemist but is hiding a secret about her education. She is the daughter of Freddie Spence, who disapproves of her relationship with Rod. Writers made their relationship fraught with arguments because of his police career.
George Edward Jackson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Cliff Howells. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 2 February 1983. George was introduced as the brother-in-law of established character Petra Taylor, following the death of her husband, Gavin Taylor. Writers soon introduced viewers to the remainder of The Jackson family, including his wife Marie Jackson, their sons Little George Jackson, Gary Jackson and his sister-in-law Michelle Jones. George, a firefighter, is portrayed as a easygoing and unassuming.
Lindsey Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Claire Sweeney. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 12 June 1991. Lindsey was originally a recurring character and was later promoted to the show's regular cast in 1995. After departing in 2001, she made additional appearances in 2002 and 2003.
Tracy Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Justine Kerrigan. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 10 September 1985. Tracy was introduced as part of a new family, the Corkhills, which also includes her brother Rod Corkhill and their parents Doreen Corkhill and Billy Corkhill. Kerrigan had previously appeared as a guest character, Pat in 1984. She auditioned for the role after her grandfather and actor Peter Kerrigan encouraged her. Kerrigan was aged fourteen and still attending school when she took on the role. Tracy is characterised as brash and headstrong. She has aspirations of becoming a model but settles for a hairdressing career. Kerrigan disliked Tracy's style and early persona. Tracy transformed into a more adult character over time and Kerrigan admired her newfound attitude.
Sheila Corkhill is a fictional character from British soap opera Brookside, played by Sue Johnston. Sheila appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1990. Her most famous storyline was in 1986, when the character was attacked, raped and beaten by an unknown assailant. Everyone was a suspect, including family friend Matty Nolan, and most residents of Brookside Close found themselves accused. It was later revealed that the taxi driver raped Sheila.
Cyril Alan Partridge is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Dicken Ashworth. Alan appeared in the series until 18 July 1984. Ashworth was happy with his casting because he had previously been typecast in villainous roles. Alan is characterised as a "friendly type" and Ashworth relished the opportunity to play him. Writers portrayed him vastly different to other characters in the show. Alan is "scatter-brained" and an eccentric who enjoys computers, rugby and keeps a boat on his driveway. Other characters in the series view Alan as odd and find it difficult to understand his personality. Writers gave Alan enthusiastic dialogue in scenes which made him appear different to everyone else in his stories.
Simon Howe is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Lee Hartney. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 13 October 1993. Hartney received the role the day after he had auditioned for it. Simon is introduced as a new petrol pump attendant working in the local petrol station. Writers first portrayed him as being mild-mannered before revealing his true manipulative persona.
Lance Timothy Powell is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Mickey Poppins. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 5 July 2000 and departed on 26 August 2003. Poppins had previously worked with the show's producer Paul Marquess and he created Lance especially for the actor. He was introduced with the returning characters of Leanne Powell and Bev McLoughlin to work in Bev's Bar as Marquess felt Brookside needed a "good bar with some great staff".
References
- ↑ Kibble-White 2002, p.55.
- ↑ Grant, Peter (13 November 2002). "What Katie Did Next - Stayed in Brookie; Peter Grant Meets a Very Young and Very Happy Soap Veteran". Liverpool Echo . (Trinity Mirror via The Free Library). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ↑ Bevron, Casa (2 September 2003). "Happy Ending for Couple from Hell?". Liverpool Echo . Trinity Mirror.[ dead link ]
- 1 2 Gould, Phil (28 February 2001). "Bells Ring in Potential Disaster for Soap Stars; It Is Highly Unlikely That Steve and Mel Will Live Happy Ever; in the World of Soap, Happy Couples Equals Boring Drama GMTV Soap Expert Tina Baker". The News Letter . Johnston Publishing (NI).[ dead link ]
- ↑ "Brookside: A user's guide". The Observer . 13 March 1994. p. 196. Retrieved 4 September 2021– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Traynor, Frances (31 October 2003). "Close 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 . (Trinity Mirror via The Free Library). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ↑ "Sacrificial hams". The Guardian . 9 July 1994. p. 114. Retrieved 26 February 2021– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "10 stars we wish would come back". Inside Soap (102). (Attic Futura UK): 28, 29. 30 May – 12 June 1998.
- ↑ "The 100 greatest soap stories ever told". Inside Soap (100). (Attic Futura UK): 10. 2–15 May 1998.
- ↑ Lawson, Mark (1 March 1994). "Country folk with a nasty plot addiction". The Independent . p. 16. Retrieved 4 September 2021– via Newspapers.com.
- Kibble-White, Graham (2002). 20 Years of Brookside. Carlton Publishing Group. ISBN 1-8422-2764-5.