Category Entertainment News

Brookside was the gritty soap that shocked the nation, smashed taboos, and made suburban cul-de-sacs the stage for explosive drama. But what happened to the cast?

Brookside, the groundbreaking soap that shocked the nation and turned ordinary suburban streets into a hotbed of drama, was a staple of British television for over two decades.

The show, which first aired on Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, followed the everyday lives of its characters, dealing with everything from heart-wrenching break-ups to shocking crimes that reflected real issues in the UK. The Liverpool-based soap ran for an impressive 21 years before its final episode aired on 4 November 2003.

Created by Phil Redmond, Brookside was never one to shy away from controversial topics – it was responsible for the UK’s first pre-watershed lesbian kiss and tackled subjects such as domestic abuse, incest, and even a body buried under a patio.

Now, the beloved soap is poised for a comeback – featuring in an unprecedented crossover with Hollyoaks.

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After Brookside concluded on November 4th 2003, Hollyoaks stepped up as Channel 4’s premier continuing drama. The show began production on a portion of Brookside’s former set, which remains its filming location to this day.

As Hollyoaks gears up to celebrate its 30th anniversary this October, it plans to commemorate the occasion with a special episode that pays homage to both Brookside and their shared creator, Sir Phil Redmond.

The upcoming crossover episode will delight viewers with the reappearance of beloved, classic Brookside characters to celebrate this significant event.

But what became of the Brookside cast once the cameras stopped rolling? From heartbreaking losses to surprising career changes, here’s a look at where some of the show’s biggest stars ended up.

Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill)

Jimmy, a troubled drug addict turned teacher, was one of Brookside’s longest-serving characters. Portrayed by Dean Sullivan, he joined the series in 1986 and was involved in many major storylines.

Tragically, Dean passed away in 2023 at the age of 68 after a battle with prostate cancer, a diagnosis he had bravely shared just months before his death. He had been diagnosed in 2018 and had been receiving treatment.

Following his passing, fans and former co-stars paid their respects.

Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkhill)

Jackie Corkhill, played by Sue Jenkins, was the long-suffering wife of Jimmy Corkhill, enduring his emotional turmoil and schemes in many of the show’s most gripping storylines.

Since the end of the show, Sue has continued her acting career with roles in Coronation Street, Holby City, and Doctors, as well as theatre productions. Now 66, she is a vocal advocate for arts education and is married to David Fleeshman, with whom she has three children, Richard, Emily and Rosie.

Anna Friel (Beth Jordache)

Beth Jordache, portrayed by Anna Friel, became a cultural icon when she was involved in the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television, a storyline that made international headlines. The episode aired in January 1994, also featuring Margaret Clemence, played by Nicola Stephenson.

Anna has since built a highly successful acting career on both sides of the Atlantic, starring in shows like Pushing Daisies, Marcella, and The Girlfriend Experience. Now 48, she is an award-winning actress and a regular on the red carpet.

She has been married twice and has one child.

Claire Sweeney (Lindsey Corkhill)

Claire Sweeney played Lindsey Corkhill, a member of the troubled Corkhill family, who found herself caught up in love triangles, dodgy dealings, and emotional confrontations. Lindsey started as a recurring character before being promoted to the regular cast in 1995.

Actress Claire shot to fame following Brookside, transitioning into musical theatre, releasing an album, and becoming a Loose Women panellist. She has recently made a comeback to the soap world with a stint on Coronation Street.

Earlier this year, Claire delighted Brookside enthusiasts as she returned to the West Derby houses where the programme was originally filmed. The 53-year-old shared numerous photographs and videos on Instagram from her impromptu nostalgic journey.

In her Instagram video, Claire revealed to followers that whilst she had visited the location the previous year, she had spotted a “beautiful little surprise” beneath the Brookside sign commemorating Dean Sullivan, who portrayed her on-screen father Jimmy.

Michael Starke (Sinbad Sweeney)

Sinbad Sweeney was a window cleaner with a heart of gold. He became a viewer favourite after joining the programme in 1984.

Actor Michael Starke subsequently featured in The Royal, Coronation Street, and even enjoyed a role in Benidorm. He has also established himself as a pantomime regular and serves as a dedicated ambassador for Liverpool’s cultural scene.

Now 67, his latest role saw him portray a taxi driver in Hollyoaks from 2021 to 2023.

Jennifer Ellison (Emily Shadwick)

Emily’s storyline concluded in devastating fashion, with her character’s tragic plunge from a window ranking among Brookside’s most shocking departures. Actress Jennifer switched gears to pop music, reality TV (Dancing on Ice, Hell’s Kitchen), and theatre, before launching her own dance academy in Liverpool.

