Brookside Closed

There is just a month to go now until Brookside comes to an end on 4th November. I have been watching it more regularly these last few weeks and its still quite good but think they should have more characters in each episode as this week for example only about 6 people appeared in the whole 90 minutes.

I have spoilers for the last 5 episodes

Barry Grant, DD Dixon and Sheila Grant are reportedly returning for the final episode. Its been confirmed Claire Sweeney will return as Lyndsay Corkhill for the final episode (or possibly the last few eps) and Margi Shadwick returns this week and stays until the end (I think)

An evil new character called Jack Michaelson is joining Brookside on 14th October. He appears in the final 4 episodes and is found hanging to death in the finale. His bisexual son will kiss Stuart Gordon so its not only Corrie who will have a gay kiss!

Bev and Ron are rumoured to get married in the last episode. Maybe thats why several characters are returning - although why DD would want to return for this I dont know as she and Bev never did get on lol

Phil Redmond has said the final episodes will revert back to the original format of showing all the remaining characters. They will also be the grittiest and hard hitting episodes ever shown and will feature bad language like it did when it first began in 1982

I understand the final episode will air in the usual 11.05pm slot however I did read a piece in the paper written by Claire Sweeney saying the episode should
air earlier - I agree with this, they could at least show it at 10pm or even 10.30pm, at least then it would finish before midnight!

Sue Johnston who played Sheila was on Richard and Judy, she said she'd gone back to the set for a special programme but the actual Brookside programme had already been completed. She said the place wasn't being used for Brookside anymore.

Of course she may be bluffing and appear but all she said she'd gone back to do an interview for a show about Brookside.

Ive only just recently tuned in again myself and notice the Farnhams house is sold. When did they leave and how?

Jacqui and Max moved a few months ago, the move was never shown though, we just heard about it through other characters.

Jacqui still pops back now and then to see Ron, but Max has now left Brookside, and never had a leaving storyline (other than moving house, which was never shown) I thought that was a bit unfair as he has been in Brookie for many years.

Back to reality, some houses in Brookside Close will apparantly be used as extra sets for Hollyoaks now, the Brookie Parade flats already are.

Yes I wondered what had happened to Jacqui and Max - I thought they had both left but then Jacqui turned up a few weeks ago to visit Ron and was told the news of Bev and Ron's engagement - I guess she will appear in the final episode then?

I agree about Max, he is a long serving chracter so could have had a proper leaving exit - he did leave the show once before back in 1998 I think but returned a year later.

Jimmy is the longest serving character but the second longest serving must be Katie Rogers as she has been in it for agggggessss.

Bev and Ron are about to get married, apparently, then all of a sudden they are gossiping whilst working on the tills in the Merseyside branch of Somerfield.

Another rumour is that a plane crash wipes 'em all out.

Well, this is Phil Redmond we're talking about.

I don't think there'll be anything that OTT, but as long as Jimmy gets the last line then I don't think many, Including myself will be that bothered, to be honest I am not expecting a big ending, I'm just expecting someone walking away from the close or shutting No 10 for the last time. Don't forget this is probably the first time that Phil Redmond is ending one of his programmes, so he gets the final say and I don't think there will be anything major, if there was it would have been leaked by now. But it's a shame there's only a months worth of episodes left and the thing is it quite good at the moment and it will be a shame to see it go.

But I don't want to see any Crossroads, Dallas style of endings, as Brookie is believable compared to other soaps.

There have been rumours that Ron will die of a heart attack and Jimmy will also die in the final episode but I dont think this will be true?

I just hope it gets a better exit than Crossroads did.

I AM gonna miss it when it goes. However, showing it once a week, and going for weeks on end without seeing characters who are supposed to be 'there' seems to me that you lose the 'rapport' with them. It's like, 'Oh yes six weeks ago Mike and Rachel split up - I'd forgotten because I'm sick of seeing the Gordon lads stealing toilets.'

These type of 'self-contained' episodes (that's probably the wrong expession) don't really work for a soap do they? There are no real cliffhangers - every one seems to be resolved after an ad-break, or about six weeks later.

Stuart Gordon having a gay kiss - hmm, slightly less nauseating than his brother knocking one out in the bedroom.

Anyone know which overseas countries show Brookside, and/or what stage of the storyline they are up to?

I agree it is difficult when characters dont appear in the show for weeks and weeks, the new format is rubbish it was better when it was on for 3 half hour eps per week.

Its still a shame the show has to end though, Brookside has been by far the most hard hitting British soap - it was the first soap to feature a gay couple back in 1985 and then there was the famous lesbian kiss between Beth and Margaret in 1993. And with Incest, Murders, Rape's, Armed Seiges, Domestic Violence all featured in the show it certainly keeped me gripped over the years, I will really miss it as its my 2nd fave British soap (2nd to Corrie)

Its now been confirmed that Barry Grant will be back on the show for the final episode! Apparently he and Lynsay get married although that might just be speculation ?