Brookside is one of the most legendary productions to come out of Liverpool, with never-seen-before-storylines and huge viewing figures in the 1980s and 1990s.
The idea of Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Sir Philip Redmond, the series followed the lives of families in a suburban neighbourhood in Liverpool and definitely wasn’t lacking shocking twists and dramatic exits. Though Brookside ended in 2003 - after 21 years on Channel 4 - it paved the way for soap operas to cover controversial topics.
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Featuring local actors, the soap kickstarted the careers of many now well-known faces whose success still continues today. While some of show’s the well-loved actors are sadly no longer with us, others continue to feature on our TV screens.
In honour of International Soap Week, we have taken a look back at the stars of Brookside, who truly helped the series shine.
Below are 17 famous faces who starred in Brookside back in the day. Some are famed for their roles in the hit soap area, while others may surprise you. How many did you know?
17. Louis Emerick
Louis Emerick has appeared in The Bill, Waterloo Road, Doctors and Casualty, but is best known for his long-standing portrayal of Mick Johnson in Brookside. Here he is pictured with the legendary Michael Starke aka Sinbad. | Tim Roney/Getty Images Photo: Tim Roney/Getty Images