{"id":40893,"date":"2023-11-30T18:40:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T17:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1782427"},"modified":"2023-11-30T20:25:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T19:25:49","slug":"brookside-cast-characters-and-actors-in-iconic-channel-4-soap","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/brookside-cast-characters-and-actors-in-iconic-channel-4-soap\/","title":{"rendered":"Brookside cast: characters and actors in iconic Channel 4 soap"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Channel 4 soap debuted in 1982 and ran for 21 years. <\/p>

By Stefania Sarrubba\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 17:40 PM<\/p>

\n\n

From the creator of Hollyoaks<\/a>, Brookside brought the lives of Liverpool residents to Channel 4 for 21 years.<\/p>\n

From its debut in 1982 to its last episode, which aired in November 2003, the soap challenged viewers with diverse, inclusive storylines, featuring openly gay character Gordon Collins\u00a0in 1985 and\u00a0broadcasting the first pre-watershed same-sex female kiss (between\u00a0Beth Jordache and Margaret Clemence) in 1994.<\/p>\n

But fans of the show will also recall some of Brookside\u2019s wild plot points, ranging from an incestuous relationship to a dead body lying undetected under Number 10 for years before being discovered. Among the show\u2019s most bizarre, if eerily prescient, storylines, there was also an outbreak of a mysterious virus that claimed the lives of several characters, including George and Audrey Manners.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s all you need to know about who was in the Brookside cast.<\/p>

Who was in the Brookside cast?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The following actors appeared on Brookside between 1982 and 2003.<\/p>\n
\n
Dean Sullivan as Jimmy Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ricky Tomlinson as Bobby Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Michael Starke as Thomas Sweeney AKA Sinbad<\/strong><\/li>\n
Louis Emerick as Mick Johnson<\/strong><\/li>\n
Anna Friel as Beth Jordache<\/strong><\/li>\n
Bryan Murray as Trevor Jordache<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jennifer Ellison as Emily Shadwick<\/strong><\/li>\n
Claire Sweeney as Lindsey Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sue Johnston as Sheila Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Philip Lawrence Borg-Olivier as Tim \u2018Tinhead\u2019 O\u2019Leary<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sue Jenkins as Jackie Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sandra Maitland as Mandy Jordache<\/strong><\/li>\n
Cheryl Maiker as Marcia Barrett<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sunetra Sarker\u00a0as Nisha Batra<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ian Champion as Ross Beacham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Amanda Burton as Heather Black<\/strong><\/li>\n
Alan Rothwell as Nicholas Black<\/strong><\/li>\n
Alexandra Wescourt as Shelley Bower<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jennifer Calvert as Cheryl Boyanowsky<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ken Sharrock s JC Bradley<\/strong><\/li>\n
Hayley Smitten as Sharon Briges<\/strong><\/li>\n
Cheryl Mackie as Megan Brindley<\/strong><\/li>\n
David Miller as Stan Broadbent<\/strong><\/li>\n
Gladys Ambrose\u00a0as Julia Brogan<\/strong><\/li>\n
Suzanne Packer as Josie Brooks<\/strong><\/li>\n
Mark Birch as Ducksie Brown<\/strong><\/li>\n
Joanne Black\u00a0as Kristy Brown<\/strong><\/li>\n
Glen Jones as Lisa Burnett<\/strong><\/li>\n
Simon Chadwick as Dave Burns<\/strong><\/li>\n
Kerry Peers\u00a0as Helen Carey<\/strong><\/li>\n
Asia Duleah as Janet Carver<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ebony Grey as Cassie Charlton<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sarah Lam\u00a0as Caroline Choi<\/strong><\/li>\n
David Yip\u00a0as Michael Choi<\/strong><\/li>\n
Kwong Lee Chong as Stephen Choi<\/strong><\/li>\n
Nicola Stephenson\u00a0as Margaret Clemence<\/strong><\/li>\n
Billie Clements as Imelda Clough<\/strong><\/li>\n
Richard Norton as Shane Cochrane<\/strong><\/li>\n
Doreen Sloane\u00a0as Annabelle Collins<\/strong><\/li>\n
Nigel Crowley as Gordon Collins<\/strong><\/li>\n
