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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891 Forum Member ✭✭
11/08/21 - 11:56 in Soaps #1
I thought a general thread about the axed soap opera might be of interest to other members. I hope you take part and enjoy it!
"Brookside is a British soap opera that was set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on Tuesday 2nd November 1982 and ran for 21 years until Tuesday 4th November 2003.
Originally intended to be called Meadowcroft the series was produced by Mersey Television (now renamed as Lime Pictures) and was conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond.
Brookside became very successful and was often Channel 4's highest rated programme for a number of years in the mid-1980s, with audiences regularly in excess of eight million viewers. Initially notable for its realistic and socially challenging storylines from the mid-1990s the show began raising more controversial subjects under the guidance of new producers.
It is especially well known for broadcasting the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television in 1994, as well as a powerful domestic abuse storyline resulting in murder. It also had the first openly gay character on a British TV series, who was outed in a 1985 storyline.
In 1996, the series experienced an extreme backlash from viewers when it featured a hugely controversial storyline focusing on an incestuous sexual relationship between two siblings and from that point onwards the show became notable for its more outrageous and improbable storylines.
Although the series had a long and successful run, its viewing figures were in terminal decline by 2000, and low ratings eventually led to its cancellation in June 2003. The final episode was broadcast on Tuesday 4th November 2003 and was watched by around two million viewers.
The first episode of Brookside was repeated as part of Channel 4 at 25 on 1 October 2007. The episode aired on More4 in a season of celebratory Channel 4 programmes to mark the channel's 25th anniversary. Several classic episodes have also been available to view on All 4 since 2009. After years of campaigning by fans, the special DVD Brookside Most Memorable Moments was released in November 2012, just over 30 years after the series originally began. It features clips and episodes from the programme's 21-year history."
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JArsea123 Posts: 10,191
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11/08/21 - 12:54 #2
Brookside seemed good in the 1990s but you can sadly see the decline from 2001-2003 but I do think Hollyoaks might have something to do with its axing also Brookside isn't completely dead as it exists within the same 'universe' as Hollyoaks so a few characters could join Hollyoaks like Matt Musgrove when he joined Hollyoaks from Brookside in 2000 the only character to leave another soap to join another and play the same character
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PDS1985 Posts: 29,021
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11/08/21 - 15:53 edited 11/08/21 - 15:55 #3
I enjoyed Brookside up until Nat and Georgia's incest storyline it was gross.
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BadLadAsh Posts: 29,077
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11/08/21 - 16:03 #4
Thanks @Ben_Thistlewaite I didn't know some episodes were on All4 😀
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BadLadAsh Posts: 29,077
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11/08/21 - 16:12 #5
Theme tune appreciation post 🙌
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JArsea123 Posts: 10,191
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11/08/21 - 19:06 #6
Barry Grant alone with Warren is a rare top dog in that he backs his talk and has gotten away with hideous crimes
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ESDL Posts: 518
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11/08/21 - 22:22 #7
Also you can find nearly all the episodes here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI9hMdmrYrtYflTTF33cBdA/videos
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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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15/08/21 - 11:48 #8
I remember getting into it around 2000.
When Greg Shadwick and Jason Shadwick died.LTS Posts: 9,613
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15/08/21 - 14:46 #9
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
I remember getting into it around 2000.
When Greg Shadwick and Jason Shadwick died.It was 1993 for me with the start of the Jordache storyline.
One of the most vivid memories I have of Greg & Jason's deaths is the aftermath where Margi found out about Susannah & Greg's affair, broke into her house and attempted to strangle her!
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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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15/08/21 - 14:48 #10
LTS wrote: »
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
I remember getting into it around 2000.
When Greg Shadwick and Jason Shadwick died.It was 1993 for me with the start of the Jordache storyline.
One of the most vivid memories I have of Greg & Jason's deaths is the aftermath where Margi found out about Susannah & Greg's affair, broke into her house and attempted to strangle her!
That was a fantastic episode, it was tense and claustrophobic.
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LTS Posts: 9,613
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15/08/21 - 14:56 #11
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
That was a fantastic episode, it was tense and claustrophobic.
It really was and that was one of the things I liked so much about Brookside - when something big happened it genuinely did shake up the community and change characters' lives forever rather than just being brushed under the carpet after a couple of weeks.
That said I did think it was a bit odd that a few weeks later, Margi jetted off to Brussels for a new job and left her daughters behind!
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Multimedia81 Posts: 88,181
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15/08/21 - 16:25 #12
LTS wrote: »
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
That was a fantastic episode, it was tense and claustrophobic.
It really was and that was one of the things I liked so much about Brookside - when something big happened it genuinely did shake up the community and change characters' lives forever rather than just being brushed under the carpet after a couple of weeks.
