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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
James McNeill

Brookside fans delighted as 'best' soap on TV returns after 20 years

With the news that Merseyside soap, Brookside, is returning to TV, fans have been buzzing with excitement.

Set in a Liverpool cul-de-sac, the soap drew audiences of nine million viewers at its peak. 20 years on from the last episode, the series will finally return to screens – on the free streaming service, STV Player.

It will now be possible to stream the soap from the start for the first time ever after STV Player struck a major new deal with distributor, All3Media International. However, fans have said that it is "going to take a long while" to watch 21 years' worth of episodes.

READ MORE: Brookside is returning to TV screens for the first time in 20 years

Patsy Brady said: "I had to watch it in secret because it was banned in our house. My mum didn’t want me to start speaking Scouse." Liz Armstrong said: "The only soap I really watched. It dropped off a bit towards the end, but I loved it."

Gillian said: "Only time my mum and I sat still together. It was the best." Mary Kinvig said: "I have two Brookie sweatshirts. I was taken around the set and met some of the actors. Sinbad. Being one of them. Had my lunch there. It was great."

Across its 21-year run, the show became renowned for tackling challenging social issues, such as rape, bullying, and incest. In 1985, teenage character Gordon Collins came out to his family – making him the first-ever openly gay character in a British TV series.

Chris Bebbington remembers the show well he said: "I was an extra a few times on it. I went to Mick Johnson's stag doo, was in prison with "Tinhead" filmed it at the old Deysbrook Barricks and a copper when Ray Quinns character pushed Imelda in the river."

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