A one-off special episode of Brookside will air tomorrow evening
07:32, 21 Oct 2025Updated 07:33, 21 Oct 2025
Simon O’Brien, Paul Usher, Shelagh O’Hara, Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson, on Brookside Close. October 4, 1982(Image: Photo by Avalon/Getty Images)
Brookside is returning to screens for a special one-off episode tomorrow, October 22. Channel 4 confirmed the exciting news earlier this year as camera crews returned to the famous L12 cul-de-sac. The iconic Liverpool show, which was Channel 4’s first soap, ran from 1982 to 2003.
The comeback is part of a crossover episode with its successor Hollyoaks to celebrate the latter’s 30th anniversary. The episode will honour Sir Phil Redmond, who created both shows.
Executive producer Hannah Cheers described the project as “a love letter” to both Hollyoaks and Brookside. She said: “Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks”, it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets.
When Brookside first hit our screens in 1982, nobody could’ve predicted its success. The show would often get audiences in excess of seven million at its peak in the mid-1980s.
Despite the popularity the show saw throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Brookside aired its final episode In November 2003. A combination of declining ratings and lower profits meant the show was left with no choice but to end.
Simon O’Brien, Paul Usher, Shelagh O’Hara, Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson, on Brookside Close. October 4, 1982(Image: Photo by Avalon/Getty Images)
Last night, stars headed to the red carpet at St George’s Hall to celebrate the return of Brookside. It was a memorable evening as Hollyoaks and Brookie stars turned out on the red carpet to mark the 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks.
The Brookside cast arrived in style at the star-studded event on Monday for the premiere of the long-awaited episode. Stars such as Paul Usher, Philip Olivier, Suzanne Collins, Michael Starke, Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston and John McArdle have all reprised their roles for the one-off episode.
The episode will be broadcast at 7pm on E4. It will be the first time Brookside Close has been on screens since the final episode was aired on November 4, 2003.
While excitement builds around the return of the show that gave us Barry Grant, Ron Dixon, Beth Jordache and Lindsey Corkhill, why not take our quiz and find out how much you remember about its most dramatic moments all these years later? See how much you paid attention to Brookside back in the day below.