When it comes to classic British TV, the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside arguably helped put Liverpool on the map.
The soap dominated screens for decades, making history with the first-ever homosexual kiss aired before watershed, and touching on social issues such as drug addiction and bullying.
In 2003, the show drew its final curtain, with the once-famous Brookside Close being auctioned off four years later.
The houses that once belonged to characters such as Jimmy Corkhill and Bobby Grant – to name a few – are now rental homes to the general public.
It’s been almost 17 years since the Scouse programme came to a close and we couldn’t help but wonder what some of the former cast members were up to now.
Anna Friel’s career rocketed to stardom after her kissing scene on the show
Anna Louise Friel – Beth Jordache (1992 – 1994)
The star’s career rocketed after her two-year stint on the Channel 4 soap opera, having starred in one of the most groundbreaking storylines the nation had ever seen.
Anna’s character Beth made television history with a pre-watershed lesbian kiss with Margaret Clemence.
In 2012 the Brookside kiss was broadcast worldwide, embracing homosexuality when it featured in the Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
The 43-year-old also starred alongside Hollywood legends Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Keira Knightley in both London Boulevard and the sci-fi hit Limitless.
More recently in 2018, Anna was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for her performance in the six-part BBC drama Broken.
X Factor’s Ray Quinn played Anthony Murray on the show for three years (Image: WireImage)
Ray Quinn – Anthony Murray (2000 – 2003)
Quinn played Anthony Murray on Brookside for three years, memorably taking part in a painful bullying scene where he was stripped naked and drenched in water by two girls at school.
Back in 2006, Ray took to Simon Cowell’s X Factor stage for the third series and narrowly missed out on first-place, losing to global sensation Leona Lewis.
Quinn’s reality stint didn’t end there, as he was crowned the Dancing on Ice champion in 2009 and later became the overall King of the Ice for the All Stars series in 2014.
Ray returned to his roots in 2018, taking an on-screen role in soap opera Hollyoaks, playing Jonny Baxter, a right wing extremist.
A year on and Quinn is no longer on the show, but is rumoured to be bringing out a new album this year.
Lovable comic Ricky Tomlinson played Bobby Grant and later went on to hit movie screens (Image: GETTY)
Ricky Tomlinson – Bobby Grant (1982 – 1988)
The Grant family included Bobby Grant, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant, Karen Grant and Damon Grant.
The entire family appeared on the first-ever episode, moving from a council estate to number five, their new home on Brookside Close.
Tomlinson has also starred in several films, Mike Bassett: England Manager, Raining Stones and Hillsborough.
He was also famously known for his role as Jim Royle in hit sitcom The Royle Family.
Before Ricky’s time on Brookside, he was one of three men jailed for conspiring to intimidate workers on building sites in Shrewsbury and Telford during a strike in September 1972.
He served 15 months of a two-year jail sentence and to this day protests his innocence, seeking to clear his name.
Brian Regan found himself on the wrong side of the law after Brookside
Brian Regan – Terry Sullivan (1982 – 1997)
After 14 years as Terry Sullivan on the popular soap, Regan left Brookeside in the late nineties.
In 2012, Brian was convicted and sent to jail for five years for drug dealing and perverting the course of justice for lying about his involvement in a murder.
It was reported that Regan was the unwitting getaway driver for a murder, and police found a stash of drugs in his home.
At the sentencing, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said: “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 oozed sex appeal in the early 90s and featured on many teenage boys’ bedroom walls (Image: PA)
Jennifer Ellison – Emily Shadwick (1998 – 2003)
Jennifer Ellison’s career took off after her stint on the Channel 4 soap opera when she embarked on a career as a successful glamour model.
In the early noughties she became one of the most popular Page 3 girls of her time, and featured on the front covers of FHM, Zoo and People.
After years of fad diets the mum-of-three found herself battling issues with her weight.
She later appeared on ITV’s Lorraine pledging “never to yo-yo diet again” after she’d reached 14 stone.
Only last year, Jennifer flaunted her incredible curves after hitting the gym and discovering new, healthier, eating habits.
The lovable rogue Jimmy Corkhill became the longest standing cast member on Brookside
Dean Sullivan – Jimmy Corkhill (1986 – 2003)
We couldn’t possibly write a feature about Brookside and not include the lovable rogue Jimmy Corkhill, who became the show’s longest-standing cast member of all time.
Dean’s on-screen character Jimmy provided viewers with the ultimate drama package for 17 years.
After Sullivan was written out of the show in 2003, he struggled, saying “it was like grieving an old friend”.
Claire Sweeney later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Comic Relief
Claire Sweeney – Lindsey Corkhill (1989 – 2003)
After a 10-year stint in Brookside, Sweeney appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and in the West End musical, Chicago.
Twelve years after her Big Brother stint, Sweeney was spotted alongside Natalie Cassidy, Dean Gaffney and Ricky Groves on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.
They performed to “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray.
In their heat, the group placed second after beating Ricky Hatton in the judges’ vote, in a close scoring of two to one.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