She also starred in the West End and now leads a quieter life centred around family.

She is married to Rob Tickle and they have three children.

Louis Emerick (Mick Johnson)

Mick Johnson was the straight-talking single dad and mini-mart owner with a strong moral compass. He made his final appearance on 22 August 2001, having first appeared in 1989.

Actor Louis Emerick, 64, has continued his acting career in TV dramas and soaps, including Coronation Street and Doctors, and has performed in theatre tours across the UK.

Where are the others?

Several cast members left the industry altogether – some moved abroad, others stepped away from the limelight. A few, like Ray Quinn (who briefly appeared in the later years), reinvented themselves entirely.

Ray went on to become a singer and X Factor finalist, with a stage career.

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EXCLUSIVE: It’s been non-stop for singer Olly, 41, and wife Amelia, 32, who are expecting their second child while juggling looking after their toddler Madison

Olly Murs had some advice for his pal and new dad Mark Wright – but it also came with a warning.

It’s been non-stop for singer Olly, 41, and wife Amelia, 32, who are expecting their second child while juggling looking after their toddler Madison. Former TOWIE star Mark and wife Michelle Keegan also have their hands full after welcoming baby Palma back in March. And Olly had a few words to tell him when he approached fatherhood for the first time.

“People said to me, ‘Olly, enjoy the first four months. They’re the best time.’ And I was like, ‘What?’ When Madison came it didn’t feel like that,” he told OK! magazine. “I told Wrighty that and he took it on board. I’ve been saying, ‘Enjoy your trip to Majorca, because, trust me, when Palma is crawling or walking in a few months, that’s a whole other level.’

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“I also warned him about the weaning stage. You think they’re choking and your wife’s like, ‘It’s fine – she’s just got to learn how to use her mouth.’ What’s it called? The gag reflex. I’m like, ‘Babe, I can’t. I’m off to sit in the other room.'”

However, he does hope that their daughters become friends as they’re both around the same age. “And with us being parents at the same time, it’s going to be special,” he said. “We haven’t had time to make it work because our schedules are so mad, but we will when things calm down.

“Wrighty and I have already spoken about going on holiday and just being together, which will be fun. We’ve got such a good friendship, and I really want Michelle and Amelia to meet properly. I’m sure they’ll have loads in common.”

Outside of daddy duties, singer Olly has just finished his latest tour and he is still presenting his Heart FM weekend radio show alongside fellow M&S ambassador Mark Wright.

Speaking about his role, he said: “The fact we could do the photo shoot with Madi and the bump was really special. M&S is an amazing brand and part of British culture, and hopefully we can inspire more parents to go to the clubs.”

While Amelia explained it began while she had been going to the club. “I’ve been a member almost since it formed,” she said. “It can be quite lonely as a mum, but this gives you a sense of community, and a reason to go out. There’s so much parents don’t know, but you can learn about everything from weaning recipes to what kind of nursing bra to buy.”

Olly added: “It’s lovely that mums can go and just have a chat. You know, ‘Am I doing it right?’, “This happened today”, ‘Oh, my god, I did the same thing.’ It gives you a bit of reassurance that everyone’s going through the same thing.”

The couple also opened up about their baby being due, with Amelia admitting she sometimes gets a bit “overwhelmed” at the thought of having two children under two.

Amelia also didn’t have an easy birth the first time around. “We were planning a natural birth, but Madi was in a precarious position,” she said. “She was transverse [sideways] so we didn’t have an option. The recovery was brutal and I wish people had been more honest about that. Maybe it’s because I’m active, but I didn’t realise how much I wouldn’t be able to do afterwards.”

M&S ambassadors Olly & Amelia Murs become the face of The Parent Hood, M&S’s first Baby Club. For more info and to sign up, visit marksandspencer.com/mysparks

Fans rallied around Sarah Jessica Parker in support of her final performance as Carrie Bradshaw after critics slammed the And Just Like That finale for being ‘underwhelming’

Sarah Jessica Parker has confessed she was left feeling “very weepy” after fans rallied to defend her final outing as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That.

The Sex and the City spin-off concluded this week after four years on air, bringing an end to Parker’s decades-long journey as the relationship columnist. But the actress received an outpouring of love from her fans, critics were far less kind, calling the finale “underwhelming” and even a “waste”.

The episode, called Party of One, sees Carrie finally accept that she may end up single for good after the death of her husband Mr Big (Chris Noth) and a string of failed romances.

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Carrie rewrites the end of her first novel to conclude: “The woman realised she was not alone – she was on her own.” Some viewers were happy with this final celebration of female independence, but others were particularly unimpressed by scenes showing Carrie surrounded by a host of new characters at an awkward Thanksgiving dinner, where she had very little interaction with her best friends Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis).

