Brookside Odds: Tomlinson And Sweeney May Return In Hollyoaks Crossover Episode
Brookside is returning to our screens for the first time since 2003, and plenty of legendary characters have been linked with a comeback via betting sites.
Oaks took over from Brookside as Channel 4's flagship continuing drama, when Brookie ended in 2003.
Hollyoaks will turn 30 in October, and it will mark the milestone with a special episode honouring Brookside and Phil Redmond, who created both serial dramas.
Executive producer Hannah Cheers said: "This episode is a love letter to both Hollyoaks and Brookside.
"Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks - it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets.
"This special feels like both a moving and fitting tribute to our origin story and a chance for fans to revisit much-loved Brookside characters in honour of that legacy."
Brookside ended with iconic character Jimmy Corkhill, who was played by the late Dean Sullivan, daubing a 'd' onto the Brookside Close sign, leaving it as ‘Brookside Closed’, before driving out of the famous cul-de-sac.
Bobby Back In Brookie?
Sadly, Jimmy won't be back as a result of Dean's passing, but Sue Johnston is the first Brookside star to confirm she will reprise her role as Liverpudlian matriarch Sheila Grant.
She said: "It’ll be so lovely to go back and be Sheila for a day as it was such a big, enjoyable part of my life."
Amid her hard-hitting storylines, Sheila battled with the family finances and her husband Bobby Grant (Ricky Tomlinson).
Following Sue's confirmed return, Ricky is 5/4 favourite on betting apps to be back in Brookie, but he might not be pleased to see everyone.
Brookside Betting Odds: Characters To Return For Hollyoaks Crossover Episode
Character | Odds | Probability |
Bobby Grant (Ricky Tomlinson) | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Lindsey Corkhill (Claire Sweeney) | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Billy Corkhill (John McArdle) | 6/4 | 40% |
Jacqui Dixon (Alex Fletcher) | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Barry Grant (Paul Usher) | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick) | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) | 3/1 | 25% |
Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney (Michael Starke) | 4/1 | 20% |
Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Debbie McGrath (Gillian Kearney) | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Mo McGee (Tina Malone) | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Tim 'Tinhead' O'Leary (Philip Olivier) | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Damon Grant (Simon O'Brien) | 12/1 | 7.7% |
In the show, Sheila split from Bobby and found love again with Billy Corkhill (John McCardle).
The pair left Brookside for Basingstoke in 1990, and John is just 6/4 to reprise his role to reunite with Sue in the historic crossover episode.
Since leaving Brookside, Sue has gone on to appear in the likes of The Royle Family, once again alongside Ricky, but she also returned to the world of soaps in portraying Coronation Street's Gloria Price.
Another Brookside legend, Claire Sweeney, is currently in Corrie as Cassie Plummer, and she is just 11/8 to make the short trip down the M62 from the cobbles to the cul-de-sac to reprise her role as Lindsey Corkhill.
Double Trouble
But there could be double trouble for some Brookside characters.
Hollyoaks stars Alex Fletcher, Louis Emerick and Michael Starke - who played a taxi driver in Oaks - all first appeared in Brookside.
Alex is 15/8 to reprise her Brookside role as Jacqui Dixon, and Louis is a 5/2 shot to return as Mick Johnson, while Michael is 4/1 to be back in his iconic role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney.
It will be interesting to see how Channel 4 bosses work it if they do cast some of the ex-Brookside and current Oaks stars.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Brookside was always known for pushing boundaries, and one way the show did so came in 1994 when it aired the first pre-watershed same-sex kiss between two women on British television.
Characters Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) shared a history-making smooch, which was such a big deal it was even shown during the opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympics.
Nicola is just 3/1 to be back as Margaret, but Anna is a 5/1 shot to return as Beth.
Anna's would have to be a beyond-the-grave character comeback after Beth died off-screen from a cardiac arrest in 1995.
Damon And Debbie's Reunion
Should Anna return as Beth, she might not be the only character comeback from the dead.
Brookside also created soap history with the first-ever "soap bubble", when Brookside spin-off series Damon and Debbie aired in 1987.
It focused on teen sweethearts Damon Grant (Simon O'Brien) and Debbie McGrath (Gillian Kearney), who had fled Liverpool for a new life in York.
However, it ended in tragedy as Damon was stabbed to death in November 1987, which caused uproar among Brookside fans at the time.
It means O'Brien is unlikely to reprise his role, but in soaps anything is possible.
It's 12/1 for Damon to return from beyond the grave, and Gillian - who portrayed Emma Barton in Emmerdale until 2024 - is 6/1 to reprise her role as Debbie.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