That said I did think it was a bit odd that a few weeks later, Margi jetted off to Brussels for a new job and left her daughters behind!
One of her daughters Nikki was the final woman to leave Brookside Close.
Lindsey appeared in a later scene but had earlier left for Newcastle. 2
SecretLifeoBees Posts: 52,505
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15/08/21 - 16:53 #13
Loved Brookside, I even applied for a job as a production runner after graduating from uni 😁.
My most memorable stories
- Jordache saga
- Tony Dixon’s death
- Patricia Farnham’s cancer
- Diana Corkhill accuses Peter Harrison of date rape
- Nat and Georgia
- Beth and Margaret’s kiss
- Margaret getting it on with the priest
- Terry getting involved in a cult
- Jimmy’s bipolar disorder
- Max struggling to accept his daughter Alice when she was born with Down Syndrome
- Callum Finnegan being locked in a shipping container about to set sail
- A deadly virus seeing the close placed in quarantine
- Sammy Rogers alcoholism6
Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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15/08/21 - 21:45 #14
JArsea123 wrote: »
Brookside seemed good in the 1990s but you can sadly see the decline from 2001-2003 but I do think Hollyoaks might have something to do with its axing also Brookside isn't completely dead as it exists within the same 'universe' as Hollyoaks so a few characters could join Hollyoaks like Matt Musgrove when he joined Hollyoaks from Brookside in 2000 the only character to leave another soap to join another and play the same character
Matt dated Chloe in Hollyoaks right, I never saw the point of transferring him as he was so boring in Brookie?
The actor sadly died.PDS1985 wrote: »
I enjoyed Brookside up until Nat and Georgia's incest storyline it was gross.
I felt really sorry for Danny Simpson throughout that story, the actor was so good.
SecretLifeoBees wrote: »
Loved Brookside, I even applied for a job as a production runner after graduating from uni 😁.
My most memorable stories
- Jordache saga
- Tony Dixon’s death
- Patricia Farnham’s cancer
- Diana Corkhill accuses Peter Harrison of date rape
- Nat and Georgia
- Beth and Margaret’s kiss
- Margaret getting it on with the priest
- Terry getting involved in a cult
- Jimmy’s bipolar disorder
- Max struggling to accept his daughter Alice when she was born with Down Syndrome
- Callum Finnegan being locked in a shipping container about to set sail
- A deadly virus seeing the close placed in quarantine
- Sammy Rogers alcoholismSome amazing choices there, you have brought back many a memory there!
Multimedia81 wrote: »
LTS wrote: »
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
That was a fantastic episode, it was tense and claustrophobic.
It really was and that was one of the things I liked so much about Brookside - when something big happened it genuinely did shake up the community and change characters' lives forever rather than just being brushed under the carpet after a couple of weeks.
That said I did think it was a bit odd that a few weeks later, Margi jetted off to Brussels for a new job and left her daughters behind!
One of her daughters Nikki was the final woman to leave Brookside Close.
Lindsey appeared in a later scene but had earlier left for Newcastle.Very true, I think Jacqui Farham should have appeared last though as she was the longest serving character. Obviously by then it was the Jimmy Corkhill show.
LTS wrote: »
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
That was a fantastic episode, it was tense and claustrophobic.
It really was and that was one of the things I liked so much about Brookside - when something big happened it genuinely did shake up the community and change characters' lives forever rather than just being brushed under the carpet after a couple of weeks.
That said I did think it was a bit odd that a few weeks later, Margi jetted off to Brussels for a new job and left her daughters behind!
Yeah I suppose Emily attempting to live there would have been better rather than her just leaving her understand daughter.
JArsea123 wrote: »
Barry Grant alone with Warren is a rare top dog in that he backs his talk and has gotten away with hideous crimes
Glad I inspired you.
BadLadAsh wrote: »
Thanks @Ben_Thistlewaite I didn't know some episodes were on All4 😀
My pleasure!
Thank you for posting!ESDL wrote: »
Also you can find nearly all the episodes here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI9hMdmrYrtYflTTF33cBdA/videos
Thank you, how kind of you.
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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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10/10/21 - 14:28 #15
Any interest in discussing Brookie?
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JArsea123 Posts: 10,191
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10/10/21 - 16:57 #16
I wouldn't mind
Barry Grant. That is all 😂.
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Jetson Posts: 13,590
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10/10/21 - 18:42 edited 10/10/21 - 18:43 #17
One of my memories as a child (I was 7) was being ABSOLUTELY terrified and traumatised watching the episode where something exploded and Lindsay Corkhill's daughter was trapped in rising flood water.
Honestly, between that and all the accidents on Casualty (which my Mum always had on at the time) I had nightmares!
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yohinnchild Posts: 52,810
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10/10/21 - 18:44 #18
I've just come up to episode 105 (well finished that a few days ago).