Mark Burgess as Gordon Collins<\/strong><\/li>\n
Katrin Cartlidge\u00a0as Lucy Collins<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jim Wiggins\u00a0as Paul Collins<\/strong><\/li>\n
John McArdle\u00a0as Billy Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Paula Frances as Diana Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Kate Fitzgerald\u00a0as Doreen Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jason Hope as Rod Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Justine Kerrigan as Tracy Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jack Mythen as William Corkhill<\/strong><\/li>\n
John Burgess\u00a0as David Crosbie<\/strong><\/li>\n
Marcia Ashton\u00a0as Jean Crosbie<\/strong><\/li>\n
Mary Tamm\u00a0as Penny Crosbie<\/strong><\/li>\n
Georgina Smith as Annie Cross<\/strong><\/li>\n
Betty Alberge\u00a0as Edna Cross<\/strong><\/li>\n
Bill Dean\u00a0as Harry Cross<\/strong><\/li>\n
Stuart Organ\u00a0as Kevin Cross<\/strong><\/li>\n
Marcus Hutton as Nathan Cuddington<\/strong><\/li>\n
Reanne Henesy as Louise Daniels<\/strong><\/li>\n
Danny McCall as Owen Daniels<\/strong><\/li>\n
Barbara Hatwell as Anthea Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Sarah White as Bev Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Irene Marot\u00a0as Deborah \u2018DD\u2019 Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Jack McMullen\u00a0as Josh Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Paul Byatt as Mike Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Tiffany Chapman as Rachel Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Vince Earl as Ron Dixon<\/strong><\/li>\n
Stifyn Parri as Christoper Duncan<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ann-Marie Davies as Katrina Evans<\/strong><\/li>\n
Victoria Bennett as Emily Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Molly Stewart as Emma Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Michael Garrett as Harry Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Alex Fletcher\u00a0as Jacqui Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Gareth Ryan Jones as Matthew Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Steven Pinder\u00a0as Max Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Gabrielle Glaister\u00a0as Patricia Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Kieran Warham as Thomas Farnham<\/strong><\/li>\n
Steven Pinner as Jonathan Gordon-Davies<\/strong><\/li>\n
Paul Usher as Barry Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Amy Lynch as Claire Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Simon O\u2019Brien\u00a0as Damon Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Shelagh O\u2019Hara as Karen Grant<\/strong><\/li>\n
Bhasker Patel as Nawaz Hamoud<\/strong><\/li>\n
David Easter\u00a0as Pat Hancock<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ray Dunbobbin\u00a0as Ralph Hardwicke<\/strong><\/li>\n
Roberta Kerr as Sally Haynes<\/strong><\/li>\n
James Mawdsley as Brian \u2018Bumper\u2019 Humphreys<\/strong><\/li>\n
Brian Downey as Dr Geoff Ivers<\/strong><\/li>\n
Leeon Sawyer as Leo Johnson<\/strong><\/li>\n
Steven Cole as Leo Johnson<\/strong><\/li>\n
Tina Malone as Mo McGee<\/strong><\/li>\n
Gillian Kearney\u00a0as Debbie McGrath<\/strong><\/li>\n
Meg Johnson\u00a0as Brigid McKenna<\/strong><\/li>\n
Karen Drury as Susannah Morrisey<\/strong><\/li>\n
Katy Lamont as Adele Murray<\/strong><\/li>\n
Tony Scoggo as Matty Nolan<\/strong><\/li>\n
Ann Haydn-Edwards as Theresa Nolan<\/strong><\/li>\n
Vickie Gates\u00a0as Leanne Powell<\/strong><\/li>\n
Rachael Lindsay as Sammy Rogers<\/strong><\/li>\n
Bernadette Foley as Margi Shadwick<\/strong><\/li>\n
Suzanne Collins\u00a0as Nikki Chadwick<\/strong><\/li>\n
Doc O\u2019Brien as George Williams<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Read all about Brookside\u2019s key players below.<\/p>\n
Dean Sullivan plays Jimmy Corkhill<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"A$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
