| Mike Dixon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookside character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Paul Byatt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1990–2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 1 October 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 28 October 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Phil Redmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Byatt began playing Mike in 1990. [1] Byatt's brother and three sisters had previously appeared in Brookside playing recurring roles. [2] Of this Byatt stated that "turning out cast members for Brookside is a family industry." When Byatt finished his A levels, he followed the family tradition of auditioning for Brookside. Unlike his siblings, Byatt secured a regular role on the show. [2] The Byatt's success of being cast in Brookside can be attributed to their mother owning a casting agency. Byatt recalled "I was on my summer holidays and just heard about the audition because my mum’s got an agency. I kind of fell into it, and here I am 12 years later." [3]
Mike is characterised as a "streetwise but likeable youth" with a keen interest in music and forming his own band. [2] Byatt told Geoff Tibbals, author of Brookside The First 10 Years, that Mike "was ok and next to someone like Sinnott, he appeared an angel. But then he started robbing from his dad." Mike's wayward behaviour included stealing from his father's shop till and taking a dead man's war medals. [2] Byatt added "the trouble with Mike is that he thinks he's clever – he reckons he knows more than his dad. He also thinks he can fend for himself but he can't." The actor believed Mike "hasn't a clue about money" and that is the cause of his credit card debt problems. Mike purchases an electric organ and begins stealing to pay off his debt. [2] In the book Brookside The Early Years, Byatt told Tibbals that writers had changed Mike to become wiser than his father. He added "Ron's made a bit of a mess of his life and Mike's determined not to make the same mistakes." [4]
A writer from the official Brookside website wrote that Mike "didn't waste anytime in ruffling the neighbours' feathers" upon his arrival. They assessed that later in the character's tenure he had become a family man "finding life a struggle". [5] In the book 20 Years of Brookside, author Graham Kibble-White described Mike as "one of life's losers with a succession of dead end jobs and constant money worries." [1]
Writers created a romance storyline between Mike and his neighbour Lindsey Corkhill (Claire Sweeney). She is already married to Gary Stanlow (Andrew Fillis), a drug dealer who neglects Lindsey in favour of his crime business. Sweeney told Victoria Ross from Inside Soap that Lindsey "fell in love with Mike almost at first sight". [6] She defended the affair noting that Lindsey was young, her husband was elsewhere and their connection means "there's really nothing she can do about it, even though she's being unfaithful to Gary." [6] Mike and Lindsey's first kiss was filmed on location on a Mersey Ferry and Sweeney revealed she was nervous about filming in public. [6] After their kiss the two continue their affair but keep it a secret from their families. Writers had created an extended feud between the Dixon and Corkhill families, especially between the patriarchs Ron and Jimmy Corkhill (Dean Sullivan). The latter caused the death of Mike's brother, Tony (Mark Lennock), in a car accident. Ron had never forgiven Jimmy and Sweeney added "It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet situation, because Ron hates everyone connected to Jimmy Corkhill." [6]
Writers continued to develop their romance to the stage that Lindsey considers leaving her husband. Byatt told Inside Soap's Jon Peake that Mike "really loves" Lindsey and is "very optimistic" about their relationship. Byatt believed that Lindsey was better off without Gary. [7] He added "Mike feels convinced that what they've got going is the real thing because of the instant attraction they both felt when they met. She was fed up with her useless husband and then she met Mike, who is sensitive and understanding, and everything Gary isn't." [7] Mike is not phased that Lindsey already has a child and Byatt explained that it was testament to Mike's characterisation. Mike often acts on attraction and "deals with the baggage later". [7]
Lindsey decides to leave Gary and publicises her relationship with Mike. When Ron and his partner Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White) go away on holiday, Mike moves Lindsey and Kylie into the Dixon family home. They then have to contend with the fallout that comes from the warring families. [7] Byatt explained that Jimmy would never harm the Dixons again after being responsible for Tony's death. However Ron returns he goes ballistic, but he eventually sees that Mike is serious about Lindsey. [7] Writers played on the threat that Gary posed to their relationship. Byatt addressed the fact that Mike is unaware of how dangerous Gary is and is therefore "he's not scared of him". After this Mike realises that they cannot live on Brookside Close alongside Gary and the feuding families. Mike's friend Keith invites him, Lindsey and Kylie to live in Turkey and work at a bar. Byatt branded it the opportunity that the pair had been seeking and "their big chance at happiness". [7]
