Brookside, the iconic Channel 4 soap opera, is a classic British TV show that played a pivotal role in showcasing Liverpool. For years, the soap was a mainstay on our televisions, making history by broadcasting the first-ever pre-watershed homosexual kiss and addressing social issues such as drug addiction and bullying.
In 2003, the show ended, with the once-famous Brookside Close being auctioned off four years later. The houses that were once home to characters like Jimmy Corkhill and Bobby Grant have now been converted into rental properties for the public.
It’s been nearly 17 years since the Scouse programme concluded, and we couldn’t resist finding out what some of the former cast members are doing now, according to the Daily Star.
Anna Louise Friel / Beth Jordache
After her two-year stint on the Channel 4 soap opera, her career skyrocketed, thanks to one of the most groundbreaking storylines the country had ever seen at the time. Anna’s character Beth made television history with a pre-watershed lesbian kiss with Margaret Clemence, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In 2012, the ‘Brookside kiss’ was broadcast worldwide, aiming to promote acceptance of homosexuality and even featured in the Summer Olympics opening ceremony. The 43 year old has also shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Keira Knightley in both London Boulevard and the sci-fi blockbuster Limitless.
In 2018, Anna was recognised with a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for her role in the six-part BBC drama Broken.
Ray Quinn / Anthony Murray
Ray Quinn, known for his portrayal of Anthony Murray on Brookside from 2000 to 2003, is remembered for a distressing bullying scene where his character was humiliated by two schoolgirls.
Quinn took to the X Factor stage in 2006 for its third series, narrowly missing out on first place to international sensation Leona Lewis. His reality TV journey continued as he won Dancing on Ice in 2009 and later became the overall King of the Ice in the All Stars series in 2014.
In 2018, Quinn returned to acting with a role on Hollyoaks as Jonny Baxter, a right-wing extremist. He left the show a year later.
Ricky Tomlinson / Bobby Grant
Ricky Tomlinson, who played Bobby Grant, was part of the Grant family that featured in the inaugural episode of Brookside, moving from a council estate to their new home at number five, Brookside Close.
Tomlinson has since starred in several films, including Mike Bassett: England Manager, Raining Stones and Hillsborough. He is also renowned for his role as Jim Royle in the popular sitcom The Royle Family, where he portrayed the idle father, Jim Royle.
Before Ricky Tomlinson became a household name on Brookside, his past included a controversial chapter where he was one of the three men jailed for conspiring to intimidate workers during the 1972 strikes in Shrewsbury and Telford. Serving 15 months of a two-year sentence, Ricky has consistently proclaimed his innocence and remains committed to clearing his name.
Brian Regan / Terry Sullivan
Brian Regan known for playing Terry Sullivan on Brookside between 1982 and 1997 took a dramatic turn away from acting when, in 2012, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment for drug dealing and perverting the course of justice in connection with a murder case. It transpired that Regan had unintentionally served as the getaway driver in a murder after drugs were found at his home.
At his sentencing, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies highlighted the damage caused by his actions, saying: “Whatever you lost in dealing cocaine, you assisted the spread of this addictive and destructive substance which brings misery to the lives of those who depend on it.”
Jennifer Ellison / Emily Shadwick
Jennifer Ellison played Emily Shadwick on Brookside from 1998 until 2003, and saw her star rise significantly after leaving the show, becoming a celebrated glamour model and one of the country’s beloved Page 3 favourites. However, the mother-of-three later faced her own battles with weight stemming from a history of following various diet fads.
A few years ago, she made a strong pledge on ITV’s Lorraine “never to yo-yo diet again”, after reaching a weight of 14 stone. Jennifer then embarked on a lifestyle overhaul and returned to the spotlight, flaunting her stunning figure following intensified gym workouts and a newfound love for healthy living.
Dean Sullivan / Jimmy Corkhill
You can’t discuss Brookside without mentioning the lovable rogue Jimmy Corkhill, who became the soap’s most iconic character. For an impressive 17 years, Dean’s character, Jimmy, provided constant entertainment and high drama for viewers.
After Brookside ended and his character was written out in 2003, Sullivan confessed he felt a deep sense of loss, admitting “it was like grieving an old friend”.
Despite ongoing speculation about a return to reignite both his acting career and the infamous Jimmy on other soap stages, since his memorable stint on the Channel 4 classic, Dean has stepped back from the public eye.
In 2008, he even contemplated buying every house on Brookside Close as part of an ambitious plan to revive the series. However, for undisclosed reasons, he decided against purchasing the close, and the properties were instead sold to various private buyers.
Claire Sweeney / Lindsey Corkhill
After a decade on Brookside, Sweeney gained new popularity performing in the West End smash hit Chicago and made a splash as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
More than ten years after her Big Brother stint, Sweeney joined ex-Eastenders actors Natalie Cassidy, Dean Gaffney, and Ricky Groves for a dazzling performance on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.
Their routine was choreographed to the catchy tune You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray. In a tense round, the star-studded group managed to secure second place, narrowly beating Ricky Hatton by winning the judges’ approval in a close two-to-one verdict.