Brookside
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Brookside was a soap opera based in Liverpool, which was introduced with the new British television channel, Channel 4. It aired from the network's first night on November 2, 1982 until low ratings called for its cancellation in 2003.
It became well known for its tackling of realistic and socially challenging storylines. In the 1990s it began raising more controversial and sensitive issues under the guidance of new producers such as Mal Young. It is especially well-known for broadcasting the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television in 1994.
Background
Brookside, based in a cul-de-sac in Liverpool, first appeared on November 1982 with the launch of the fourth British terrestrial channel, Channel 4. It differed from other soap operas because it was filmed in real houses in a real street, in an attempt by the producers to add to the show's realism. In the mid 1980s it attracted its highest viewing figure of 8 million people with a plot involving a deranged killer. Conceived by Phil Redmond, who also devised Grange Hill, the soap was set to become Britain's gritty soap, with other compelling and challenging story lines.
In the 1990s however, the plots of Brookside became increasingly sensationalised, with murder, incest, evil cults and mystery diseases running amok in the cul-de-sac. One infamous plot was the storyline of wife beater and child abuser Trevor Jordache. In 1993, his wife and daughter killed him and had him buried underneath their patio, where his body remained for almost two years. Another was the love story of Nat and Georgia Simpson. Nat and Georgia knew full well that they were brother and sister, but this did not stop them from having an affair. As a result, Brookside lost its original sense of realism and this alienated many viewers, who soon started to tune out of the show.
In June 2003 Channel 4 announced the demise of the soap due to falling ratings and the final episode was screened on November 4 2003. The houses used as locations for the show are still in existence and can often be seen in Hollyoaks, another Channel 4 soap.
The most famous character in Brookside was probably Jimmy Corkhill, played by Dean Sullivan, who joined the cast in 1986. He was involved in a string of criminal activities including drug taking, robbery and car crime. In October 1993, his drug-influenced driving resulted in a car crash which resulted in Frank Rodgers dying later the same day in hospital and Frank's young passenger Tony Dixon spending four months in a coma before he too died. Jimmy later admitted causing the accident to his wife Jacqui, but no criminal action was taken.
In the final episode, Jimmy Corkhill was the last resident of Brookside Close to leave their house. As a last act of defiance he broke into the houses and left all the taps running and then painted Game Over on the boarded-up windows of two houses and an extra D on Brookside Close, to spell Brookside Closed at the end of the episode. He then went to live with his daughter Lindsey, who had married Barry Grant.