One of the character's most controversial storylines was being arrested for drug trafficking. When Lindsey's mother Jackie Corkhill (Sue Jenkins) discovers that Gary has got Jimmy embroiled in his drug dealing business she leave him. [8] Jackie decides help Mike, Lindsey and Kylie flee the United Kingdom and start a new life in Australia. [8] Lindsey continued to hide inside the Dixon house fearing that Gary will find her. They are so scared of Gary, that Lindsey hides in the boot of Mike's car to escape the area. Sweeney explained that leaving was their "only option". [9] Mike Jackie accompanies the trio to the airport and ensures they depart safely. However, Jackie does not realise that Gary discovered her plan and has already planted the drug heroin in Kylie's soft toy. [8] Mike and Lindsey are arrested in Bangkok and charged with drug smuggling, later being sent to a Thai prison. [10] Producers wanted to make the story authentic but struggled create a Thai airport set. The scenes were not scheduled to be filmed at Bangkok airport and researchers could not find any photos of the interior or information in aviation magazines. [11] Producers contacted the managing director of the Airport Authority of Thailand for help, who provided them with photographs, brochures and newsletters to help them recreate the setting. [11]
Jackie decides to start a campaign to free "the Bangkok three". Jenkins told an Inside Soap reporter that Jackie fears she may never see Lindsey again and creates the campaign. She added that Jackie had "done everything to help them start a new life. Now it's backfired." [8] Sweeney was hopeful that the drug storyline would not destroy Mike and Lindsey's relationship. [9] The pair spend months in the Thai prison system but Jackie's campaign does result in Kylie being returned to the United Kingdom. Jimmy and Ron then decide to end their feud and travel to Thailand together in an effort to secure the release of their children. The journey is unsuccessful and they are forced to return home. [12] The pair then enlist the help of neighbour David Crosbie (John Burgess) and their local member of parliament and travel to London. They secure meetings with foreign office ministers and members of the Thai embassy, which have a positive effect on the case. [12] After his ordeal, Mike decides he wants to become a writer and begins a book about his experience. [10] While interviewed on the 2000 documentary 18 Years Young, Byatt recalled "the prison scenes were good scenes to do... It was a good storyline. The only problem with it was I was out of the programme. I was in jail for four months." [11] Mike and Lindsey later break-up. Byatt did not want Mike and Lindsey to settle down together. He thought Mike was far too young and should have been "going out and sowing his wild oats". [7]
Writers then created another affair story for Mike and his older married neighbour Bel Simpson (Lesley Nightingale). When Mike finds Bel drunk in Bar Brookie, he walks her home. [13] Bel invites Mike into her home for a drink. She begins to complain about her sex life with husband Ollie Simpson (Michael J. Jackson). This prompts Mike to attempt to leave but Bel kisses him and they have sex. Writers intended it to be a one time encounter with ensuing drama. [13] Byatt told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that Mike sees Bel as "another notch on his bedpost" and Bel is "totally paranoid about the whole thing." Mike discusses their affair with Ben O'Leary (Simon Paul), which upsets Bel who wants to keep it a secret from Ollie. [13]
Byatt assessed that Mike is worried that Ollie will find out and violently confront him. He added "I don't think he wants to be a marriage breaker either" because Mike had already destroyed Lindsey and Gary's marriage. [13] Byatt believed that the story put Mike back into the forefront of the show's dramatic stories after having a quiet time writing a book. He concluded "I'm pleased he's got that silly idea of the book out of his head and he's getting out and about and up to mischief, after all the stuff he's been through over the last year, with Bangkok and Lindsey, he deserves to have a good time." [13]
He is the eldest son of Ron (Vince Earl) and "DD" Dixon (Irene Mariot), and the brother of Tony (Gerald Bostock, later Mark Lennock) and Jacqui (Alexandra Fletcher). Mike was involved in two major storylines in 1993, the most significant of which was his relationship with stepmother Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White) that resulted in the birth of their son Josh, who was originally believed to have been his brother. This resulted in the break-up of his father and stepmother's relationship.
1993 was also the year that Mike's younger brother Tony (then played by Gerald Bostock) was left in a coma after a car crash which claimed the life of neighbour Frank Rogers (Peter Christian) in November. Tony died three months later having never regained full consciousness, and at the funeral Jimmy confessed that he was the driver of the other car which had caused Frank's car to crash.
Mike later married Rachel Jordache (Tiffany Chapman) and their daughter Beth was born in early 2000. But another tragedy struck in December that year when Mike was badly injured in a car crash involving a stolen car being driven by Tim O'Leary (Philip Olivier). Clint Moffat (Greg Pateras) suffered a broken arm in the collision, while Robbie Moffat (Neil Davies) and Tim fled the scene uninjured. Mike had suffered a major spinal injury and used a wheelchair for six months after the crash, and even after leaving his wheelchair he spent several more months on crutches.
Mike's father Ron received a nine-month prison sentence for firearms offences in December 2001 (although he was cleared of alternative more serious charges of manslaughter and murder), and by the time Mike left the Close in 2003 he was rarely featured in significant storylines. Mike later landed a job at Brookside Comprehensive as a teacher. After splitting up with Rachel, he witnessed the birth of his son, Michael Jr. When Ron and Bev became engaged, Josh asked Ron if he would adopt him. Ron was flattered by the offer and agreed. Ron and Bev then got a solicitor to finalise the arrangements. Mike however refused to give his permission, preventing the adoption from taking place.
