Soap fans have called for Brookside to return to screens after a nostalgic crossover with Hollyoaks to mark its 30th anniversary.
The special episode, which aired on Wednesday night, brought together characters from both soaps in a nod to their shared history and to the pioneering spirit of Brookside, which broke new ground for British TV in the 1980s and 1990s with its gritty, issue-led storytelling.
Last month it was confirmed that Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins would reprise their Brookside roles as Tim “Tinhead” O’Leary and Nikki Shadwick. They were joined by Sue Johnston, who returned as matriarch Sheila Grant — a role she first played from 1982 to 1990 — alongside Paul Usher as her on-screen son Barry Grant and John McArdle as her husband Billy Corkhill.
Viewers were thrilled to see the famous cul-de-sac back on screen and flooded social media with calls for a full revival of the Liverpool-based soap, which ended in 2003 after 21 years on air.
“Surreal to see Brookside Close again on TV after all these years,” wrote one fan on X. “Loved the episode! Let’s hope this leads to the show coming back.”
Another added: “How wonderful to hear that theme tune again. Please bring Brookside back full time! Absolutely loved the crossover tonight.”
Hollyoaks executive producer Hannah Cheers described the special as a “love letter” to both shows and thanked creator Sir Phil Redmond, who launched Brookside in 1982 and Hollyoaks in 1995.
“Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks — it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets,” she said. “This episode feels like a moving tribute to our origin story and a chance for fans to revisit much-loved Brookside characters.”
The crossover aired as part of Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary week, which has already delivered some of the soap’s most dramatic moments.
Tuesday’s episode saw long-running character Peri Lomax, played by Ruby O’Donnell, tragically killed when a plane crashed into the village during Tony and Diane Hutchinson’s wedding. There were further shock exits as Grace Black (Tamara Wall) and pilot Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) also lost their lives in the aftermath of the devastating crash.
