Bobby and Sheila Grant reunite in the upcoming Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover (Picture: Lime Pictures)
It’s been 22 years since the credits rolled on Brookside’s final episode and we’re still not over it.
The groundbreaking Channel 4 soap, as viewers will recall, was controversially axed in 2003 after 21 glorious years on air.
Long-time viewers of the beloved serial – which was home to many a hard-hitting storyline – launched a number of campaigns over the years in order to bring it back and, although you can now finally revisit the classic episodes via STV Player, it seemed unlikely that their wish would come to pass.
That is, until Hollyoaks boss Hannah Cheers got on the case!
In a historic move, various residents of Brookside Close will return to TV screens next week. The highly-anticipated one-off special will see the world of Brookie collide with Hollyoaks as part of the latter’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The idea to bring the two shows together was a brainwave of Hannah’s as she wanted to pay tribute to the legacy of both Channel 4 soaps as part of the momentous occasion.
A moment two decades in the making – at least! – as Brookside legends reunite (Picture: Lime Pictures)
‘This year is Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary, and while we have loads of action and brilliant story and unmissable stunts planned, I kept thinking about how important a moment this is in the culture and in the TV landscape right now, for Hollyoaks as a show, for the genre of continuing drama, for the wider Liverpool area’, she said, discussing how the idea for a crossover came about.
‘The 30th is such a massive achievement, I started racking my brain about how else we could make noise to make people sit up and notice and give the audience something they hadn’t had before.’
Hannah pointed out that soap fans often invest in more than one soap and therefore the idea of a crossover with two of the UK’s finest felt like a no brainer when it came to her in a ‘thunderbolt’ moment.
Sheila Grant legend Sue Johnston on Brookside’s enduring legacy
Sue reprises her iconic role (Picture: Lime Pictures)
‘That’s a big one. It’s amazing how its stuck in the memory. A lady serving me in the supermarket the other day was so excited about this crossover, she said Brookside was her youth – maybe that’s it, so many people grew up watching it. Then Hollyoaks was born out of Brookside, and has taken over the mantle.’
‘Hollyoaks uses much of the same sets Brookside did, we have crew who started their careers on Brookside,’ she enthused. ‘It came to me in a thunderbolt moment, then a few months later ITV announced their crossover with Emmerdale and Coronation Street which is happening next year!
‘I thought it was interesting we were thinking on the same lines of respecting the soap viewer in this way.’
The crossover episode airs next Wednesday (October 22) and will see Donny Clark (played by former Brookie star Louis Emerick) get in touch with taxi driver friend ‘Benny’ (Michael Starke, who played Sinbad on Brookside), who he wants to take him to the Close.
Donny arrives at the Close – and legendary Brookie characters emerge (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Sheila gives Donny a piece of her mind (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Upon arriving on Brookside, Donny is greeted – though we use that term lightly – by legendary matriarch Sheila Grant (Sue Johnston), who wastes little time in giving him a piece of her mind.
Classic Sheila.
Fans will also be treated to appearances from Bobby Grant (Ricky Tomlinson), Barry Grant (Paul Usher) and Billy Corkhill (Jon McArdle).
Paul Usher on why he said yes to playing Barry Grant again…
Barry is back! (Picture: Lime Pictures)
‘When they told me Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant) and Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant) were doing it, that made me say yes because we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like.
‘I’ve got a lot of really good friends from Brookside days so to come back and be with them, it puts the bow on top of it. I’m pleased I said yes now.’
If that Werner exciting enough then let’s not forfet that Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins are also set to return to their roles as Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary and Nikki Shadwick respectively.
The events of the Brookside crossover episode will spill into Hollyoaks Later, which also makes a return during the week in question as part of Hollyoaks’ 30th.
As for how it all ends, you’ll just have to tune in to find out.
Together again (Picture: Lime Pictures)
But with the door having now officially been open, thus cementing Brookside in the same shared universe as Hollyoaks (move over, Marvel!), the question is, can we expect to see the story of Brookie revisited in the future?
‘Never say never,’ said Hannah. ‘Most importantly, I am so proud we have opened the door to that universe and now it exists and is inscribed in Hollyoaks history.
Brookside and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond on his reaction to the crossover idea…
‘There’s a couple of guys running a campaign to bring back Brookie so it’s something that’s always in the air, but I was always in the mind of ‘don’t go back’.
‘Hollyoaks’ Executive Producer, Hannah Cheers, had a chat and explained it was about celebrating not just Brookie, but 30 years of Hollyoaks, and that seemed like a really good thing. Doing a crossover is interesting, as it was something I’d done when we launched Hollyoaks as a little bit of mischief – we sent some Brookside characters to Chester on a day out.’
‘Hopefully we can continue to reference it and I’d love to see characters crossing back in as much as we can, we don’t want to forget it.’
In the meantime, fans can get a daily dose of Brookside, with five weekly episodes of the original series dropping every Wednesday on STV.
Hollyoaks and Brookside crossover airs Wednesday October 22 at 7pm on E4 and will continue in Hollyoaks Later.
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