Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson Reunite for Brookside Special Episode
Beloved actors Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson have reunited on the set of Brookside, nearly 20 years after the soap’s final broadcast. The pair are reprising their iconic roles as Sheila and Bobby Grant in a one-off special episode to mark Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary.
Filming took place this week on the famous Brookside Close, with cameras capturing the long-anticipated return of the Grant family, who were central to the show’s early storylines. Johnston and Tomlinson first appeared as Sheila and Bobby when Brookside launched in 1982, portraying a working-class Liverpool couple navigating family life with their three children.
“It will be lovely to take part in Brookside again, especially to work alongside Sue Johnston,” Tomlinson said ahead of filming. “I’m looking forward to being on the close again after all these years.”
The special also brings back familiar faces, including Paul Usher as Barry Grant, John McArdle as Billy Corkhill, Philip Olivier as Timothy “Tinhead” O’Leary, Suzanne Collins as Nikki Shadwick, and Michael Starke as Thomas “Sinbad” Sweeney.
Created by Sir Philip Redmond, Brookside was groundbreaking for its gritty and socially conscious storylines, tackling taboo subjects such as rape, bullying, and incest. At its peak, the series drew audiences of up to nine million before ending in 2003 with the memorable final scene of Jimmy Corkhill (played by the late Dean Sullivan) painting “Brookside Closed” on the street sign.
The upcoming one-off episode will be the first time Brookside Close has appeared on television since the show ended. It is scheduled to air next month.