Following the release of the one-off Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode, soap fans have been reflecting on some of Brookside’s most controversial storylines.
The Liverpool-set show, which aired from 1982 to 2003, dropped many a jaw during its time on Channel 4 by featuring the likes of incest, a murderous schoolboy and even a plague.
Brookside’s reputation for going where other soaps feared to tread at the time began in the early 90s with the first ever pre-watershed lesbian kiss between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson).
Despite airing long before the 2020 Covid pandemic, the show also featured a mystery plague that forced the residents of the Liverpool cul-de-sac to go into a self-imposed lockdown in 1995.
The shocking nature of the storylines only increased over time; in 2002, 12-year-old Anthony Murray (Raymond Quinn) brutally murdered his school bully Imelda Clough (Billie Clements).
But the show’s most controversial storyline was arguably the incestuous relationship between Nat Simpson and his sister Georgia in 1996.
Following the release of the one-off Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode, soap fans have been reflecting on some of Brookside’s most controversial storylines – including what is believed to be British TV’s first ever incest scene
Brookside’s reputation for going where other soaps feared to tread at the time began in the early 90s with British TV’s first lesbian kiss between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson)
In scenes that floored the nation, and what is believed to be the first time incest was ever aired on television, the pair were caught fornicating by their younger brother.
The show’s creator, Phil Redmond, described the storyline as breaking the last taboo in television at the time – even if it prompted one MP to encourage viewers to complain in their millions.
The TV editor of the Liverpool Echo also defended the incest storyline, arguing that banning the subject would be an infringement of free speech.
Peter Grant told Channel 4 in 1996: ‘I am one of Brookside’s seven million fans. And while I have not been comfortable with the way in which the current incest storyline has been handled. I will always defend the soap’s right to introduce such a subject.
‘Our soaps, like good dramas are an excellent way of provoking debate and bringing issues – otherwise hidden- into the open. Even if they sometimes shock.’
But while the storyline might have had its defenders, viewers did not hold back when expressing their rage to the Broadcasting Standards Council, which received dozens of complaints from both members of the public and family campaigners.
Brookside was criticised, in particular, for airing the controversial storyline 48 minutes before the watershed.
Mary Whitehouse, the founder of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, said: ‘Those shots of the brother and sister and the luscious love-making between them were an absolute disgrace. They were both naked and it panned to a shot of an undergarment thrown on to the side of the bed, which left no doubt in anyone’s mind what was supposed to be happening.’
Fans are now calling for Brookside to return to screens after its nostalgic crossover episode with Hollyoaks
Despite falling audience numbers, Phil Redmond described the show’s axing in 2003 as ‘ridiculous’, and ahead of its return, was asked if there were any Brookside storylines he was particularly proud of.
He said: ‘There’s two. I remember calling Sue Johnston into my office in 1986 and telling her we were thinking of doing the Sheila Grant rape storyline.
‘We wanted to bring over the fact it was a violent act of dominance, and to make it a story for “Saint Shei” as she was known, Sheila was everyone’s mum. We had to have someone who could carry the story and make it work.’
Another story that Redmond was proud of was Niamh’s admission that she was illiterate, for shedding light on an often-overlooked issue.
The Brookside creator said: ‘We had Niamh, a 40-something mum who’d raised a family, offered a promotion at work and had to fill out a form, then had to admit she couldn’t read or write.’
Reflecting on the poignant episodes, the creator said: ‘Those two storylines are what I think Brookie was all about.’
On October 22, Hollyoaks aired a special crossover episode with iconic Brookside characters to celebrate its 30th anniversary
One soap fan wrote on X: ‘Surreal to see #Brookside close again on TV after all these years. Loved the episode! Congrats to all involved. Let’s hope this leads to the show coming back’
Following the release of the one-off crossover episode fans are now calling for Brookside to return to screens.
The special, which aired on October 22, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks.
In September, it was confirmed Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins would return for the episode, reprising their roles as as Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary and Nikki Shadwick.
Sue Johnston also returned as matriarch Sheila Grant, a part she played from 1982 until 1990 alongside Paul Usher as Sheila’s bad-boy son Barry Grant, and John McArdle as her second husband, Billy Corkhill.
Fans went wild over the iconic soap returning and are hoping it will lead to its return full-time.
Fans went wild over the iconic soap’s return 22 years after its final episode, and are hoping it might once again be a permanent fixture on British screens.
One wrote on X: ‘Surreal to see #Brookside close again on TV after all these years. Loved the episode! Congrats to all involved. Let’s hope this leads to the show coming back’;
‘Sir Phil saying, “From one drama to another!”… Excellent! How wonderful to hear that theme tune again. Please bring #Brookside back full time! Absolutely loved the cross-over tonight X’;
‘One of the great TV cul-de-sacs back in action… what a treat and so wonderful to see the Close and some of those classic characters again. More please!!’
Hollyoaks truly got into the Halloween spirit this October by airing an episode akin to a slasher horror movie that sees Dodger Savage brutally raped and beaten
Due to the sensitive nature of the shocking storyline, Channel 4 worked with the We Are Survivors Charity to ensure that the dark subject matter was sensitively handled
Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers previously described the episode as a ‘love letter’ to both soaps and expressed her gratitude to Sir Phil Redmond, who created both Hollyoaks and Brookside. She said: ‘This episode is a love letter to both Hollyoaks and Brookside.
‘Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks – it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets.
‘For everyone at Lime Pictures (originally Mersey TV), Hollyoaks’ history is deeply rooted in Brookside, and its legacy lives on through our crew and, of course, some of our cast.
‘This special feels like both a moving and fitting tribute to our origin story and a chance for fans to revisit much-loved Brookside.’
Like Brookside, the anniversary episode was full of shocking scenes and featured rape and murder scenes, with a bloodbath that got off to a shocking start when serial killer Jez Blake was sucked into a plane propeller.
The anniversary episode is available to stream on E4 now.