TV Times \/ Getty<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Jimmy? <\/strong>Jimmy was the son of Margaret and the brother of Billy and Frankie. An ex-drug addict and thug, he\u00a0became a family man, caring for his wife\u00a0Jackie and children Lindsey, Jimmy and William.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Sullivan?<\/strong> Sullivan appeared on Doctors and Crime Stories. He died at the age of 68 in November 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Ricky Tomlinson plays Bobby Grant<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Ricky$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Bobby? <\/strong>Bobby was the\u00a0husband of Sheila Grant and the\u00a0father of Damon, Karen and Claire Grant, and the adoptive father of Barry Grant.<\/p>\n
A domineering man, Bobby\u2019s marriage to Sheila started to crumble following her rape and the death of their son Damon. They eventually split in 1988.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Tomlinson? <\/strong>The actor starred in 2016 movie Grimsby with Sacha Baron\u00a0Cohen and\u00a0Mark Strong. In 2022, he starred in an episode of The Witchfinder.<\/p>\n
Michael Starke plays Thomas Sweeney AKA Sinbad<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Michael$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Sinbad? <\/strong>Introduced in 1984, the character was a window cleaner who also tried his hand at different, but equally illicit,\u00a0activities.<\/p>\n
During his time on Brookside Close, Sinbad was falsely accused of sexual abuse. He was later acquitted and moved away from Brookside.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Starke? <\/strong>The actor is\u00a0known for The 51st State and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.<\/p>\n
Louis Emerick plays Mick Johnson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Louis$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Mick? <\/strong>Mick was the father of Leo and Gemma. He was previously married to Josie and Elaine Johnson.<\/p>\n
Originally a cab driver, Mick then ran his own fish and chip shop.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen\u00a0Emerick?<\/strong> Emerick appeared in film Layer Cake and TV series Zapped.<\/p>\n
Anna Friel plays Beth Jordache<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Anna$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Beth? <\/strong>Beth was Mandy and Trevor\u2019s daughter and Rachel\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n
The character was at the centre of a shocking storyline when it was revealed she had been sexually abused by her father, who was ultimately murdered by her mother Mandy.<\/p>\n
Beth had two relationships with women on Brookside. Her first love story was with Margaret Clemence, while later on she had a romance with university lecturer Chris.<\/p>\n
She and her mother stood trial when Trevor\u2019s body was discovered years later, with both landing in jail. There, Beth died of a heart condition.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Friel? <\/strong>Friel has starred in movies\u00a0Limitless, Goal! and Timeline. In 2021, she appeared on TV series The Box.<\/p>\n
Bryan Murray plays Trevor Jordache<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Bryan$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Trevor?\u00a0<\/strong>Trevor was Mandy\u2019s abusive\u00a0husband and Beth and Rachel\u2019s father. Not only was he\u00a0violent towards Mandy, but he also sexually abused his\u00a0daughter Beth, unbeknownst to his wife.<\/p>\n
Sick of his violent ways, Mandy murdered him, with Beth helping her conceal the body under the patio of Number 10. Mandy managed to rebuild her life and had a relationship with Sinbad but was caught once Trevor\u2019s body was discovered years later.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Murray?<\/strong>\u00a0Murray starred in TV series The Tudors and Fair City.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Ellison plays Emily Shadwick<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"jenniffer$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Emily? <\/strong>Emily was the daughter of\u00a0Margi and Greg Shadwick. She was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Tim \u2018Tinhead\u2019 O\u2019Leary and had a penchant for trouble.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Ellison? <\/strong>Ellison is\u00a0known for The Phantom of the Opera, The Cottage\u00a0and Hotel Babylon.<\/p>\n
