Brookside had its fair share of memorable storylines in its 2,915-episode run - and now fans are reliving their favourite soap again as the first batch of original episodes landed on STV player.
Affectionately known as 'Brookie,' the show was based in Liverpool and first hit our screens over 40 years ago on November 2, 1982. By 2003, the Liverpool-based soap was axed - but now, 20 years on from the last episode, it is 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 and it has already broken records as the fastest show to reach 1m streams on the platform.
Over the years, a number of families were at the centre of the biggest storylines. The Liverpool ECHO recently took a look back at the Grant family and where they are now - and now we're revisiting another of Brookie's most memorable families.
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The Dixon family, first consisting of mum DD, dad Ron and children Mike, Tony and Jacqui, arrived in Brookside in 1990 and along the way more partners and children were added to the mix. Ron famously feuded with Max Farnham and Jimmy Corkhill - and who could forget the tragic death of Tony, who was killed in a car accident along with Frank Rodgers.
As the soap returns to our screens, we take a look back at the Dixon family and where they are now. This list is not intended to be comprehensive and includes a number of things about some of the Brookside stars since they departed the soap -but if you feel there is something we should have included, let us know in the comments section.
Ron Dixon - Vince Earl
Vince Earl remained on the show till its demise in 2003 and in his time, character Ron Dixon was at the centre of a number of feuds - both with neighbours and his partners. Prior to life on the soap, Birkenhead-born Vince was known for performing with his own Merseybeat bands Vince Earl & the Attractions and Vince Earl & The Talismen.
As a stand-up comedian, Vince was a regular on The Comedians television show and has also appeared in Boys From The Blackstuff, No Surrender and Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank. In 2012, the ECHO reported how the dad-of-four had successfully completed a kidney transplant after battling a killer disease. Vince was left critically ill in September, 2010, after he was struck by Goodpasture’s Syndrome.
In 2020, Cheshire Live reported how Vince, alongside Sarah White, who played his wife Bev, starred in Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott's music video for their single You and Me (Were Meant to be Together) The actor revealed he still keeps in touch with fellow Chester resident Steve Pinder who played Max Farnham in Brookie and Hollyoaks actress Alex Fletcher, who portrayed his daughter Jacqui Dixon.
Deborah 'DD' Dixon - Irene Marot
Together with husband Ron and her children, Deborah 'DD' Dixon arrived on Brookie in 1990. But a few years into life on the Close, their marriage collapsed, following Ron's affair with Bev McLoughlin.
DD was played by actress Irene Marot, originally from Birkenhead. Prior to her time on the soap, Irene also appeared in 1988 mini series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In 1997, it was locally reported how the former Brookside actress was to appear in Chester Gateway Theatre’s production of Vanessa Brooks’ All At Sea comedy, alongside Alan Igbon.
According to her IMDb, Irene, post Brookside, went on to appear in Doctors, Lady Godiva : Back in the Saddle, Holby City and a number of shorts.
What are your favourite memories of the Dixon family? Let us know in the comments section below.
Mike Dixon - Paul Byatt
Paul Byatt was one of the longest-serving members of the Brookside cast, playing the part of Mike Dixon from 1990 to 2003. Appearing in 238 episodes, Paul is one of five members of the same family who starred in the Channel 4 soap, with many remembering his sister, Michelle played Nikki White.
Mike Dixon was involved in two huge storylines - the first his affair with his step-mother, which resulted in her giving birth to his son and the second being the car accident that left him in a wheelchair, following his marriage to Rachel Jordache. In 2008, the Mirror reported how Paul was working as a driving instructor.
Since Brookside was cancelled Paul has continued to act and has appeared in Holby City. Other notable work includes TV mini-series Mobile, which aired in 2007 and appearing on Soccor AM.
Tony Dixon - Gerard Bostock/Mark Lennock
Tony Dixon was the youngest of the siblings and first played by Gerard Bostock. But in the early 90s, Brookside fans were heartbroken when Tony was killed in a car accident along with Frank Rodgers, an accident that was caused by Jimmy Corkhill.
