![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Suzanne-Collins.jpeg\")
Suzanne Collins\nShe adds:<\/p>\n
Brookside star Suzanne Collins was back on set earlier this month to film a special Hollyoaks crossover \u2013 and she says walking onto the famous Liverpool close felt like a homecoming.<\/p>\n
Suzanne, 47, who played Nikki Shadwick in the iconic Mersey drama, admits: \u201cIt was emotional, honestly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was honoured and so made up to be asked to return to Brookside, a huge part of my life, that it really felt like coming home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was surreal to be back where it all began for me at 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrookside changed my life! I was a young girl living in Connaught Way in Birkenhead, studying drama, with big dreams; and Phil Redmond, our boss, made those dreams come true. I\u2019m eternally grateful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was blessed with incredible hard-hitting storylines such as the drug-rape storyline and I met loads of people, many who I still see today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suzanne Collins
\nShe adds:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was wonderful to be reunited with some of the cast like Sue Johnston, Ricky Tomlinson, Louis Emerick, Mickey Starke, John McCardle, Paul Usher and Phil Olivier, and all the wonderful people behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all older now, but the love was still there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re like family and have been with me through everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suzanne did miss one person while filming:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy darling best friend, the late Dean Sullivan, who played Jimmy Corkhill.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was such an iconic character, and Dean brought so much to the show. He\u2019s truly missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Brookside \/Hollyoaks crossover special to\u00a0mark Hollyoaks\u2019 30th anniversary<\/a> is set to air in October, and she says: \u201cFans can expect something that\u2019s never been done before, one soap crossing over to another.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be drama,\u201d Suzanne reveals, \u201cand there will be lots of old familiar faces and characters, alongside the gorgeous Hollyoaks cast.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou will have to watch and see, I\u2019m sworn to secrecy\u2026 but I think the episode is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n Life has changed for Suzanne since Brookside \u2013 not least that she\u2019s now mum to 21-year-old \u2018beautiful\u2019 daughter Mya who she found out she was pregnant with while filming her very last scenes with Dean Sullivan (\u2018I fainted on set and that\u2019s how I found out\u2019).<\/p>\n But she says, for nearly 30 years she has been lucky to work all over the world with wonderful people.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not on the telly every week anymore, but earlier this year I was in Coronation Street and, as well as appearing in films that have been broadcast on Netflix and Amazon, I\u2019ve done loads of theatre work, performing a lot in The Royal Court (Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels, and Willy Russell\u2019s Stags and Hens and Educating Rita).<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve loved working with Mya on projects too, short films, feature films and commercials.\u201d<\/p>\n And there\u2019s another new role that Suzanne, who\u2019s now happily married to footie coach and ex-Premier League player Stephen Clemence \u2013 \u2018I\u2019ve also inherited two wonderful children, Jack and Sadie\u2019 \u2013 has been delighted to take on, and that\u2019s as judge for Claire House does Strictly 2025 tomorrow evening at Liverpool\u2019s Titanic Hotel.<\/p>\n \u201cI was so honoured to be asked to be part of this.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe work that goes on at Claire House, supporting seriously ill babies, children and young adults, and their families is incredible. It\u2019s a privilege to play a small part in helping such a wonderful cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in the words of Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly is going to be FAAAAABBUULLLOUUS!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got lots of lovely memories of supporting Claire House.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne Christmas, I was there dressed as Mrs Christmas and it was snowing. It was magical to see the children\u2019s happy faces and see their families and the staff.<\/p>\n \u201cClaire House doesn\u2019t feel clinical. It\u2019s so warm and positive, despite the reasons these children are there, and what makes it special is the love you feel going there. It\u2019s a special place.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, it resonates more being born in Liverpool and growing up in Birkenhead, and being a mum myself it resonates even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to be involved in Strictly because I appreciate the wonderful work that\u2019s done at Claire House and know how important it is to raise awareness.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who doesn\u2019t love Strictly with the glamour, the glitz and the dancing?!\u201d<\/p>\n Claire House Children\u2019s Hospice has a full, 24\/7 hospice in Wirral and a site offering day care, complementary therapies, clinics, play and music sessions, and counselling, in West Derby, Liverpool (close to Alder Hey, and Brookside Close).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Find out how you can support Claire House Children\u2019s Hospice here<\/a>. Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.\u00a0 ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brookside-cast-e1758898446774-1024x631.jpeg\")
Brookside -cast<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Suzanne-Brookside.jpeg\")
Suzanne \u2013 Brookside
\nSuzanne smiles: <\/p>\n
\nFind all the latest Liverpool news here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nFrom the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n