{"id":715586,"date":"2026-01-23T15:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/715586\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T15:25:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:25:14","slug":"brookie-cast-and-crew-set-for-first-ever-liverpool-reunion-on-board-the-daffodil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/715586\/","title":{"rendered":"Brookie cast and crew set for first ever Liverpool reunion on board the Daffodil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around 400 cast and crew are set for a first ever reunion on board Phil Olivier\u2019s floating restaurant, the Daffodil.<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll be themed cocktails, live music, and \u2018plenty of reminiscing\u2019 when the stars and production teams get together on the former Mersey Ferry based in Canning Dock tomorrow evening.<\/p>\n

Sue Johnston, Michael Starke, Jennifer Ellison, Steven Cole, and Suzanne Collins are among the actors heading to the waterfront: \u201cAnd there are cast members from as far back as 1982 that I don\u2019t even know,\u201d says Phil Olivier, who\u2019s organised the get-together with fellow Brookie star Louis Emerick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have to stand there as they come in, checking their names on the guest list and handing out wristbands,\u201d he smiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just going to be a great night of nostalgia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Father-of-five Phil says the idea for the evening came from a chat with Louis while recently filming for Hollyoaks. He and Suzanne Collins have just finishing recording a breakout storyline in which we find out what Tinhead and Nikki have been up to for the last 22 years and which is due to conclude on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brookside \u2013 Sue, Suzanne, Ricky
\nPhil says:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I was in Hollyoaks I was working with Louis, who played Mick Johnson, and we asked should we have a Brookside reunion? There hasn\u2019t ever been one and so we set up a chat and started inviting people, and now there\u2019s nearly 400 people coming, from cast members, to writers, cameramen, anyone who worked on the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea was sparked by the Hollyoaks and Brookside crossover which brought back iconic characters from the close for Hollyoaks\u2019 30th anniversary in October last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crossover got us together, Louis, Suzanne, Ricky, Sue and Mickey Starke who plays Sinbad, and the feedback was great, it was so well received.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we realised until then how much love there was for Brookside \u2013 and for each other!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYour lives take different paths. We\u2019ve all gone on to different jobs, some people aren\u2019t in the acting industry anymore and others are raising families, so we never thought we\u2019d be back together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew Brookside couldn\u2019t come back because the close was sold \u2013 it was a huge set up and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything in budgets for something like that now unless it\u2019s already there.\u00a0 And that\u2019s why when they mentioned the crossover, we jumped at the chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why we wanted to get everybody together after that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were only a few characters who went back on the crossover episode, and we thought this was an opportunity now for us all to get together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kicking off at 6pm, guests from the groundbreaking Channel 4 drama will be able to enjoy cocktails like The Redmond Royale in homage to its creator Phil. There\u2019ll be The Jimmy Corkhill \u2013 in tribute to late actor Dean Sullivan who played him and sadly passed away a few years ago \u2013 and The Patio: \u201cThat needs no introduction or explanation, although I\u2019m not sure what\u2019ll be in it, maybe a smattering of concrete dust,\u201d laughs Phil.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have a live band and a good folk singer, Laura Carr, who\u2019s actually learned the Brookside theme tune and will be playing it on a violin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a DJ, there\u2019ll be canapes going round and it\u2019s basically a chance to give everyone a good night. It\u2019ll be a night of reminiscing, and I\u2019ve got a feeling that everyone will just want to chat \u2013 we\u2019ll probably have to do like a speed-dating thing where you get five minutes with each person.<\/p>\n

\"\"Suzanne \u2013 Brookside<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019ve got the singer, we\u2019ve got the mic set up, and I\u2019m hoping there\u2019ll be people there who\u2019ll want to get up and give it a go too \u2026 Mickey Starke will definitely be up!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the family back together again.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Phil\u2019s said he and the cast had always accepted Brookside could never come back, like most people, he\u2019d love it if it did.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be welcomed. There\u2019s always scope for it because it was such a good show; and that\u2019s the reason people received the Hollyoaks crossover so well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nostalgic, you\u2019re looking back on good times and you have good memories of those because we\u2019re living in a scary world at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut also, Brookside was pioneering, it was groundbreaking, it tackled issues that were current. It was raw and I don\u2019t think there was anything out like that \u2013 and the only person who could do it is Phil Redmond.\u00a0 He\u2019s an absolute genius so Phil, if you\u2019re looking at this, bring it back!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a shame. Liverpool\u2019s got such a pool of talent and it\u2019s crying out for another show like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can watch the Hollyoaks and Brookside Crossover on\u00a0Channel 4<\/a>.
\nFind out more about the Hollyoaks and Brookside crossover episode here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.\u00a0
\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