Former Brookside character, now 44 years old, continues his acting career 22 years post his debut on the soap opera; discover other shows where he's featured since then.
Brookside Returns for a Historic Crossover with Hollyoaks
After a long hiatus, the iconic British soap opera Brookside is set to make a comeback, as part of Hollyoaks' 30th Anniversary celebrations. The show, which originally aired on Channel 4 on November 2, 1982, proved an instant hit with viewers and ran for over two decades.
Set in Liverpool and chronicling the lives of characters living in 13 houses on a cul-de-sac called Brookside Close, the show took on issues such as LGBT+ and hard-hitting storylines like rape, bullying, and incest. It was a trailblazer in many ways, featuring the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss in British history between characters Beth Jordache, played by Anna Friel, and Margaret Clemence, who was portrayed by Nicola Stephenson. In 1985, teenage character Gordon Collins came out to his family as gay on the soap, becoming the first ever openly gay character in a British TV series.
Brookside launched the careers of many industry heavyweights, including Anna Friel, Amanda Burton, and Claire Sweeney. Jack McMullen, who played Josh McLoughlin in the soap, is still acting 22 years after his role. After leaving the soap in 2003, he landed another part in a major drama, this time as Finn Sharkey in Waterloo Road, and has since had a successful acting career with roles in shows like Grange Hill, Little Boy Blue, This City Is Ours, and Hijack. Silent Witness actress Amanda, Hollyoaks actress Alex Fletcher, and West End musical star Claire Sweeney also began their careers on the soap.
While other Brookside characters are expected to appear to give fans a nostalgic experience celebrating the show's heritage, no additional specific returning cast members have been officially announced yet. The only confirmed cast member returning for the Brookside crossover episode with Hollyoaks is Sue Johnston, who will reprise her iconic role as Sheila Grant, a legendary character from Brookside's original run.
The special crossover episode will air in October 2025 as part of Hollyoaks' 30th anniversary celebrations, featuring on-location filming at Brookside Close in Liverpool. Fan favorites like Bobby and Sheila, played by Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston, respectively, are expected to make an appearance, although their roles have not yet been confirmed.
As for Anna Friel, her career has taken her to America, where she has appeared in the comedy series Pushing Daisies, the country music drama Monarch, and alongside Bradley Cooper in the film Limitless. It remains to be seen if she will return to Brookside for the crossover episode.
With its return, Brookside is set to make a significant impact on the television landscape once again, offering fans a chance to revisit the lives of their favourite characters and reminisce about the groundbreaking soap that changed the face of British television.
[1] Channel 4 announces Brookside crossover with Hollyoaks for 30th anniversary celebrations, https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/h/hollyoaks/a36738437/brookside-crossover-hollyoaks-30th-anniversary/ [2] Sue Johnston to return as Sheila Grant in Brookside crossover with Hollyoaks, https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/h/hollyoaks/a36742912/sue-johnston-sheila-grant-brookside-crossover-hollyoaks/ [3] Brookside: The soap that gave birth to Hollyoaks, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52331887 [4] Brookside crossover with Hollyoaks: Cast members expected to return, https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/hollyoaks/brookside-crossover-with-hollyoaks-cast-members-expected-to-return/ [5] Brookside crossover with Hollyoaks: Everything we know so far, https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/h/hollyoaks/a36742912/brookside-crossover-with-hollyoaks-everything-we-know-so-far/
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