The creator paid tribute to the late stars as he made an unexpected appearance in tonight’s crossover episode
Sir Phil Redmond made a surprise appearance on the Hollyoaks/Brookside crossover (Image: PA)
Sir Phil Redmond paid tribute to the late stars who made Brookside so great in his interview with the ECHO. The legendary showrunner appeared on screen in a surprise cameo in tonight’s crossover episode with Hollyoaks which paid tribute to the two shows he created.
The episode was broadcast to mark the 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks as camera crews returned to Brookside, now a residential area, for one day only after exceptional permission was granted from the close’s new owner and the Liverpool Film Office. The ECHO spoke to Sir Phil after his scene was shot and he said it was surreal to be back on the L12 cul-de-sac he made so famous.
He said: “It’s slightly surreal. It’s like that Dallas moment when you come out the shower and think, ‘Am I going to Brookie?’ I said I’d never go back once we’ve moved off, but it’s been great. The 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks is a good fun thing to do and then seeing all the cast and having the old craic from the old days has been good fun.”
Sir Phil was joined in the episode by Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Paul Usher, John McArdle, Suzanne Collins, Michael Starke and Louis Emerick.
However, he was keen to pay tribute to the late stars who helped make Brookside so great such as Dean Sullivan, Bill Dean and Doreen Sloane.
Pointing to each of the houses he helped build, Sir Phil said: “You’ve touched on something there. You go around. Bill Dean in there, Doreen in there.
“The realities and the fictions, it makes you think about the people you’ll never see again. That’s life.”
The episode paid tribute to the late stars as a picture of Jimmy Corkhill was front and centre in the Grant’s living room during a conversation in tonight’s episode.
Sir Phil said the landmark Merseyside set show is still such a cultural hallmark because of the way it connected with people. He said: “It’s that word connect. The show dealt with all kinds of issues, the anxieties, the angst, frustrations, celebrations, and ambitions of ordinary people.
The frenzy around the brief return to Brookside Close in tonight’s Hollyoaks episode has sparked calls for a permanent return to the show. Sir Phil addressed this as the 76-year-old said any permanent return would be unlikely to include him.
He said: “I keep saying to people, ‘Do you see all these grey hairs?’ If they do [bring it back], then it certainly won’t be with me.”
Louis Emerick has been key to the crossover happening as it was uncovered his Brookside character, Mick Johnson, had faked a new identity to become his Hollyoaks’ counterpart, Donny Clark.
With the drama set to rumble on, the 65-year-old has shared his hopes for a return as he said Brookside could come back, just in a new form.
He told the ECHO on Monday: “People are saying, ‘Could we bring it back?’ I think they could, but not as a soap, as a series. A series of 8/10. Maybe the powers that be will have a look on Wednesday, see what the vibe is and you never know.”
The Hollyoaks/Brookside crossover is now available to watch on the Channel 4 streaming platform