Hannah J. Davies of The Guardian branded the episode “a sad, heavy-handed and far too faecal farewell”, while USA TODAY’s Patrick Ryan lamented that Carrie spent her final moments “in the company of strangers”.

Despite that, fans were quick to offer their support for the series finale. Influencer Evan Ross Katz took to Instagram proclaiming: “It was her. It was always her. And no TikTok repudiation or retroactive thinkpiece can take that away. Single and fabulous exclamation point. ‘You’re worth a million bucks, Bradshaw,’ as Big once correctly noted.”

He continued: “As we say farewell to our million dollar girl (perhaps for forever or maybe just for now), single at long last thank God… take care of that heart, Carrie. (And maybe sell the townhouse.) Ta ta for now.”

Parker penned an emotional response to this display of affection for her character, commenting: “Very weepy xxx.” Sex and the City first aired in 1998, and became a cultural touchstone thanks to its witty take on love, sex and female friendship.

It ran for six seasons, spawned two blockbuster films, and returned in 2021 as And Just Like That. Despite Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones absence apart from a brief appearance in season two, fans were delighted to see Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte back on screens.

Showrunner Michael Patrick King has confirmed that the third season was the last, meaning Party of One definitely marked Parker’s final appearance on screen as Carrie Bradshaw.

But while Bradshaw’s journey has come to an end, Parker’s career is far from over. The 60-year-old actress is already working on her next project.

She will be reprising her role as Sarah Sanderson in Disney’s Hocus Pocus 3. Production is underway on the third instalment of the family-friendly franchise, which will also see the return of Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as Sarah’s witchy sisters. The film’s release date has not been confirmed yet, but fans may have to wait until at least 2026.

An argument over an adoption issue in this weeks 22 Kids and Counting led to a terrifying hospital dash as Millie Radford’s husband Harley Passmore appeared to be having a stroke

This week’s episode of 22 Kids and Counting sees Millie Radford distraught when her husband Harley Passmore is rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke. The couple – who got married last year – have been experiencing a rough patch as they try to decide if he should adopt her daughter Ophelia.

Millie was pregnant with Ophelia when she and Harley started dating with her biological dad not around. Since then Harley has raised her as his own daughter and in the show is seen keen to legally adopt the four-year-old who he co-parents with Millie alongside their kids, Chester, three, and Elodie, one.

He says in the show, “Obviously Millie did have Ophelia when we first met. I have been in Ophelia’s life since she was six months old. Obviously, she’s not my biological daughter, but I do treat Ophelia like she’s my own.

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“I do want people to look at me and Ophelia like ‘oh they’re father and daughter.’ Ophelia doesn’t have the same name – Millie, does, Chester does, Elodie does. I felt like, well, we can’t leave Ophelia there out, and when she gets a bit older, she’ll start understanding, like, why is my name different to Chester and Elodie’s and mummy’s and daddy’s?”

However, Millie is concerned that the adoption could cause issues for Ophelia. She says, “I’ve been worried for Ophelia. I’m worried just because we haven’t told Ophelia that Harley isn’t actually her biological dad. “Ophelia is only four, and it’s a lot to handle and cope with at such a young age.”

She then raises further concerns later in the show as she adds, “I think the worry was that it can turn a lot of hatred towards Harley from Ophelia when she finds out that Harley isn’t actually her biological dad and she has another dad.”

Millie and Harley are seen having a blazing row which culminates in him being taken ill and rushed to hospital. Scenes show Millie calling her mum Sue Radford as she explains, “I’m in an ambulance with Harley. One half of his face has all gone lopsided.

“It looks like he’s had a stroke. He’s slurring his words. He’s really panicking, I’m panicking.” Sue and Noel then bring the couple’s three children to their house as Millie sits at Harley’s bedside in the stroke ward at the hospital, admitting she is in “shock” from the “scary” ordeal.

She says, “I felt guilty straight away wondering if it was arguing that had caused it. If something happened to him how would I feel then? I’ve pretty much done my whole motherhood with Harley, I can’t imagine him not there.”

Eventually, after an antagonising wait, they discover that Harley hasn’t had a stroke, but is suffering from Bell’s Palsy. The neurological disorder causes the sufferer to develop paralysis or weakness on one side of their face.

The condition can have devastating consequences such as sight loss, and while many patients recover fully from the paralysis, not everyone does. Harley says, “They came in with my results, my MRI results were totally fine which means I didn’t have a stroke.”

Following the scary ordeal Millie decides to rethink her stance on Ophelia’s adoption. She says, ““When I thought Harley was having a stroke, it was really scary. He was worried as well, and I was worried because of the paralysis side of it.