According to his IMDb, Gerard Bostock also starred in Bread and Parnell & the Englishwoman. In 2012, the ECHO reported how along with Penny Wilson, the former Brookside actor organised a local talent show, which saw X Factor's Chris Maloney star.
But in later years, the character was played by Mark Lennock, who is said to have appeared in Casualty before his tome on the soap. Mark, from Bebington won a place at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1996 after finishing his A Levels at Wirral Grammar School and later went on to perform at the Everyman Theatre in the early 00s.
Jacqui Dixon - Alex Fletcher
Jacqui Dixon later changed her surname after becoming the third wife of Max Farnham. Jacqui became a mum in 1998 to son Harry, who she shared with Max, originally as a surrogate and the couple married in 2001.
Played by Alex Fletcher, Jacquie featured in 404 episodes of the show, stretching from 1990 to 2003, which saw her nominated for British Soap Awards. Post Brookside, Alex became a trained fitness instructor, as well as starring in Doctors, but she is most well-known for playing Dianne O'Connor in Hollyoaks since 2010.
Also appearing on Loose Women and Celebrity Masterchef, Alex married husband Neil who she met on the set of Brookside and together they have a daughter. The star recently met up with her former co-stars Tiffany Chapman, who played Rachel Jordache, Bev McLoughin actress Tracie White, and Dianne Burke, who played Katie Rogers, as fans were thrilled to see on her Instagram.
Bev Dixon - Sarah White
Sarah White played Bev McLoughlin, and then Bev Dixon, from 1993 to 2003. Things seemed to go smoothly after Ron and Bev's affair, but in 1993, she gave birth to her son Josh - who was in fact Ron's grandson.
The baby's father was actually Ron's son, Mike - and it wasn't until 2003 that Ron and Bev married and left the Close for a new life with Josh. Continuing in the acting world and branching out into panto, Sarah also recently featured in the Liverpool ECHO's Where I Live series.
Along with husband Tony Bains, Sarah "mucks about with interiors" on Instagram "when she's not working." In 2020, she also starred in a music video alongside on-screen husband Ron, played by Vince Earl.
Josh Dixon - Jack McMullen
Josh Dixon, previously McLoughlin, was one of the younger members of the Dixon clan. Jack McMullen made his television debut as on the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, playing the role for almost a decade.
In 2003, he won two British Soap Awards for his role in the show; the first for Best Newcomer, and the second for Best On-Screen Partnership with co-star Sarah White. Jack has since gone on to enjoy phenomenal success, having featured in Grange Hill, Casualty and Doctors, before he joined the Waterloo Road cast as a 19-year-old.
Back in 2017, he featured in Little Boy Blue opposite Stephen Graham and prior to that he also had a part in BBC Three comedy Together in 2015. More recently, he appeared in Channel 4's dark comedy Screw and also had a role in prison drama Time in 2021, starring opposite Sean Bean.
Anthea Dixon - Barbara Hatwell
On Brookside, Ron Dixon married his former girlfriend Anthea Brindley, who had revealed to him that he was the father of her daughter, Megan. Anthea, played by Barbara Hatwell, eventually left Ron in 2001 after he went to prison for murder.
Barbara is said to have appeared on other soaps in recent years, such as Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders. She has also had a number of panto stints. Born in West Derby, Barbara also has two children.
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Rachel Dixon - Tiffany Chapman
Rachel Dixon - née Jordache - was the daughter of the villainous Trevor and Mandy. She was also married to Mike Dixon, whom she had children Beth and Michael with.
Played by Tiffany Chapman, after Brookside ended the actress played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at the Neptune Theatre, the Liverpool ECHO previously reported. Tiffany has also appeared in Doctors and Hollyoaks.
She recently reunited with a few of her co-stars, which fans were thrilled to see.
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