I've watched from the beginning over the last month or so - actually really enjoying it. A bit slow in places - but there are some good characters there. Glad Roger has finally gone
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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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10/10/21 - 23:56 #19
Oh wow you really are a way back.
Loved the Grants!
I liked Roger when he helped Petra but yes he did grate on me, the adulterous swine! LOLYes Bazza was rather attractive even if he did treat ladies like crap. Did he have a fling with Jacqui Farnham?
I was horrified when it appeared SInead was going to be amputated to save Kylie.
Jimmy still showed him no respect or paid back the debt he owed him.Not sure why Jimmy was so popular, he was vile. Well acted though and deserved to stay until the end funnily enough.
yohinnchild Posts: 52,810
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11/10/21 - 17:54 #20
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
Oh wow you really are a way back.
Loved the Grants!
I liked Roger when he helped Petra but yes he did grate on me, the adulterous swine! LOLYes Bazza was rather attractive even if he did treat ladies like crap. Did he have a fling with Jacqui Farnham?
I was horrified when it appeared SInead was going to be amputated to save Kylie.
Jimmy still showed him no respect or paid back the debt he owed him.Not sure why Jimmy was so popular, he was vile. Well acted though and deserved to stay until the end funnily enough.
Haha I know - started from the beginning - but juggling early Brookside and keeping up with Classic Emmerdale (which I have 90 episodes stacked up on my Sky planner
)Yeah Roger was good when Gav died... have to say I'm glad Pet has gone now too - I know she had multiple tragedies... but she was so draining and miserable a lot of the time.
Alan is great though and so much needed comic relief at times. I'm growing to really like Marie too - yes she's a horrific busybody and very OTT, but she is a great character
The Grants are a strong family, i'll say again though that some of the scenes feel like something out of the Royle Family at times (which is a compliment as it feels normal)
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SeagullNipple Posts: 6,457
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11/10/21 - 21:35 edited 11/10/21 - 21:38 #21
I remember Sinnad getting accused of being a pedophile when an older brother made his younger brother tell lies about him.
Mick's wife put a pillow over her mother's face. The sister got really annoyed about it but she was really irritating.
Tinhead the hunk and Emily.
Emily and Susanah fued then them making up right before Susanah died. Susanah's kid that died in the crash was also called Emily.
Antony Murray bullying.
A few really bad hour long episodes where Tinhead and Steve Murray and occasionally Jimmy would become gangsters and do "jobs" trying to nick stuff.
The helicopter crash killing the Nolan sister and Emily.
Bev and her Kiev the chicken and Josh and all their funny scenes.
Ron having about 300 heart attacks. Ron killing someone when a few years earlier he had been calling for the Jordaches to get the death penalty. Think it was a burglar?
Patricia Farnham and Max trying to out do Bev and Ron all the time
Carol Smillie got locked in a toilet once too.
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SeagullNipple Posts: 6,457
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11/10/21 - 21:42 edited 11/10/21 - 21:44 #22
Couple of powerful scenes and foreshadowing
Max: it could have been one of my own children
https://youtu.be/K_TR3csR_RsBev vs Jackie
https://youtu.be/E12xyc4wgk8The vocal version of the theme tune
https://youtu.be/M9YAoyPHrXsEmily having a brief pop career
https://youtu.be/GLUqGyBJEgsJulia brogan always brought some comedy
https://youtu.be/zJiUnesmI8cCarol Smillie dancing along to the Nolan sisters, one of whom joined the cast a year later.
https://youtu.be/DZqYsZOJPgYsam_gee Posts: 51,454
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11/10/21 - 21:43 #23
SeagullNipple wrote: »
I remember Sinnad getting accused of being a pedophile when an older brother made his younger brother tell lies about him.
Mick's wife put a pillow over her mother's face. The sister got really annoyed about it but she was really irritating.
Tinhead the hunk and Emily.
Emily and Susanah fued then them making up right before Susanah died. Susanah's kid that died in the crash was also called Emily.
Antony Murray bullying.
A few really bad hour long episodes where Tinhead and Steve Murray and occasionally Jimmy would become gangsters and do "jobs" trying to nick stuff.
The helicopter crash killing the Nolan sister and Emily.
Bev and her Kiev the chicken and Josh and all their funny scenes.
Ron having about 300 heart attacks. Ron killing someone when a few years earlier he had been calling for the Jordaches to get the death penalty. Think it was a burglar?
Patricia Farnham and Max trying to out do Bev and Ron all the time
Carol Smillie got locked in a toilet once too.
I remember Mick’s girlfriend’s daughter saying, ‘You’ve killed me nan!’ 😂
Did Mick have a very good looking girlfriend, a teacher maybe, and maybe called Marianne? I think she or her ex brought a whole heap of trouble down on Mick, but maybe I’m misremembering.
Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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11/10/21 - 22:36 #24
sam_gee wrote: »
SeagullNipple wrote: »
I remember Sinnad getting accused of being a pedophile when an older brother made his younger brother tell lies about him.
Mick's wife put a pillow over her mother's face. The sister got really annoyed about it but she was really irritating.
Tinhead the hunk and Emily.
Emily and Susanah fued then them making up right before Susanah died. Susanah's kid that died in the crash was also called Emily.
Antony Murray bullying.
A few really bad hour long episodes where Tinhead and Steve Murray and occasionally Jimmy would become gangsters and do "jobs" trying to nick stuff.
The helicopter crash killing the Nolan sister and Emily.
Bev and her Kiev the chicken and Josh and all their funny scenes.
Ron having about 300 heart attacks. Ron killing someone when a few years earlier he had been calling for the Jordaches to get the death penalty. Think it was a burglar?
Patricia Farnham and Max trying to out do Bev and Ron all the time
Carol Smillie got locked in a toilet once too.
I remember Mick’s girlfriend’s daughter saying, ‘You’ve killed me nan!’ 😂
Did Mick have a very good looking girlfriend, a teacher maybe, and maybe called Marianne? I think she or her ex brought a whole heap of trouble down on Mick, but maybe I’m misremembering.
The teacher that STALKED him and held him and his family HOSTAGE for days on end you mean LOL
Jenny!Haha I remember that line!
Emily fell out a window.
3001 heart attacks more like, he was a horrid man.
Tim and Steve with tag along Jimmy, no wonder they enjoyed filming that show so much LOL
Oh what great memories. Thank you.
SeagullNipple wrote: »
Couple of powerful scenes and foreshadowing
Max: it could have been one of my own children
https://youtu.be/K_TR3csR_RsBev vs Jackie
https://youtu.be/E12xyc4wgk8The vocal version of the theme tune
https://youtu.be/M9YAoyPHrXsEmily having a brief pop career
https://youtu.be/GLUqGyBJEgsJulia brogan always brought some comedy
https://youtu.be/zJiUnesmI8cCarol Smillie dancing along to the Nolan sisters, one of whom joined the cast a year later.
https://youtu.be/DZqYsZOJPgYMy Julia!!!! I adored her! What an actress... Farnnnnham! That Jimmy CORKKKKKKHIIILLLL!!!
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Ben_Thistlewaite Posts: 13,891
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11/10/21 - 22:39 #25
yohinnchild wrote: »
Ben_Thistlewaite wrote: »
Oh wow you really are a way back.
Loved the Grants!
I liked Roger when he helped Petra but yes he did grate on me, the adulterous swine! LOLYes Bazza was rather attractive even if he did treat ladies like crap. Did he have a fling with Jacqui Farnham?
I was horrified when it appeared SInead was going to be amputated to save Kylie.
Jimmy still showed him no respect or paid back the debt he owed him.Not sure why Jimmy was so popular, he was vile. Well acted though and deserved to stay until the end funnily enough.
Haha I know - started from the beginning - but juggling early Brookside and keeping up with Classic Emmerdale (which I have 90 episodes stacked up on my Sky planner
)Yeah Roger was good when Gav died... have to say I'm glad Pet has gone now too - I know she had multiple tragedies... but she was so draining and miserable a lot of the time.
Alan is great though and so much needed comic relief at times. I'm growing to really like Marie too - yes she's a horrific busybody and very OTT, but she is a great character
The Grants are a strong family, i'll say again though that some of the scenes feel like something out of the Royle Family at times (which is a compliment as it feels normal)
Loved The Rogers too and Geoff struggling to read which in turn ended up with the actor now being a English teacher helping dyslexic kids!
Marie vs Shelia must be pending soon!1
LTS Posts: 9,613
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11/10/21 - 22:53 edited 11/10/21 - 22:54 #26
Julia Brogan was absolutely brilliant! Her driving test is still one of the funniest soap moments of all time for me. Used to love her turning up at every court case with her bag of Mint Imperials!
Anyone remember Jackie, Patricia and Jean appearing on a TV show hosted by Michael Parkinson in the aftermath of the Jordache verdict?
One character I could never stand was Katie Rogers. Quite possibly the most miserable and sour soap character ever!
Callum Finnegan is still one of the best soap villains I can remember. Perfect mixture of menace and dark humour.
My opinion on Jimmy is that he was a fantastic character in the mid 90s before the producers decided that, as their “star”, he should not only have a succession of massive stories of his own but also be shoehorned into everyone elses. He was in literally every episode for about 3 years! Not only that but they turned him into this wise sage of the Close who everyone went to for advice. He was unbearable by the time I stopped watching (late 2001).
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Lindsey appeared in a later scene but had earlier left for Newcastle. 
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