“What if he would never have been able to cope with the three kids again after that, or handle his life before that? I’m filling in the forms for the process of Harley adopting Ophelia.

“It’s made me change my mind, because if anything was to happen to Harley, I know that Ophelia would have loved Harley to be her dad, so that is what I’m going to make happen.”

If you’ve been looking for the perfect backpack for travel and work that can help relieve back tension, Antler’s EasyJet-approved bag is currently £46 off

With many airlines now only allowing a small handbag or backpack as a free cabin bag, packing all your essentials for a budget trip can be quite the task. However, we’ve found the perfect long weekend piece of hand luggage that fits most budget airline’s free requirements and is currently on sale.

The Essential Backpack from Antler is normally priced at £115, but has been reduced down to £69 in the brand’s summer sale. Made from 100% recycled polyester, it’s lightweight yet spacious, and designed to slide neatly under an airline seat while opening up like a suitcase for stress-free packing.

With clever compartments for your laptop, water bottle, and all the little extras, it keeps you organised whether you’re heading to the office or catching a flight.Aside from being practical, the sleek taupe colour and stylish design makes this the kind of backpack you actually want to carry around.

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Plus if you’ve been considering switching up you current work tote bag for a backpack, this one has rave reviews from shoppers of helping relieve back strain and tension.

One happy shopper wrote: “The main advantage I have noticed with this backpack is the extra structuring. It sits better on my shoulders and thus reduces back strain. I enjoy packing it for the day ahead.”

A second added: “Beautifully made, light, loads of space and so easy to carry. The weight distribution takes away any aches and pains to May get carrying heavy stuff on one shoulder. Really happy with my purchase”. And a third said: Best backpack I’ve ever had! Stylish and convenient. The main compartment is so versatile for a weekend away or going to work. I had several bags but nothing like Antler!”

The main criticism came from a shopper who wrote: “I only put 4 stars because, for that price, it could really do with an anti-theft pocket on the back for passport and phone. Otherwise very happy with it.”

If you’re looking for a Ryanair-approved backpack, the the Hayayu Cabin Bag for Ryanair Underseat, is the perfect size for slotting underneath your seat or the overhead compartment, and measures at 40x20x25cm.

A Married At First Sight UK groom has called time on his relationship and career and is now earning money from subscription based site OnlyFans.

Married At First Sight UK star Ross McCarthy has revealed he’s split from his girlfriend Magda as he confirmed he’s “been single for a while”. The pair were in an on-off relationship with them splitting in February this year before reuniting in May.

However, it seems like they’ve called it quits for good as Ross, 32, has removed all traces of Magda from his social media pages. The split comes after it was reported that the two had struggled to make their relationship work previously.

A source had told The Sun: “Ross and Magda have gone their separate ways after failing to make their relationship work. He’s removed all of his photos of them together from his social media, and they’ve both unfollowed each other.”

The two first went public with their relationship in November 2024 as he shared a video clip of him and his “real deal girlfriend” at the seaside.

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Alongside the clip, he wrote: “The moment I been waiting for…. The real deal. My world.” Replying to his gushing comment, Magdalena wrote: “My everything.”

In the clip, the groom appeared to be love drunk as he is seen kissing and cuddling his new love and his fans went wild in the comment section of his post. One person wrote: “I wish you all the happiness in the world, sorry things with Sacha didn’t work out x.”

Another commented: “Worst kept secret but glad you have someone who deserves you!” And a third person said: “Congrats Magda is lovely.”

This isn’t the only big change in Ross’ life as he’s joined OnlyFans in a big career move, after previously working as a painter and decorator. He started out on the platform this week after “thinking about it for a while”.

Ross teased what fans can expect on the subscription site as he shared some cheeky pictures on social media as well as adding the link to his new OnlyFans page in his Instagram bio.

MAFS fans will remember Ross from the ninth series of the hit E4 dating show which aired last year. The reality star made history on the show as the first deaf groom over the course of the last nine series.

He was paired with Sacha Jones and the couple appeared to hit it off after getting married, but the issues between them soon cropped up. Sacha left her hometown of Walsall to move in with Ross at his home in Manchester but things were far from perfect.

She admitted in the Homestays episode that she was hesitant to move for him because of his fiery temper. However, the pair still vowed to stay together during the final commitment ceremony before splitting for good shortly after.

Sacha told OK! about their relationship: “When I think of my time with Ross after the show, it’s just dark. Dark. I can’t think of one happy memory after the show. It was awful. The last happy memory I have is going to the first reunion together and putting on a strong front.”

She went on to claim that he “threw a kebab at a wall” during filming and called her names that were “so bad” they didn’t make it to air.