Claire Sweeney plays Lindsey Corkhill<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Claire$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Mike Marsland\/WireImage<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Lindsey?\u00a0<\/strong>Lindsey was Jimmy and Jackie\u2019s daughter, and Jimmy and William\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n
Involved with the criminal Finnegan family, Lindsey\u2019s illegal activities became a cause for concern for her parents. She had a relationship with Shelley Bowers which turned into a triangle also involving Lindsey\u2019s mother, Jackie.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Sweeney? <\/strong>Sweeney appeared in TV series Clocking Off and Doctors.<\/p>\n
Sue Johnston plays Sheila Grant<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"WARNING:$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Sheila? <\/strong>Sheila was Bobby\u2019s wife and the mother of\u00a0Damon, Karen, Claire and Barry. In a storyline aired in 1986, Sheila was raped and beaten up by an unknown assailant who was later revealed to be her taxi driver.<\/p>\n
Her unprocessed trauma and the death of their son Damon led to a crisis in Sheila and Bobby\u2019s marriage, with Bobby leaving his wife.<\/p>\n
Sheila then started a romance with Billy Corkhill and the two moved away from the Close in 1990.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen\u00a0Johnston? <\/strong>Johnston starred in\u00a0episodes of Downton Abbey<\/a>, Waking the\u00a0Dead and film Imagine Me & You.<\/p>\n
Philip Lawrence Borg-Olivier plays Tim \u2018Tinhead\u2019 O\u2019Leary<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Philip$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Tinhead? <\/strong>One of the local school\u2019s bullies, Tim \u2018Tinhead\u2019 O\u2019Leary was in an on-again, off-again\u00a0relationship with Emily Shadwick.<\/p>\n
The pair continuously engaged in minor crimes, with Tim taking he fall for Emily and going to prison after they stole Susannah\u2019s car and blackmailed and outed gay salesman Brian.<\/p>\n
Once Tinhead was released, he and Emily tied the knot. The couple lived with Mick for a while before being taken in by Jimmy Corkhill.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Borg-Olivier? <\/strong>The actor has also starred in Benidorm, Holby City and Doctors.<\/p>\n
Sue Jenkins plays Jackie Corkhill<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"Sue$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Jackie?<\/strong> Jackie was the ex-wife of Jimmy Corkhill and the mother of William<\/span>, Lindsey and Jimmy.<\/p>\n
Initially estranged from her ex Jimmy, the two briefly got back together while living under the same roof at the Close. She had an affair with their neighbour Ron Dixon and was involved in a love triangle with her daughter Lindsey and her girlfriend Shelley.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Jenkins? <\/strong>The actress appeared in an episode of Doctor Who<\/a> in 2021, as well as having roles in both Coronation Street<\/a> and Emmerdale<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Sandra Maitland plays Mandy Jordache<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\"Sandra$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
Who is Mandy?\u00a0<\/strong>Mandy is the ex-wife of abuser Trevor Jordache and Beth and Rachel\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n
She is at the centre of one of Brookside\u2019s most prominent storylines with the murder of her violent husband, who also sexually abused Beth. Mandy killed him, with Beth helping her mum conceal the body.<\/p>\n
Despite her managing to get away with murder at first and starting a new life, embarking on a romance with Sinbad, the character was caught when Trevor\u2019s body was discovered. After standing trial with Beth, they were both arrested.<\/p>\n
Where else have I seen Maitland? <\/strong>Maitland starred in TV series Doctors,\u00a0Casualty, Holby City and Misfits.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for more to watch, check out our <\/strong>TV Guide<\/strong><\/a> and Streaming Guide<\/a> or visit our <\/strong>Soaps<\/strong><\/a> hub.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only \u00a31 with delivery to your home \u2013 <\/strong>subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to <\/strong>The Radio Times Podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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