In 2003, Frances Traynor from the Daily Record named the Mike and Lindsey being arrested for drug trafficking in Thailand one of Brookside's "most controversial plotlines". [14] Inside Soap reporter Jon Peake branded it "one of soap's hardest-hitting storylines" and emphasised that the issue was a common occurrence in the 1990s. [15] Lorna Hughes from the Liverpool Echo said that Brookside was known for its controversial stories. However she believed that Mike and Lindsey's arrest in Thailand was a less well remembered storyline. [16]
Merle Brown (Daily Record) ridiculed Mike and Rachel's relationship. They questioned: "what's she doing hanging about with him anyway and, from his point of view, how could you listen to her whingeing voice day in, day out?" [17] A critic from The Guardian included Mike in an article written to ridicule soap characters. Of Mike they wrote "Mike Dixon is feared brain-dead (as usual)." [18] A writer from Inside Soap branded Mike a "beardy-weirdy" and "the hairiest, unluckiest bloke in soap". They added that "Mike's track record in the romance department leaves a great deal to be desired." [10] Their colleague Victoria Ross branded Mike "Brookside's best looking resident". [6]
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.
Barry Grant is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Paul Usher. The character debuted on-screen during the first episode of Brookside, broadcast on 2 November 1982. Barry is one of the show's original characters and the only character to appear in the first and final episodes of Brookside. Usher decided to leave Brookside in 1984, but returned the following year and remained a regular cast member until 1995. He then returned for guest stints in 1997 and 2003. Actor Joe McGann was originally cast as Barry, but when McGann failed to gain an actors equity card, producers decided to recast the role to Usher. Barry is characterised as a "hard man" and constant law breaker. Writers transformed Barry into Brookside's long-standing villainous character. Despite his hard man characterisation, Barry has a special relationship with his mother Sheila Grant. He would do anything to protect Sheila and to the extent that it created problems with his father Bobby Grant.
Frank Rogers is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Peter Christian. The character made his first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast 1 December 1987 and remained in the show for an additional six years, being killed off in the episode aired on 5 November 1993.
Timothy "Tinhead" O'Leary is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Philip Olivier. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 22 May 1996. Tim remained on-screen until the final episode of the series in 2003. Tim subsequently appeared in a video spin-off, Brookside: Unfinished Business.
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.
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.
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.
"Little" James 'Jimmy' Corkhill Jr. is a fictional character in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by George Christopher and first appeared between 1991 and 1992. Little Jimmy resented his father, Jimmy for a number of years having caught him having sex with his aunt, Val Walker.
Paul Collins is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Jim Wiggins. One of the show's original characters, Paul debuted during the episode broadcast on 2 November 1982. Wiggins was cast by Brookside creator Phil Redmond and Janet Goddard. Paul is introduced as the husband of Annabelle Collins and father to Gordon Collins and Lucy Collins. Paul is characterised as an unlucky character who has been made redundant from a lucrative management role. He is forced to move to a small house on Brookside Close and change his lifestyle. Writers made him appear as a product of a different generation and an ex-army officer who had a sense of discipline instilled in him. Wiggins has described Paul as "aloof" and "conservative", which made viewers unsympathetic to his plight.
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.
Jonathan Gordon-Davies is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Steven Pinner. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 6 April 1987. Pinner was cast in the series after a period of unemployment and he credited the role as being his saviour from depression. Jonathan is characterised as an upper class solicitor from a wealthy family in London. Writers created Jonathan alongside his fiancée Laura Wright. Together they represented the young urban professionals (yuppies) of 1980/1990s British society. The two characters move into number nine Brookside Close, the house previously occupied by similar upper class character Heather Haversham. Writers created a wedding story for them, which was broadcast on 11 August 1987 and commemorated the 500th episode of Brookside. Jonathan was portrayed at odds with his interfering father-in-law Geoff Wright. He would invite himself into Jonathan's home and perform DIY home improvements to Jonathan's chagrin. His faulty repair of a light switch causes Laura to electrocute herself and fall down some stairs. The story formed Cunliffe's departure from the series after less than one year on-screen. Laura was killed off in January 1988, but writers decided to develop Jonathan's character further.
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.
Jacqueline "Jackie" Corkhill is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Brookside, played by Sue Jenkins from 1991 to 2001.
Annabelle Collins is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Doreen Sloane. One of the show's original characters, Annabelle debuted during the episode broadcast on 2 November 1982. Annabelle is characterised as an intelligent woman who is used to a luxurious lifestyle. She is married to Paul Collins and they move into Brookside Close during the show's first episode. The move is a downsize from a big house after Paul loses a lucrative management role. Annabelle struggles to adjust to her new lifestyle but eventually becomes active in her new community. She is portrayed as generous and neighbourly, but also displays characteristics of snobbery. Writers created a difficult marriage for Annabelle and Paul.
